WLW FARM “CORN COB” Mic

WLW FARM “CORN COB” Mic
Lewis Crosby purchased a farm near the WLW transmitter in Mason,Ohio in 1941 to set up a working farm operated by farm people who talked on WLW Farm programs. Called “Everybody’s Farm”, it served as the center of WLW Rural programming. The “Little White Studio” hosted countless farm programs and thousands of rural visitors over the years.This special microphone became a famous part of the WLW Farm activities.
When the need for a distinctive mike arose, R.J.Rockwell, Technical Director, asked Earl Neal, the tenant at Everybody’s Farm, to bring him the largest ear of corn that he could find. An aluminum casting was moulded and machined out to hold an RCA “Salt-shaker” type mike. After painting to look like an ear of corn it was put in service. The Little White Studio, the old farmhouse, the farm tenants, all have passed from the scene and Everybody’s Farm is just a pleasant bit of nostalgia.

Corn Microphone

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listening in on the proceedings of the House, with a receiving set

From http://www.shorpy.com/node/7322

Washington, D.C. December 19, 1922. “Rep. Vincent Morrison Brennan, Republican of Michigan, listening in on the proceedings of the House, with a receiving set.” National Photo Co. Collection glass negative.

First woman in the U.S. to run a radio school

Mary Texanna Loomis : 1921

From http://www.shorpy.com/node/9269

This colorized image shows Mary Texanna Loomis, the first woman in the U.S. to run a radio school, operating her radio station in 1921. Her school, the Loomis Radio College, operated in Washington, D.C., in the 1920’s and 1930’s. She is seated at an early receiver that uses a panel mounted crystal detector. The knife switches to the right are probably antenna selectors. Next to that is an antenna tuner called a “loose coupler”, which is connected to a tube receiver out of view on the right.