Her Majesty Queen Victoria

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We are not amused


Faraday, Michael (1791-1867), British physicist and chemist who made major advances in the study of magnetism, electricity, and the chemical effect of a current.

For the fifteenth year running the Harlow Lions Club organized Old Harlow's annual Victorian Fayre.  More than 10,000 people turned out on this warm and sunny day to stroll around the old town.  On show were classic cars, a steam truck, miniature train and slightly bigger ponies, fun fair, birds of prey, craft stalls, old penny slot machines, Punch and Judy, and lots of have-a-go stalls.

SPARK GAP GENERATOR - This early spark gap transmitter has limited signal tuning and generates a very wide band signal.  It was used to transmit morse code signals until the early 1900's.

With music, food and drink this was a festive occasion for young and old alike.  Even Queen Victoria made an appearance.  As well as promoting Old Harlow to businesses and providing the social event for local townspeople, the Victorian Fayre is estimated to have raised �10,000 for various charities.

Chris (2E1GZX) operating the club's FT1000 and Alex (M1EPR) logging

Harlow And District
Amateur Radio Society
at
The Old Harlow Victorian Fayre
Sunday 10th September 2000

ancient relics and bits of radio history

The Harlow And District Amateur Radio Society used the opportunity to run a special event station - GB2VF.  A number of club members took turns operating the station and talking to members of the public about amateur radio.   In keeping with the historical flavour of the event a selection of old relics were on show (no, not the club members).  On loan from The Radio Society of Great Britain museum we had a  Morse key and Morse inker circa 1900.

CRYSTAL SET - Circa 1923 this type of receiver was widely used at the beginning of the 19th century and was powered by the strength of the radio signal alone.  A rough piece of crystal is used as a diode to resolve the signal.

Local firm Waters & Stanton kindly loaned a 1923 crystal set, a WW1 trench transceiver and a ancient spark gap generator.

Maxwell, James Clerk (1831-79), British physicist. He developed the theory of electromagnetism, and was the first to predict the existence of electromagnetic radiation and to describe light as an electromagnetic wave.

MORSE KEY AND INKER - These early 1900's items were used to send and record morse code sent via telegraph or radio.  The recording tape is driven at a constant speed by clock-work and the inking wheel is triggered via the electro-magnetic effect of the incoming signal.

Many thanks to

and

for the loan of equipment
WW1 TRENCH TRANSMITTER - This rugged morse code transmitter/receiver was designed for trench use during World War 1.  It operates on multiple frequencies and can use a second valve to amplify the signal.

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