Two Navy stations broadcast the Lincoln Memorial Dedication: NOF, in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C., operating on 412 meters (728 kilohertz on the AM (mediumwave) band), and NAA, located across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, transmitting on the longwave wavelength of 2,650 meters (113 kilohertz).
Frederick (Maryland) Daily News, May 31, 1922, page 5:
RADIO FANS HEAR HARDING'S SPEECH
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"Listen In" on Lincoln Memorial Dedicatory Address.
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HIS VOICE CARRIES WELL
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President Warren G. Harding's address at the dedicatory services of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington was heard in Frederick yesterday afternoon. This is probably the first time that the present Chief Executive of the nation has been listened to in this city, at least simultaneously with his utterances. His speech yesterday was broadcasted by radio, and some of the local fans "listened in" and were able to hear very distinctly all that he said in Washington. Likewise the address of former President William Taft, now chief Justice, in presenting the memorial on behalf of the commission, which had charge of providing this matchless tribute to the memory of the great War President, was quite clear and was distinctly heard. The other parts of the program were also plainly reproduced on receiving radio instruments.
President Heard Best.
While all of the program was distinguishable, the speech of President Harding was the most satisfactory. His enunciation was excellent. His voice seemed well adapted for broadcasting. Those who had never heard him speak were charmed by his oratorical voice, his fluency of speech and by his rhythmic expression.
Among those who were especially successful in "tuning in" the Washington exercises was Henry B. Ramsburg, who had one of his equipments in operation at the office of the Ramsburg Fertilizer factory on Carroll St. He connected a loud speaker by which a number of persons were able to hear all that was transpiring without the use of headphones. Perhaps the largest group of Fredericktonians "attended" the exercises by means of Mr. Ramsburg's instrument. Usually it is quite difficult to get good results by radio during the day, but yesterday afternoon conditions seemed to be remarkably favorable. On account of the comparative proximity of Washington (even the smaller instruments will reproduce over distances as great as 800 and 1,000 miles without difficulty) the Washington program was caught very readily.
As is understood, the wireless telephone or radio makes use of electro-magnetic waves that are sent out from a given station carrying the sounds that are desired to be broadcasted. These waves travel with great rapidity, not as fast as light, but for all practical purposes, the transmission is instantaneous, that is, the Fredericktonians heard President Harding at the exact time that the Washington crowds heard him. In other words, the sound was carried instantaneously over the 50 odd miles and not as slowly as we have been accustomed to think of the speed of ordinary sound waves.
As an illustration, the government sends out from Arlington, Va., time signals that are heard in Frederick at precisely the same time and by which many clocks and watches are now regulated. These signals are carried to the various broadcasting stations on a long wave and there transmuted into a short wave and broadcasted throughout the country. Thousands of amateur radio operators, with their instruments, suitable for the short wave, pick up the signals and for all practical purposes there is absolutely no loss of time. Every night, at five minutes to 10 o'clock, the time signals are broadcasted from Arlington. When it reaches 10 o'clock there is a long signal. Most of the Frederick fans get these signals from Pittsburgh, Pa, or Newark, N. J., having been relayed from Arlington, Va. This shows one of the mystifying characteristics of this wonderful invention.
Yesterday afternoon, while the Lincoln Memorial services were being heard at the Ramsburg office, one resident from the county, who had his first introduction to the radio, was told that he was hearing a speech delivered in Washington. Has was somewhat dazed until he began to grasp the situation. It seemed so realistic that after a while he detected what he took to be a "moonshine" breath somewhere about him, and he inquired whether he was smelling the speaker's breath. He was informed that this invention carried only sound not odors, and that any holiday "perfumery" must be coming from the same room and not from 55 miles away.
Splendid results were obtained at the plant of the Price Bros., who heard very plainly the President's address through the use of the radiophone. The instrument used by the Price Bro's. is their own make.