History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Clubs/Telegraph Electrical Society

Telegraph Electrical Society
Frank Randell Bradley was an early wireless experimenter, holding callsign 3ZK Sandringham (later A3ZK, OA3ZK, VK3ZK) from as early as 1923, through to 1930. The Wireless Regulations were altered in 1924, requiring examinations in telegraphy skills and wireless reception and transmission theory. While his position within the Postmaster-General's Department would likely have permitted an exemption, he took the examination and was awarded Amateur Operator's Proficiency Certificate No 2, being the first in Victoria. He relocated to Sydney for his employment from 1931 and in accordance with the regulations of the day, was allocated callsign 2JB (VK2JB). He does not seem to have been prominent in amateur radio circles during the 1920s and 1930s, but this requires further research. Amateur radio operations were closed down in 1939 with the commencement of hostilities for the Second World War. At the conclusion of the war, after a period, amateur radio again commenced, however Bradley did not reapply for a licence.

Bradley was born in South Australia and was educated there at the School of Mines and the University of Adelaide. He excelled academically with strong results in all subjects. He commenced with the Postmaster-General's Department in the usual way as a telegraph messenger. He transferred to Melbourne about 1920 for promotion within the PMGD, concluding there in 1930 as Superintendent of Telegraphs. Another transfer to Sydney occurred in 1931 for a further promotion within the PMGD. In 1946 he transferred to Brisbane as Deputy Director of Posts and Telegraphs, Queensland, a position formerly held by James Joseph Malone.

A comprehensive history of Telegraph Electrical Society has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:


 * Transcriptions and Notes - Telegraph Electrical Society - More than 20 transcriptions and notes


 * Photos, QSL cards and other graphics - Telegraph Electrical Society - Nothing uploaded as yet


 * B. McMahon's 1939 article in the Telecommunications Journal of Australia on the Early History of the Telegraph Electrical Society, Melbourne - Complete, thanks to scans of the Journal made available on Rick Coxhill's excellent website recording the History of the Telstra Research Laboratory


 * Work-in-progress of Wikipedia Article on Telegraph Electrical Society - Not yet started

Prominent members and office holders:
 * William Philip Bechervaise (early telephone experimenter)
 * Peter Robert Challen (early telephone experimenter)
 * Louis Septimus Daniel (early experimenter in "Etheric Force")
 * Henry Walter Jenvey (early wireless experimenter)
 * Duncan James Macfarlane McGauran (developer if not inventor of the quadraplex telegraphy system, sadly passed in his prime)
 * George Smibert (later Chief Electrician)

In the National Library of Australia's Trove website, more than 200 articles (Newspapers & Gazettes) have been tagged as "Telegraph Electrical Society Vic" (search publictag:Telegraph Electrical Society Vic)

A search in Trove on "Telegraph Electrical Society" identifies more than 300 articles, the majority of which refer to the Telegraph Electrical Society Vic, those tagged to date are a quick review to identify the most important for this Wikibook. Articles transcribed for Notes are tagged: "Wikibooks - TESV". Articles reviewed and considered either duplicates of other articles or not of sufficient importance for inclusion are tagged: "Wikibooks - TESV Not"