The Orkney Image Library
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A Tom Kent picture from 1923, showing the first radio transmitter built in Orkney, built by John Mackay of the Kirkwall Hotel.
Picture added on 30 June 2005
dont look that hard to build if you had all the bits
Added by Geordie Flett on 24 February 2007
Sorry but this is not a transmitter. A 6 valve receiver with three sets of headphones and Amplion loud speaker also note wire from speaker to second speaker in another room. Valves in the early days were expensive and had a short life. John Mackay has built a fine receiving station however it would not be the first in Orkney since other radio enthusiasts would have built crystal sets which were earlier.
Added by Robert Campbell on 01 February 2008
For the benefit of the deaf it does say " receiver " on the picture!!
Added by William Watters on 04 February 2008
It's great how over the years they managed to sqeeze all that stuff into the size of a matchbox.
Added by Jimmy Hamilton on 05 February 2008
Kirkwall
