In a Great Milestone, Guglielmo Marconi Certifies the First Ever Wireless Telecommunication He Sent in the United States, and the First for the US Government, on Board the S.S. Ponce

Many consider this the first official US wireless telecommunication ever

 

This document has been passed down in the same family for generations and has not come up for sale before; indeed it appears unpublished

The principles of radio were not well understood before the theoretical work of Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell and the experimental work of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory, developed in the 1860’s, predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves; waves of an electrical nature that travelled through the air or empty space at the speed of light. In the 1880’s Hertz did a series of experiments to generate these waves and measure their properties. He produced sparks between two spherical electrodes with the aid of a high voltage induction coil, and the high frequency currents generated by these sparks flowed into two metal rods that Hertz connected to terminals. These currents in turn generated electromagnetic waves that radiated from the rods. Hertz then succeeded in developing an apparatus to detect the waves that he had generated. We now recognize that his radio wave generator and detector were a primitive form of radio transmitter and receiver. However, at the time, proof of the existence of Hertz’s faint waves did not seem especially significant and the utility of his experiments was unknown.

However, while on vacation in 1894, a 20 year old Italian named Guglielmo Marconi read about Hertz’s work, and reasoned that radio waves would be an ideal medium for wireless communications if they could be transmitted and received over long distances. He set up a laboratory in his attic and began experimenting. His first success was causing the radio signal from his spark transmitter to ring an electric bell operated by his receiver. Next he took his experiments out of doors and increased the distance over which the wireless signals could be transmitted. He soon found that wires were the best medium for sending and receiving, and that the higher they were raised, the farther he could send a signal. His development of a viable antenna would prove crucial to Marconi’s work.

By the end of 1895 Marconi had transmitted signals a distance of over a mile, and the next year he demonstrated his wireless telegraph apparatus to the Italian government (which showed little interest). Consequently he journeyed to England to try his luck there, forming a company to market his idea. The marine industry saw that radio could provide a way for ships to communicate beyond their lines of sight, and so became a customer. There was little demand for radio communications on land because its benefits were not yet understood; besides, telegraph networks were widespread and telephones were coming commonly into use.

Enter the US military. In late 1899, Guglielmo Marconi was invited (and paid) by the New York Herald newspaper to use his fledgling wireless system to report on the progress of that year’s Americas Cup yacht races, which were to be held off the coast of New Jersey. He accepted, eager for any opportunity to promote his system. The U.S. Navy was very interested in the new technology and made arrangements to observe these operations, and conduct tests of their own.

By chance, coinciding with the planned start of the races, Adm. George Dewey’s flagship, the USS Olympia, was returning to the US after his victory at Manila Bay. In his honor, the City of New York planned three days of celebrations which began on September 28, 1899.

On the first day, a triumphant naval parade sailed north through the Lower New York Bay, and anchored at government facilities off Tompkinsville (on Staten Island). On the second day, the parade continued up the Hudson River, where the Olympia anchored opposite Grant’s Tomb (at W. 122 Street in Manhattan). The remainder of the parade passed the Olympia in review, and then reversed course and sailed south. The third day was devoted to parades and celebrations on land for the officers and crew of the Olympia. The events of each day were capped by massive fireworks displays, and decorative displays of electric lighting, which was an exciting novelty at that time.

The naval parade included the Olympia and several other naval vessels. The two yachts that were to participate in the races were also invited to participate (Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock, and J. P. Morgan’s Columbia II), as well as a flotilla of merchant marine vessels and other private yachts.

Marconi set up his equipment on the S.S. Ponce, and several other vessels. Shore stations were located in the lighthouse at Navesink, NJ, and in a building in Manhattan.

On September 28, the following message was sent from the Ponce to the Navesink shore station. It is considered to be the first official US radio message and the first sent by Marconi in the U.S.

Typed statement signed “Marconi”, undated but almost certainly September 29, 1899, likely a form of certification or official report signed by Marconi, on the raised letterhead of the vessel on which he performed this experiment, a remarkable piece of history.

“V.V.V. [his shorthand for victory]
“R.U. there?
“M.M. Yes! here.
“M. Std by a mo.”

“First message sent by the Marconi System of Wireless Telegraphy in the United States, from on Board S.S. Ponce, by Prof. Marconi, September 29/99:

“Bureau (of) Equipment, Washington D.C.

Steamship Ponce under way in naval parade, via Navesink Light Station. Mr. Marconi succeeded in opening Wireless Telegraphic communication with the shore at 12:34 PM Experiments were a complete success. Blish, Lieutenant, U.S.N.” Marconi certifies this with his signature.

This important message was the first sent in the US, the first in pursuance of a military request, and therefore what many consider the first official U.S. wireless message.