Harold Beverage
Encyclopedia
Dr. Harold Henry "Bev" Beverage is perhaps most widely known today for his invention and development of the wave antenna, which came to be known as the Beverage antenna
and which for the last few decades has seen a resurgence in use within the amateur radio
and broadcast DXing
hobbyist communities. Less widely known (outside of the community of science history researchers) is that Bev was a pioneer of radio engineering and his engineering research paralleled the development of radio transmission technology throughout his professional career with significant contributions not only in the field of radio frequency antennas but also radio frequency propagation and systems engineering.
in 1915, and went to work for General Electric
Company the following year as a radio-laboratory assistant to Dr. Ernst Alexanderson
. In 1920, he was placed in charge of developing receivers for transoceanic communications at the Radio Corporation of America
in Riverhead
, New York. Three years later, at the age of 30, he received the IRE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Prize
"for his work on directional antennas."
RCA named Beverage chief research engineer of communications in 1929, a position he held until 1940. At that time, he was promoted to vice president in charge of research and development at RCA Communications Inc., a subsidiary of the Radio Corporation of America. He retired in 1958 from that position and as director of radio research, but continued to work in communications as a consultant.
In 1938, the Radio Club of America presented him with its Armstrong Medal for his work in the development of antenna systems. The Beverage antenna, the citation said, was "the precursor of wave antennas of all types." Beverage was awarded the IRE Medal of Honor in 1945, "In recognition of his achievements in radio research and invention, of his practical applications of engineering developments that greatly extended and increased the efficiency of domestic and world-wide radio communications and of his devotion to the affairs of the Institute of Radio Engineers."http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/awards/pr/mohpr.html In awarding him its AIEE Lamme Medal in 1956 the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
cited him "for his pioneering and outstanding engineering achievements in the conception and application of principles basic to progress in national and worldwide radio communications."
Mr. Beverage died on 27 January 1993 at the John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, L.I. He was 99, and lived in Stony Brook, New York
.
Beverage antenna
The Beverage Antenna is a relatively inexpensive but very effective long wire receiving antenna used by amateur radio, shortwave listening, and longwave radio DXers and military applications. Harold H. Beverage experimented with receiving antennas similar to the Beverage antenna in 1919 at the...
and which for the last few decades has seen a resurgence in use within the amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
and broadcast DXing
DXing
DXing is the hobby of tuning in and identifying distant radio or television signals, or making two way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio, citizens' band radio or other two way radio communications. Many DXers also attempt to receive written verifications of reception from the...
hobbyist communities. Less widely known (outside of the community of science history researchers) is that Bev was a pioneer of radio engineering and his engineering research paralleled the development of radio transmission technology throughout his professional career with significant contributions not only in the field of radio frequency antennas but also radio frequency propagation and systems engineering.
Biography
Harold Henry Beverage received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of MaineUniversity of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in 1915, and went to work for General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Company the following year as a radio-laboratory assistant to Dr. Ernst Alexanderson
Ernst Alexanderson
Ernst Frederick Werner Alexanderson was a Swedish-American electrical engineer, who was a pioneer in radio and television development.-Background:...
. In 1920, he was placed in charge of developing receivers for transoceanic communications at the Radio Corporation of America
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
in Riverhead
Riverhead (town), New York
The town of Riverhead is in Suffolk County, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census. The name signifies that the mouth of the Peconic River is in this town...
, New York. Three years later, at the age of 30, he received the IRE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Prize
IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award
The initially called Morris Liebmann Memorial Prize provided by the Institute of Radio Engineers , the IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award was created in 1919 in honor of Colonel Morris N. Liebmann. It was initially given to awardees who had "made public during the recent past an important...
"for his work on directional antennas."
RCA named Beverage chief research engineer of communications in 1929, a position he held until 1940. At that time, he was promoted to vice president in charge of research and development at RCA Communications Inc., a subsidiary of the Radio Corporation of America. He retired in 1958 from that position and as director of radio research, but continued to work in communications as a consultant.
In 1938, the Radio Club of America presented him with its Armstrong Medal for his work in the development of antenna systems. The Beverage antenna, the citation said, was "the precursor of wave antennas of all types." Beverage was awarded the IRE Medal of Honor in 1945, "In recognition of his achievements in radio research and invention, of his practical applications of engineering developments that greatly extended and increased the efficiency of domestic and world-wide radio communications and of his devotion to the affairs of the Institute of Radio Engineers."http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/awards/pr/mohpr.html In awarding him its AIEE Lamme Medal in 1956 the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
The American Institute of Electrical Engineers was a United States based organization of electrical engineers that existed between 1884 and 1963, when it merged with the Institute of Radio Engineers to form the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers .- History :The 1884 founders of the...
cited him "for his pioneering and outstanding engineering achievements in the conception and application of principles basic to progress in national and worldwide radio communications."
Mr. Beverage died on 27 January 1993 at the John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, L.I. He was 99, and lived in Stony Brook, New York
Stony Brook, New York
Stony Brook is a hamlet located in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, which is on the North Shore of Long Island...
.
List of Patents
- U.S. Patent 1,381,089 Jun 7, 1921 Radio Receiving System - the Beverage antenna
- U.S. Patent 1,434,984 Nov 7, 1922 Radio Receiving System - the bidirectional Beverage antenna
- U.S. Patent 1,434,985 Nov 7, 1922 Radio Receiving System - using a Beverage antenna with multiple receivers
- U.S. Patent 1,434,986 Nov 7, 1922 Radio Receiving System - a Beverage antenna with selective circuits to eliminate interference from adjacent wavelengths
- U.S. Patent 1,487,308 Mar 18, 1924 Radio Receiving System - improvements to the directivity of the Beverage Antenna
- U.S. Patent 1,697,945 Jan 8, 1929 Artificial transmission lines for phasing multiple antennas Aug. 5, 1931 Means for testing recorded sound—automatic check film Aug. 18,1931 H.H.B. % H.O. Peterson—Means for eliminating fading on high frequencies (filed1/2/26) Mar. 15,1932 Frequency modulate or mark/space for AGC (automatic gain control) Aug. 30, 1932 Acoustic combining system - mix reflections Aug. 30, 1932 Method for eliminating fading—basic rectifier telegraph Nov. 15, 1932 Differential volume control for diversity artificial line Jul. 11, 1933 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson—Rotating switch, diversity Jul. 11, 1933 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson—Artificial line pickup delay, diversity
- U.S. Patent 1,962,169 Jun 12, 1934 Device for reducing the effects of static or fading
- U.S. Patent 1,967,604 Jul 24, 1934 Aerial System - to be used adjacent to local noise sources Jan. 15, 1935 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson—Means for elimination of fading on short wavelengths
- U.S. Patent 1,989,965 Feb 5, 1935 Method of testing recorded sound Sept. 17, 1935 Remote control system for relay stations Dec. 10, 1935 Aerial system—balanced bridge to reduce engine ignition noise of aircraft Dec. 24, 1935 Multiplex signaling—commutator and frequency change for multiplex Jan. 28, 1936 Receiving system-rectifier high frequency for C.W. Hansell electrolytic recorder Mar. 24, 1936 Radio telegraph repeater—electronic, no relays Jan. 12, 1937 Radio communication—frequency diversity Feb. 9, 1937 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson—Fading eliminator—different beat notes Feb. 6, 1937 Multiplex cable code with diversity receivers Apr. 6, 1937 Crystal oscillator monitor for centralized control May 25, 1937 Television system—AGC based on density of film June 22, 1937 System for radio spectography, horizontal sync on oscillograph Oct, 5, 1937 Signaling-space between carrier and sidebands, phone
- U.S. Patent 2,106,806 Feb 1, 1938 Relay system - Ultra short radio waves Aug. 5, 1938 Centralized control relay stations
- U.S. Patent 2,138,134 Nov 29, 1938 Phasing and spacing antennas to eliminate undesired reflected rays Jan, 17, 1939 Electrical energy measuring system frequency modulation Feb 7, 1939 Warren Knotts & H.H.B. -- Frequency assignments for relay stations Sept. 191 1939 Amplitude modulation reception—change to phase modulation
- U.S. Patent 2,247,743 Jul 1, 1941 Broadband Uni-directional Shortwave Antenna Sept 9, 1941 System for noise reduction - noise random, signal in phase Feb. 3, 1942 Ultra short wave noise elimination—balance local noise vertical suppressor
- U.S. Patent 2,405,991 Aug 20, 1946 Secrecy system for multiplex telegraphy
- U.S. Patent 2,416,791 Mar 4, 1947 Radio receiver system for UHF frequencies that removes unintentional frequency modulation from a received signal
- U.S. Patent 2,487,513 Nov 8, 1949 Radio Relaying System - frequency selection for a chain of relay stations
External links
- Adventures in Cybersound - Harold Henry Beverage, Dr. 1893-1993
- IEEE History Center, Legacies, Harold H Beverage 1893-1993
- Harold Beverage Interview July 1, 1968
- Harold Beverage Interview March 16-17 1992
- Harold Henry Beverage - Explorer of the Wavelengths
- Radio Pioneer Harold Beverage 2BML
- A Letter from Harold Beverage
- Photos of Beverage and his Ham Station
- AA3PX -Several Photos of Harold Beverage
- AA3PX - List of Patents
- Spotlight on a Radio Pioneer, Harold H Beverage 1893-1993, Long Island Wireless Historical Society (reprint of an article by J Marshall Etter W2ER in Proceedings of The Radio Club of America Inc.)
- The Wave Antenna, A New Type of Highly Directive Antenna, Proceedings of the AIEE, February 1923
- Beverage antenna projects