Union power

I’ve discussed the rise and fall of shortwave often. Shortwave is an abandoned territory ripe for reclaiming, and Mutual Benefit Societies are another abandoned territory that deserves reclaiming. This little item rings both bells at once.

In 1933 shortwave was growing but not well explored or understood yet. A 1933 issue of a Gernsback radio magazine lists the currently active shortwave stations. Many were in the US. The majority were experimental, operated by RCA and General Electric for research purposes. A few were real broadcasters, including KMBC in Kansas City. Others were just simulcasting the regular BCB programming of a station.

The experimenters were most active at the high end near 30 MC, in bands that were later abandoned by commercial and propaganda broadcasts because they weren’t good for long-range skip.

This page shows the 49 through 25 meter bands, prime skip territory.

One of the broadcasters stands out. I’ve highlighted the US stations in blue, and the Chicago Federation of Labor in green. They ran a regular daily schedule of union-centered programming. They were technically savvy enough to recognize the national and international range of shortwave, and wealthy enough to spend money on an uncertain venture.