In early 1922, J. Irving Bell provided occasional broadcasts over amateur station 8AB, located at his home at 1511 Gordon Street. After the Department of Commerce prohibited entertainment broadcasts by amateur stations, temporary licences in 1922 and 1923 for broadcasting station WMX were procured in the name of the Times-Herald newspaper. Bell also briefly held a standard broadcasting licence, WBBH, in 1924-1925.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, July 29, 2007, Port Huron At Its Sesquicentennial (special section), page 6:
Port Huron Roared in the '20s
By MIKE CONNELL
Times-Herald
In Port Huron, the first broadcast came March 20, 1922 when WMX received authority to broadcast temporarily during the Port Huron Auto Show, which was organized by John Cawood, Al Parfet, Elmer Brown, Bert Hyde, Herbert Weil and Mayor John French.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 4, 1922, page 4:
RADIO TO FLASH CLOSING CONCERT THROUGH THUMB
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Smaller Cities Making Plans For Receiving Wireless 'Phone Service
The final Music Memory contest concerts in Port Huron, both the final local contest and the Thumb district contest, the latter scheduled for Friday evening, March 24, may be heard throughout the entire Thumb district by radiophone, if the smaller cities in which the local contests are being held will make the necessary local arrangements for receiving in some home or auditorium.
The contest editor has made arrangements with Irvine Bell and Charles Thompson for sending the concerts from Port Huron on the occasion of the final concerts, if a sufficient display of interest in the smaller cities will warrant the work.
There are receiving stations in most of the cities in which the music memory contests are being held, and it is up to the local leaders to get busy with the local radiophone station and report to tho contest editor what can be done.
If the radio plans can be worked out, it will be possible for the towns of the Thumb district to listen to the final concert, and hear in Bad Axe for instance--their own local musician performing in the Thumb district concert in Port Huron.
There are local radio receiving stations in St. Clair, Marysville, Algonac, Capac, Yale, Harbor Beach, Bad Axe, Richmond--in fact, practically every town in which a Music Memory contest is being held.
This will make an interesting closing feature of the Thumb district contest, and local chairmen should act at once, if it is desired to receive the final concerts by radio in any town.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 18, 1922, page 4:
TO BROADCAST GRAND CONCERT
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U. S. Permission Received To Use Radio Friday Night
The stage is now set for the closing events of the Port Huron and Thumb district music memory contest, which have occupied much attention during the past six weeks. Today's presentation of "The Banjo Song" is the twenty-fourth number of the contest and the last. Following this comes the test concerts in the various cities and then the grand district concert and test in Port Huron next Friday evening.
All Finals Next Week.
During the coming week the final examinations will take place in all of the towns participating in the contest, not all on the same day or evening, but all in time for the winners to take part in the Port Huron grand concert next Friday. Letters are already coming in, saying that winners and their friends will be present from the district cities.
Radio Arrangements in Making
Arrangements for the broadcasting of the grand district concert are progressing satisfactorily and with every assurance that the radio will be used.
Owing to recent changes in radio regulations by the U. S. department of commerce, it has been necessary to appeal to Secretary Herbert Hoover in Washington for permission will be granted on the basis of 360-meter wave lengths, which will be eminently satisfactory. Further announcement will be made the first of next week.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 22, 1922, page 4:
360-Meter Wave Length To Spread the Final Concert
A telegram yesterday from Herbert Hoover, secretary of commerce, at Washington, authorized the broadcasting of the Thumb district grand prize concert numbers Friday evening of this week to the various towns of the district, on a 360-meter wave length basis, thus assuring the most satisfactory service possible.
In order to get most efficient results, the various number will be sent from the broadcasting station of Messrs. Bell and Thompson, local radio experts, on Fifteenth street, and each artist will go directly from the church by automobile to the broadcasting station, as soon as his or her number is given at the Congregational church.
All radio stations in the district may pick up the concert, listening to the various Thumb district artists as they play or sing their numbers in the final grand concert.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 24, 1922, page 4:
Superintendent A. A. Riddering of the Marysville schools has consented to act as chairman of judges for the final award of prizes. At the concert tonight all the towns will be given an opportunity to enter one Judge each. Papers will be corrected at the Public library Saturday at 2 p. m., with Ross Mahes as chairman for Port Huron. At 3 p. m., the Judges decide who win between the best papers will be in session.
The soloists of the final Music Contest will be taken to the home of Irving Bell who will send out the Music Memory numbers to the district towns, and also to the Port Huron Industrial Show. This radio concert will begin at 8:15 and continue until 9:45. A clear transmission is assured barring weather interruptions, as the 360 meter wave length will be used by special permission from Herbert Hoover.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 25, 1922, pages 1, 4:
MUSIC CONTEST GRAND CONCERT DELIGHTS CROWD
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Thumb Residents, Directly Or On Radio, Listen To Best Artists of District
After a six weeks' competition, in which the entire Thumb district has resounded with the enticing strains of the 24 Music Memory contest numbers, this greatest musical event in the annals of the district came to a close last evening with the grand district concert in the First Congregational church.
Not only was the competition of last evening of interest in itself, bringing together, as it did, competitors from all parts of the Thumb district, but the concert program was novel, in that, for the first time perhaps, it brought together some of the best musical talent of the Thumb cities.
Radiophone Used
Furthermore, the event was right up to the most exacting demands of twentieth century requirements, for most of the numbers of the contest program were sent broadcast to the Thumb district towns by radiophone, and thus the people of almost a score of cities of eastern Michigan were able to sit comfortably in their heme towns and listen to the voices of their own artists, singing the contest numbers in Port Huron, in some cases a hundred miles away.
Radio Concert Success.
While the test concert was in progress at the First Congregational church, the radio program was broadcasted from the radio station of Irving Bell and Charles Thompson, on Fifteenth street, and was received throughout the district with great interest, some of the Thumb district radio stations reporting to the local station that it was perfectly received. It was also received at the Industrial exhibit in the Parfet garage with great distinctness. The numbers sent out by radio were as follows:
1. Hungaran Dance--Brahms, Piano, Mrs. William Dart, Port Huron.
2. Marche Slave--Tschaikowsky, piano, Miss Marian Fitzgerald.
3. Little Firefly--Cadman, Mr. Roy Wetling, violin, Armada, Miss Geraldine Ritter, accompanist, Armada.
4. To A Water Lily--McDowell, Miss Lillian Zaetsch, piano, Algonac.
5. The Two Grenadiers--Schumann, Mr. R. Stratton, baritone, Port Huron.
6. Deep River--Miss Florence Fish.
7. Salut D'Amour--Elgar, Mrs August Nelm, violin, Croswell.
8. Prize Song from Die Meistersinger--Wagner, Mr. George MacComb, tenor, Port Huron.
9. Banjo Song--Homer, Miss Evangeline Lehmann, contralto, Port Huron.
10. Liebestraum--Liszt, Miss Marjorie Brown, piano, Port Huron.
The Radio concert numbers announced by H. A. Davis, superintendent of schools, Port Huron.
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 23, 1923, page 4:
Radio Program Widely Heard
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WMX Broadcasting Gets Scores of Replies
W M X The Times-Herald Music Memory contest broadcasting station, has been successfully covering every part of the territory where people are participating in the contest and in many instances, concerts broadcasted by WMX, a newcomer among broadcasting stations, have been heard many miles outside the territory served by The Times-Herald.
Recently, following the first night of broadcasting, many inquiries have been received at this office, asking when the Times-Herald started to broadcast radio programs. Due to the fact that W M X is a new call, followers of the radio game soon noticed this new station and immediately became curious. However, when Irving Bell, who operates the station, signed off "WMX Port Huron Times-Herald," curiosity rose and there followed many 'phone calls both to The Times-Herald and the station, asking for further information.
Toledo, Stratford Ont., Detroit, and Brigden, Ont., number among those which have been listening to the music of W M X and all of these state that the music is "coming in QSA" (very loud.) The Toledo station especially, reports reception there very distinct and clear.
The following cities have reported hearing WMX: Battle Creek, Saginaw, Toledo. Algonac, Sarnia, Ont., Richmond, Petrolia, Ont., Brigden, Ont., Yale, Mt. Clemens, Capac, St. Clair, Stratford, Ont., and Detroit, while a number of local stations report good reception of the concerts broadcasted in preparation for the Music Memory final contest.
The following letter has been received from Perry Burr, Aberfeldy Lambton county, Ont.
"Last night, March 19th while listening in on my crystal radio set I picked up your station WMX. You asked all radio listeners to write you on how your program was coming in. Well it was not as loud as the Detroit News WWJ but was real plain, and distinct.
"I have heard 600 or 700 miles with my crystal set. Hoping to hear from you in the future."
Port Huron (Michigan) Times-Herald, March 24, 1923, page 4:
AWAIT RESULT OF CITY CONTEST
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Entrants To Learn Decision of Judges Monday
A large audience of Port Huron contestants eagerly greeted the first strains of music in the third annual Times-Herald Music Memory contest Friday night in the First M. E. church under the direct auspices of the Thursday Musicale, and broadcasted throughout the Thumb by WMX, The Times-Herald Music Memory broadcasting station.
A galaxy of local stars, both vocal and instrumental, presented selections by famous composers and five separate classes, ranging from young tousled heads to more austere gray ones bent in thought at the first strains of the "Prelude to Carmen" by Bizet, the first number on the evening's program.