Item Info

Media Type: Photographic Prints
Source: Automobile Reference Collection
Notes:

 October 9, 1946

From: Edythe A. Pearsall. Galvin Mfg. Corporation. 4545 Augusta Blvd., Chicago 51, Illinois. Spaulding 6500. 

Mobile Radiotelephone Service Inaugurated. 

Paul V. Galvin, president and founder of the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, makers of Motorola Radios for home and car, recently initiated commercial radiotelephone service in the Chicago area. Shortly after midnight OCtober 1st, Mr. Galvin started the new service by placing local an dlong distance radio telephone calls with the Illinois Bell Telephone System's mobile service operator from a privately-owned radio-telephone installed in his automobile. In order to fully test the equipment, the calls were made from Chicago's Loop district where interference and static make ordinary amplitude-modulated equipment inoperative. But Motorla's 152-162 mgc. frequency-modeulated equipment with its 30-watt crystal-controlled mobile transmitter and companion crystal-controlled receiver contains such a high signal-to-noise ratio that even when tests were made from underpassages beneath Wacker Drive or under the "L" on Lake Street and Wabash Avenue, not the slightest interference could be detected. 

The central station transmitter of the Illinois Bell Telephone System's mobile service system is Motorla's 152-162 mgc. FSTU-250-BR 250-watt Central Station Transmitter Unit which uses RADAR development features to provide exceptional performance and trouble-free service on the new bands. Mr. Galvin's long distance calls were relayed over regular telephone landwires as soon as they were received by the mobile service operator. According to Col.J.D. O'Connell, Director of the Engineering Laboratories, U.S. Army Air Corps, located in Eatontown, New Jersey, not the slightest disturbance prevented him from hearing Mr. Galvin's voice with better-than-average fidelity. Another long distance call to Mr. S.G. Paterson, Manager of Communications Division at Rogers Majestic Limited, Toronto, Ontario, proved that mobile radio-telephone communication is similar and comparable to ordinary telephone service. 

Accompanying Mr. Galvin in the automobile were photographers and reporters from the Herald-American, local Chicago newspaper, who were given the opportunity to observe the extreme efficiency of radiotelephone at first hand. No special arrangements had been made for radiotelephone usage by the press, although their observation of the equipment had been scheduled. It was a lucky chance that the night city editor of the Herald-American had the telephone number assigned to Mr. Galvin's mobile unit on his desk. During the course of Mr. Galvin's initial calls, reporter Robert Clinnon was called on the radiotelephone and was assigned to go to work immediately on another story. Through Mr. Galvin's courtesy, the reporter was driven to the scene of the potential news story and was at work within a few minutes' time. Just another example of the application of radiotelephone in everyday life to save vital time!

The physical equipment of mobile radiotelephone consists of an ordinary telephone handset cradle and a control box, placed directly beneath the dashboard of the automobile. The Motorola transmitter and receiver unit Model FSTRU-3OD, together with a selective calling system are fitted snugly in the trunk of the automobile. A number is assigned to each mobile radiotelephone in the same way that each home telephone carries a number. To use radiotelephone, the caller lifts the instrument from its hook, presses the hand button, thereby cutting in the automobile transmitter. Radio relay stations located at strategic points in the Chicago area pick up the frequency-modulated signal and pass it on to the central station where the mobile radiotelephone operator is located. Giving the desired telephone number as well as the number assigned to the mobile unit to the  mobile service operator, the call is completed in the routine manner.

The Bell System has inaugurated the mobile radiotelephone service to provide constant communication for emergency and routine dispatching vehicles as well as to private individuals. Emergency services such as for ambulances and utilities' repair trucks will be available on a monthly rental basis. Plans include expanded service to newspapers and commercial organization requiring constant communication with representatives in the field. The original installation of this equipment can be made on one of two plans: (1) complete rental of the equipment from the local telephone company including the selective calling system, or (2) private ownership of the Motorla mobile transmitter-receiver connected to the selective calling system which is supplied by the telephone company on a rental basis together with the radiotelephone service. 

Central station for mobile radiotelephone service conducted in cooperation with the local Bell Telephone Systems are located in more than fifty cities in the United States, including New York, Newark, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Houston, St. Louis, Dayton, Indianapolis, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Omaha, Oklahoma City, Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. 

Captions for Pictures Accompanying Story:

1. Paul V. Galvin, head of the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, makers of Motorola car and home radios, recently made the first commercial radiotelephone call in the Chicago area from his car to Toronto, Canada, and Eatontown, N.J.

2. The compact 152-162 mgc. Frequency-Modulated 30-watt crystal-controlled mobile transmitter and companion crystal-controlled receiver Model FSTRU-30D along with a selective calling unit fit snugly into the trunk of Mr. Galvin's automobile.