History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/William Trevor Watkins/Wikipedia

APOLOGIES, THIS IS MOSTLY JUST A CUT AND PASTE FROM ALFRED HAROLD MASTERS TO BE USED AS A TEMPLATE Alfred Harold "Harold" Masters (7 Nov 1875 - 27 Apr 1951) was one of Tasmania's earliest wireless and X-ray experimenters. He was for many years councillor and superintendent of Launceston Technical School. A prominent Launceston architect and electrical engineer, he designed several of Launceston and district's major buildings. He planned and oversighted commissioning of electric light systems in several towns in northern Tasmania. He was an early advocate for adoption of hydro-electric power. Masters represented the Tasmanian Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and actively promoted adoption of town planning principles in the Launceston community where he lived his entire adult life. Early life - done William Trevor "Trevor" Watkins was the first child of William Henry Watkins (1858–1912)https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KJZC-V4K William Henry Watkins' Details in FamilySearch Family Tree FamilySearch The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 31 January 2021 , and Harriet Watkins née Clarke (1867–1963).https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KNDY-XSW Harriet Watkins nee Clarke's Details in FamilySearch Family Tree FamilySearch The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 31 January 2021 , Trevor was born 27 March 1899http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7424432 Family Notices The Argus (Melbourne) 9,174 Victoria, Australia 9 November 1875 13 January 2021 1 National Library of Australia at Hobart, Tasmania. His father married Harriet Watkins née Clarke at Hobart, Tasmania 4 August 1897. They had three children together: William Trevor Watkins (1899–1931)https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZKG-J4V William Trevor "Trevor" Watkins' Details in FamilySearch Family Tree FamilySearch The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 31 January 2021 , electrician and radio engineer, Hobart, the subject of this article Ernest Norman Watkins (1900–1971)https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K8TL-2J6 Ernest Norman Watkins' Details in FamilySearch Family Tree FamilySearch The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 31 January 2021 , electrical engineer and service station proprietor at Hobarthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30088827 GUILTY OF THEFT The Mercury CXLII, 20,155 Tasmania, Australia 31 May 1935 31 January 2021 3 National Library of Australia Olive Edeline Jarvis née Watkins (1905–1993)https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KZY5-7CR Olive Edeline Jarvis nee Watkins' Details in FamilySearch Family Tree FamilySearch The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 31 January 2021 , shop assistant then dressmaker at Hobart, married in mid-life, no issuehttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26492881 FISHERMAN ACQUITTED ON ASSAULT CHARGE The Mercury CLXIX, 24,441 Tasmania, Australia 12 April 1949 31 January 2021 20 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26646016 Former Police Officer Fined For Assaulting Constable The Mercury CLXIX, 24,519 Tasmania, Australia 13 July 1949 31 January 2021 18 National Library of Australia Professional career Electrician Masters commenced his architectural career in the late 1880s in the architectural department of J. and T. Gunn,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52813517 Architect's Death The Examiner (Tasmania) CX, 40 Tasmania, Australia 28 April 1951 5 January 2021 4 National Library of Australia a business which had been established in Launceston in the mid 1870s as timber merchantshttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72520543 Advertising The Cornwall Chronicle XL, 4595 Tasmania, Australia 7 January 1876 11 January 2021 4 National Library of Australia and progressively expanded its operations into all classes of building supplies.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39479351 Advertising Launceston Examiner LII, 288 Tasmania, Australia 3 December 1892 11 January 2021 8 National Library of Australia In late 1897 he commenced as a sole trader, advertising as Architect and Electrician, with premises at A.M.P. Chambers, Cameron St., Launceston.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39705801 Advertising Launceston Examiner LVII, 285 Tasmania, Australia 2 December 1897 11 January 2021 1 National Library of Australia The business developed rapidly, early major appointments were to the new wing of the Queen Victoria Hospital (Launceston) in 1900,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35355766 QUEEN VICTORIA HOSPITAL. The Examiner (Tasmania) LX, 112 Tasmania, Australia 11 May 1900 16 January 2021 3 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia the new Devon Cottage Hospital in 1902,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64561643 Devon Cottage Hospital. The North Western Advocate And The Emu Bay Times Tasmania, Australia 30 January 1902 16 January 2021 3 National Library of Australia a further new wing (Dunorlan-Noake) of the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1903,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153893354 QUEEN VICTORIA HOSPITAL Daily Telegraph XXIII, 67 Tasmania, Australia 19 March 1903 16 January 2021 4 National Library of Australia the Saddler's Arms Hotel (Elizabeth Town) in 1903http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35564929 DELORAINE. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXIII, 229 Tasmania, Australia 25 September 1903 16 January 2021 7 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia and extensive alterations to St. Andrew's Church (Launceston).http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35826337 ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXIV, 258 Tasmania, Australia 28 October 1904 16 January 2021 3 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia For a time Masters partnered with Alexander (Eric) Northhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52813517 Architect's Death The Examiner (Tasmania) CX, 40 Tasmania, Australia 28 April 1951 5 January 2021 4 National Library of Australia Radio Engineer Masters was a strong advocate for the use hydro-electric power in northern Tasmania where the multiplicity of local councils tended to favour control of their own smaller plants. In February 1925 he published an opinion piece immediately prior to a referendum on the subject in Longford.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90807250 HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXXXIII, 30 Tasmania, Australia 4 February 1925 6 January 2021 6 (DAILY) National Library of Australia Amateur Radio Experiments There do not appear to be contemporaneous reports of Masters experimenting in wireless prior to 1900, however he was lecturing in electricity and magnetism from the late 1890s at the Launceston Technical School. Thomas Edward Self was the first to demonstrate wireless (to the Royal Society) in Tasmania in July 1898 and his experiments were widely reported.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9426282 ROYAL SOCIETY OF TASMANIA. The Mercury LXXII, 8849 Tasmania, Australia 12 July 1898 11 January 2021 3 National Library of Australia Likely Masters' experiments followed in 1899 and were limited to indoors rather than long distance. Masters' gave a lecture and demonstration of X-rays at the Victoria Museum in September 1901 and promised a further lecture on wireless telegraphy.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91659812 CURRENT TOPICS. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXI, 225 Tasmania, Australia 20 September 1901 5 January 2021 5 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia Finally, in October 1905 (post Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905 and apparently unlicensed), he gave a lecture and demonstration of wireless to the Launceston Branch of the Australian Natives' Association.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154021448 LOCAL AND GENERAL Daily Telegraph XXV, 247 Tasmania, Australia 17 October 1905 3 January 2021 2 National Library of Australia In November 1905 a further lecture and demonstration was given by Masters to some 400 persons at the Victoria Museum.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154020860 LOCAL AND GENERAL Daily Telegraph XXV, 281 Tasmania, Australia 25 November 1905 3 January 2021 6 National Library of Australia For this demonstration, Masters supplemented his own equipment by arranging the loan of low power Telefunken equipment from their Melbourne agency. This is believed to be the first land use of Telefunken equipment in Australia. Masters was aided in the demonstration by Post Office telegraphists G. Braithwaite and T. P. Richardson.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38809464 CURRENT TOPICS The Examiner (Tasmania) LXV, 286 Tasmania, Australia 1 December 1905 3 January 2021 5 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia In February 1906, HMS Pioneer anchored at Rosevears near Launceston and Masters was part of the official party. He inspected the Pioneer's wireless equipment and scheduled experiments using his own equipment.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151831537 ARRIVAL OF THE PIONEER Daily Telegraph XXVI, 38 Tasmania, Australia 13 February 1906 7 January 2021 2 National Library of Australia Masters, Richardson and Braithwaite set up the equipment the Albert Hall with an antenna attached to the flagstaff. In the following days, they successfully transmitted to the HMS Pioneer, at anchor and en route to Devonport, however the receiving was less satisfactory.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38073846 WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXV, 43 Tasmania, Australia 19 February 1906 3 January 2021 5 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia Masters continued with lecturing in wireless telegraphy and in May 1906 lectured on that topic to the St. John's Young Men's Club.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38084250 CURRENT TOPICS. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXV, 105 Tasmania, Australia 3 May 1906 3 January 2021 5 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia When the temporary AWA wireless telegraphy link was about to be established between Queenscliff and Devonport, local Launceston reporters sought out Masters for expert advice on wireless telegraphy principles and practice.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151617369 WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY Daily Telegraph XXVI, 164 Tasmania, Australia 11 July 1906 3 January 2021 3 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38094600 WIRELESS TELEGRAPH The Examiner (Tasmania) LXV, 164 Tasmania, Australia 11 July 1906 4 January 2021 6 (DAILY.) National Library of Australia There is no record of a licence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905 having been issued for any of these experiments. Masters continued to promote wireless telegraphy in Launceston up to the start of World War I. Twin brothers Cyril Wilson Monk (later callsign: 7BR) and Alfred Brendon Monk who became telegraphists in the Naval Wireless Service in 1911 were pupils of Masters at the Launceston Technical School.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50657032 ABOUT PEOPLE. The Examiner (Tasmania) LXXI, 146 Tasmania, Australia 19 June 1912 4 January 2021 5 (DAILY) National Library of Australia Amateur Radio Administration Masters is not reported as playing a part in the initial formation of the Launceston Wireless Club from August 1923 in the excitement of the commencement of the Wireless Regulations 1923.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153716852 THE WIRELESS CLUB. Daily Telegraph XLIII, 209 Tasmania, Australia 31 August 1923 14 January 2021 6 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153717932 THE WIRELESS CLUB. Daily Telegraph XLIII, 215 Tasmania, Australia 7 September 1923 14 January 2021 6 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153712435 NOTES ON WIRELESS Daily Telegraph XLIII, 221 Tasmania, Australia 14 September 1923 14 January 2021 6 National Library of Australia However, when the club soon restructured into the Launceston Branch of the Wireless Institute of Australia (Tasmanian Division), Masters was elected as one of the vice-presidents.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153721128 NOTES ON WIRELESS Daily Telegraph XLIII, 233 Tasmania, Australia 28 September 1923 5 January 2021 3 National Library of Australia In January 1924, he lectured to a meeting of the branch on the "Advance of Radio Science"http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153558435 LOCAL AND GENERAL Daily Telegraph XLIV, 22 Tasmania, Australia 25 January 1924 4 January 2021 4 National Library of Australia and again in April 1924 on "Magnetic Induction as applied to Wireless"http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153596200 LAUNCESTON WIRELESS INSTITUTE. Daily Telegraph XLIV, 89 Tasmania, Australia 12 April 1924 5 January 2021 7 National Library of Australia The first annual meeting of the club in September 1924 reflected general apathy of the members, the widespread man-made interference ("the Roar") being experienced in Launceston a major factor. Masters was thanked for his contributionshttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153694754 Progress of Wireless Daily Telegraph XLIV, 217 Tasmania, Australia 10 September 1924 5 January 2021 2 National Library of Australia and elected Chairman of the council.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153690583 Launceston Wireless Institute Daily Telegraph XLIV, 219 Tasmania, Australia 12 September 1924 5 January 2021 8 National Library of Australia He published a detailed hypothesis on causation of the Roar,http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153691911 ELIMINATING THE WIRELESS "ROAR" Daily Telegraph XLIV, 223 Tasmania, Australia 17 September 1924 5 January 2021 2 National Library of Australia and set the resources of the club to locate and identify.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153688811 Tracking the Wireless "Roar" Daily Telegraph XLIV, 225 Tasmania, Australia 19 September 1924 5 January 2021 5 National Library of Australia However a competing club had been established in October 1924, the Launceston Radio Experimenters' Club, in response to bureaucracy and lack of actual wireless experimenting activities. The new club comprised the majority of Launceston's active experimenters and took up the investigation into the roar.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153709489 NEW WIRELESS CLUB FOR LAUNCESTON Daily Telegraph XLIV, 257 Tasmania, Australia 25 October 1924 15 January 2021 12 National Library of Australia Despite all efforts the roar remained for several years and progressively diminished as better power distribution equipment was implemented. In September 1925, the Wireless Institute of Australia (Tasmanian Division) was formed with a view to meeting the needs of all Tasmanian experimenters and Masters was elected first president.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153651734 THE WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA. Daily Telegraph XLV, 218 Tasmania, Australia 12 September 1925 16 January 2021 5 National Library of Australia From 1927, he withdrew from administrative activities in amateur radio, though his interest continued. In September 1933 the Launceston Technical College decided to commence a course in radio engineering and Masters was instrumental in this.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24891407 TECHNICAL COLLEGE The Mercury CXXXIX, 20,618 Tasmania, Australia 6 September 1933 16 January 2021 5 National Library of Australia In 1935 the College supplemented the radio engineering course with with a one-year course specifically focussed on the award of the Postmaster-General's Department Amateur Operators Certificate of Proficiency.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51918853 TECHNICAL COLLEGE The Examiner (Tasmania) XCIII, 284 Tasmania, Australia 7 February 1935 16 January 2021 9 (DAILY) National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51922555 TECHINICAL COLLEGE The Examiner (Tasmania) XCIII, 307 Tasmania, Australia 6 March 1935 16 January 2021 9 (DAILY) National Library of Australia In the lead up to World War I, in April 1939, the Launceston Technical College made available its facilities to the Royal Australian Air Force Selection Board for the examination of candidates as fitters and wireless operators.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52303288 USE OF COLLEGE IN CITY The Examiner (Tasmania) XCVIII, 27 Tasmania, Australia 13 April 1939 16 January 2021 6 (LATEST NEWS EDITION and DAILY) National Library of Australia Tuberculosis Family - done Watty suffered with Tuberculosis his entire adult life. He never married and died intestate on 25 August 1931 at Hobart.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29921982 Family Notices The Mercury CXXXV, 19,984 Tasmania, Australia 26 August 1931 30 January 2021 1 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29182719 Advertising The Mercury CXLII, 20,073 Tasmania, Australia 23 February 1935 30 January 2021 10 National Library of Australia Legacy Further Reading - done https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/History_of_wireless_telegraphy_and_broadcasting_in_Australia/Topical/Biographies/William_Trevor_Watkins free History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia Wikibooks contributors Wikibooks Wikibooks, The Free Textbook Project 31 January 2021 Biography, William Trevor Watkins , References