American Marconi Wireless Corporation

American Marconi Wireless Corporation
legal form	Inc.
founding	November 22, 1899
resolution	1920
Reason for dissolution	Acquisition by RCA
Seat	new York
Branch	Wireless communication

Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America stock dated October 30, 1916

The former American company American Marconi Wireless Corporation , founded by Guglielmo Marconi on November 22, 1899 as Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America and renamed in 1902, was the leading wireless communications provider in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century . The company was based in New York .

The company went on to become the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1920 . Previously, at a meeting in Jersey City on April 5, 1920 , the shareholders decided to merge with the Radio Corporation of America.

Company history

Beginnings and renaming

In the beginning, American Marconi Wireless Corporation operated wireless telegraphy , which was sent using radio waves . The transmission area was limited to the United States, Cuba , Puerto Rico , Danish West Indies , Alaska , Aleutian Islands , Philippines , Hawaii and the waters in between. After the technological development had advanced so far, wireless telephony was also offered. In 1902, the year it was renamed, the company acquired from Michael I. Pupin , a professor at Columbia University , its patents for the transmission of signals over long distances. He received part of the purchase price in shares in the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America.

Takeover of United Wireless Corporation

In 1912 the Marconi Wireless Company of England took over the United Wireless Corporation, which had been insolvent since 1911, for $ 700,000 (today's purchasing power $ 19 million). After the takeover, it sold United Wireless Corporation to American Marconi Wireless Corporation for $ 1.4 million in shares, which led to heated arguments within the company. The shares were split from $ 25 to $ 5 in 1912.

The American Marconi Wireless Corporation used the Alexanderson alternator developed by Ernst Alexanderson for wireless communication . Alexanderson was employed by General Electric at the time , which was able to generate a commercial benefit for it by using the alternator.

Development during the First World War

With the beginning of the First World War , a discussion arose about the permissibility of censorship of wireless communication. In the United States, the Navy was trying to take control of broadcasting. The Navy Secretary of State Daniels was the most prominent advocate of this request. He also recognized the possibility of using radio for propaganda purposes. President Woodrow Wilson declared the United States neutral on the basis of the Monroe Doctrine , banned all "unneutral" news and ordered individual stations to be closed. In 1917 the Navy took over all coastal stations in New Jersey , California , Hawaii and Alaska.

In 1919, Marconi Wireless Company of England controlled almost 25 percent of American Marconi Wireless Corporation, with General Electric being the largest shareholder. The company had 60 land stations and 600 stations on ships.

National Register of Historic Places

One of the first broadcasting stations that Marconi had set up was "found again" in 1930. The station was built between autumn 1900 and spring 1901 in Babylon on Long Island . The building and technology were rebuilt on the site of the Radio Corporation of America in Queens as a museum. Another station, Wellfleet Station, which was demolished in 1920 and was in operation between 1901 and 1917, is now one of the United States' Historic Places .

Corporate management

1902-1919: John W. Griggs

literature

Susan J. Douglas : Inventing american broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 .
Susan J. Douglas: Listening . Radio and the american imagination. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis 2004, ISBN 0-8166-4423-3 .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d The New York Times (Ed.): American Marconi Plans Foreign Deal . Purchase of Securities Held Abroad Indended, with Reorganization Following. September 4, 1919 ( PDF 50.14kB [accessed November 4, 2012]).
↑ ^a ^b The New York Times (Ed.): Millions involved in Deal with Marconi . $ 6,150,000 the Capital of Big Wireless Telegraph Company. April 6, 1902 ( PDF 187kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).
^ ^A ^b Susan J. Douglas : Inventing American broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 , pp. 253 .
^ The New York Times (ed.): Sarnoff testifies on Radio Merger . Says Acquisition of Marconi Co. Ended Plan to Build Chain of High-Power Stations. April 23, 1926 ( HTML [accessed October 16, 2012]).
↑ The New York Times (ed.): To Dissolve Marconi Co . Final vote Taken by Wireless Stockholder. April 6, 1920 ( PDF 20kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).
↑ Susan J. Douglas: Listening . Radio and the american imagination. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis 2004, ISBN 0-8166-4423-3 , pp. 48 ff .
^ The New York Times (Ed.): Marconi Company Buys Pupin Tuning Patents . They Say They Will Try to Report King Edward's Coronation by the Wireless System. April 30, 1902 ( PDF 48.66kB [accessed November 4, 2012]).
^ The New York Times (ed.): Seek to Impound Wireless Shares . Stockholder of Old United Company Want a Part of the $ 1,500,000 Payment. May 28, 1913 ( PDF 83.6kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).
^ The New York Times (ed.): Wireless Merger is now assured . Trustees in Bankruptcy and Court accepts Reorganization Committee's offer to That End. April 6, 1912 ( PDF 62.89kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).
^ The New York Times (ed.): Price of United Wireless . $ 750,000 to British Marconi Co. - Resold for $ 1,400,000 in Stock. April 14, 1913 ( PDF 24.46kB [accessed November 3, 2012]).
^ The New York Times (ed.): Marconi Stock Booms On . Runs Up on the Curb from $ 117.50 to $ 180 - Jump in New $ 5 Shares. April 18, 1912 ( PDF 27.51kB [accessed November 4, 2012]).
^ ^A ^b The New York Times (Ed.): Marconi Co. denies censoring is legal . John W. Griggs Asks Secretary Daniels to Show Authority for Wireless Restriction. August 23, 1914 ( PDF 95.98kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).
^ Susan J. Douglas: Inventing american broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 , pp. 268 .
^ Susan J. Douglas: Inventing american broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 , pp. 269 .
^ The New York Times (ed.): Marconi's First American Radio Station Found . Babylon Shack Used in 1900 to Be Preserved. November 9, 1930 ( PDF 51.17kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[tnyt19190904-1] The New York Times (Ed.): American Marconi Plans Foreign Deal . Purchase of Securities Held Abroad Indended, with Reorganization Following. September 4, 1919 ( PDF 50.14kB [accessed November 4, 2012]).

[tnyt19020406-2] The New York Times (Ed.): Millions involved in Deal with Marconi . $ 6,150,000 the Capital of Big Wireless Telegraph Company. April 6, 1902 ( PDF 187kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[inventing253-3] A ^b Susan J. Douglas : Inventing American broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 , pp. 253 .

[4] The New York Times (ed.): Sarnoff testifies on Radio Merger . Says Acquisition of Marconi Co. Ended Plan to Build Chain of High-Power Stations. April 23, 1926 ( HTML [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[5] The New York Times (ed.): To Dissolve Marconi Co . Final vote Taken by Wireless Stockholder. April 6, 1920 ( PDF 20kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[listening48-6] Susan J. Douglas: Listening . Radio and the american imagination. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis 2004, ISBN 0-8166-4423-3 , pp. 48 ff .

[tnyt19020430-7] The New York Times (Ed.): Marconi Company Buys Pupin Tuning Patents . They Say They Will Try to Report King Edward's Coronation by the Wireless System. April 30, 1902 ( PDF 48.66kB [accessed November 4, 2012]).

[8] The New York Times (ed.): Seek to Impound Wireless Shares . Stockholder of Old United Company Want a Part of the $ 1,500,000 Payment. May 28, 1913 ( PDF 83.6kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[9] The New York Times (ed.): Wireless Merger is now assured . Trustees in Bankruptcy and Court accepts Reorganization Committee's offer to That End. April 6, 1912 ( PDF 62.89kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[10] The New York Times (ed.): Price of United Wireless . $ 750,000 to British Marconi Co. - Resold for $ 1,400,000 in Stock. April 14, 1913 ( PDF 24.46kB [accessed November 3, 2012]).

[tnyt19120418-11] The New York Times (ed.): Marconi Stock Booms On . Runs Up on the Curb from $ 117.50 to $ 180 - Jump in New $ 5 Shares. April 18, 1912 ( PDF 27.51kB [accessed November 4, 2012]).

[tnyt19140823-12] A ^b The New York Times (Ed.): Marconi Co. denies censoring is legal . John W. Griggs Asks Secretary Daniels to Show Authority for Wireless Restriction. August 23, 1914 ( PDF 95.98kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).

[inventing268-13] Susan J. Douglas: Inventing american broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 , pp. 268 .

[inventing269-14] Susan J. Douglas: Inventing american broadcasting . 1899-1922. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London 1987, ISBN 0-8018-3387-6 , pp. 269 .

[15] The New York Times (ed.): Marconi's First American Radio Station Found . Babylon Shack Used in 1900 to Be Preserved. November 9, 1930 ( PDF 51.17kB [accessed October 16, 2012]).