History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Columns/Sparks from Radioland NSW

CUT & PASTE OF ARTICLE ON COLUMN "MAGIC SPARK", TO BE EDITED

The "Magic Spark" column in Sydney's "Evening News" newspaper commenced Saturday 28 January 1922 and ran until Saturday 12 July 1924. It is thought to have been the first newspaper column devoted to wireless in Australia, though this needs to be confirmed by further research. The timing of the commencement of the column was at least fortuitous. The earliest columns highlighted the restrictive licensing practices of the day, especially in respect of amateur "experimental" transmitting licences; encouraged readers to write to their local members of parliament seeking relaxation of such provisions; and promoted the newish science of radio telegraphy and radio telephony. Its campaign (and those of others, especially the various State Divisions of the Wireless Institute of Australia) soon bore fruit with the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 1922 legislative instrument. The publication period extended across the Wireless Regulations 1923 and oddly came to a conclusion around the time of the Wireless Regulations 1924. Anecdotally, the popularity of the column spread far beyond the traditional readership of the "Evening News" and today the column is highly regarded by radio historians.

Research to date has not revealed the author(s) of the column, but the consistency of style and purpose is indicative of a single author and this is supported by the consistent use of the nom de plume of "Dot Dash". In the final weeks of the column in mid-1924 the nom de plume became "Catwhisker" signalling a new author and indeed, an announcement in the column of 19 July 1924 indicated that henceforth the "Magic Spark" column would be printed every Monday.

Resources
A comprehensive summary of matters pertaining to the Magic Spark Column NSW has not yet been prepared, however the following resources have been assembled in preparation:


 * Research - Sparks from Radioland Column NSW - Summary of research to date


 * Transcriptions and Notes - Sparks from Radioland Column NSW - More than 10 transcriptions of entire columns (out of a total of more than ??? columns) and notes, primarily from the NLA's Trove, all identified to date and tagged "Wireless News Column NSW"

Columns where little able to be transcribed:

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 * Photos and other graphics - Sparks from Radioland Column NSW - Nothing uploaded as yet, no material identified as yet


 * Incubator of Wikipedia Article on Sparks from Radioland Column NSW - Coming real soon now!

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