Harold Beverage

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Dr. Harold Henry "Bev" Beverage (1893 in North Haven, ME - 1993) is perhaps most widely known today for his invention and development of the Wave Antenna which came to be known as the Beverage Antenna and which for the last few decades has seen a resurgence in use within the hobbyist radio amateur and broadcast dx community. Less widely known (outside of the community of science history researchers) is that Bev was a pioneer of radio engineering and his engineering research paralleled the development of radio transmission technology throughout his professional career with significant contributions not only in the field of radio frequency antennas but also radio frequency propagation and systems engineering.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Genealogy 3 References 4 List of Patents 5 External links

[edit] Biography

Harold Henry Beverage graduated from the University of Maine in 1915, and went to work for General Electric Company the following year as a radio-laboratory assistant. In 1920 he was placed in charge of developing receivers for transoceanic communications at the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Three years later, when he was just 30, he received a Morris Liebmann Memorial Prize for his contributions to the development of transoceanic radio.

In 1938, the Radio Institute of America presented him with its Armstrong Medal for his work in the development of aerial systems. The Beverage antenna, the citation said, was "the precursor of wave antennas of all types." Beverage was awarded the IRE Medal of Honor in 1945, "In recognition of his achievements in radio research and invention, of his practical applications of engineering developments that greatly extended and increased the efficiency of domestic and world-wide radio communications and of his devotion to the affairs of the Institute of Radio Engineers." In awarding him its Lamme Gold Medal in 1957 the American Institute of Electrical Engineers cited him "for his pioneering and outstanding achievements in the conception and application of principles basic to progress in national and worldwide radio communications."

The RCA named Beverage chief research engineer of communications in 1929, a position he held until 1940. At that time, he was promoted to vice president in charge of research and development at RCA Communications Inc., a subsidiary of the Radio Corporation of America. He retired in 1958 from that position and as director of radio research but continued to work in communications as a consultant.

Mr. Beverage died on 27 January 1993 at the John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, L.I. He was 99 and lived in Stony Brook, NY

[edit] Genealogy

Bev's male line ancestry can be traced reliably through several generations living in the region now the State of Maine and originally part of Massachusetts. Family tradition has it that Harold's Great-great-great-grandfather James Beveridge (the spelling of the surname changed in the 1700s) was a scotch weaver who came from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel in the early 1700s.

(1) James Beveridge - the scotch weaver from the Isle of Jersey arriving in the USA early 1700s; Married1 Sarah Bennett, 16 Dec 1723, St. Michael's Church, Marblehead, Massachusetts; Children - James and Sarah; Married2 Mary White 24 Feb 1729/1730; Child - Mary; Married3 Sarah Holman, 7 Feb 1733/34, Marblehead, Massachusetts; Children - Susanna, Jane, Mary and Samuel;

(2) James Beveridge; born 27 Aug 1724, Marblehead, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died abt 1785, North Haven, Knox Co., Maine; married Jean McKinney, abt 1750, Georgetown, Sagadahoc Co., Massachusetts; Children - Thomas, Nicholas, Mercy, Sarah, Robert, James and Matthew;

(3) Capt. Thomas Beverage; born 28 Nov 1750, Topsham, Maine; died 4 Oct 1834, North Haven, Maine; buried Seaview Cem., North Haven, Maine; married Mercy Kent, 13 Apr 1774, Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts; Occupation - Revolutionary War Soldier; Children - James, John, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Mercy, Sarah, Lydia, Josiah, Lydia and Abigail.

(4) James Beverage; born 3 Oct 1789, North Haven, Maine; died 5 Dec 1850, North Haven Maine; buried Seaview Cem., North Haven, Maine; married Jamima Crabtree, 10 Jan 1822, North Haven, Maine; Occupation - ; Children - Albert Glover, Benjamin, Harrison and Lucy.

(5) Albert Glover Beverage; born 31 Oct 1827, North Haven, Maine; died 25 Dec 1888, North Haven, Maine; buried Seaview Cem., North Haven, Maine; married 2 Dec 1851 Olive Leadbetter Carver; Children - Samuel Carver, Ellen, Fremont, Lenora, Franklin, Lucy Etta, Julia W, A Son and Nettie M.

(6) Fremont Beverage; born 18 June 1856, Maine; died 16 Dec 1930; married Lottie Smith; Children - Alida, Sarita, Harold Henry and Stanley.

(7) Harold Henry Beverage, born 14 October 1893, North Haven, Maine; died 27 January 1993; married Patricia.

The 1880 USA Federal Census return of 1 June 1880 predates both Harold's birth and his parents' marriage but Harold's father Fremont Beverage was living with his family in North Haven, Knox County, Maine (indeed Harold's father Fremont was the official census enumerator) : Albert G Beverage, White, Male, 52yo, Head, Married, Farmer, born Maine Olive L Beverage, White, Female, 50yo, Wife, Married, Keeping House, born Maine Ellen Beverage, White, Female, 26yo, Dau, Single, House Keeping, born Maine Fremont Beverage, White, Male, 23yo, Son, Single, Teacher (Public School), born Maine Frank Beverage, White, Male, 19yo, Son, Single, Farm Laborer, born Maine Samuel C Beverage, White, Male, 17yo, Son, Single, Farm Laborer, born Maine Lucy E Beverage, White, Female, 15yo, Dau, Single, At Home, born Maine

The 1900 USA Federal Census return of 1 June 1900 shows 7 year old Harold H living with his family in North Haven Town, Knox County, Maine as follows : Fremont Beverage, Head, White, Male, born June 1856, age 43y, married 13y, born Maine, Farmer, Rented Farm Lottie H Beverage, Wife, White, Female, born Jan 1863, age 37y, married 13y, 4 children, born Maine Alida E Beverage, Dau, White, Female, born Nov 1887, age 12y, single, born Maine Sarita M Beverage, Dau, White, Female, born Nov 1891, age 8y, single, born Maine Harold H Beverage, Son, White, Male, born Oct 1893, age 6y, single, born Maine Stanley F Beverage, Son, White, Male, born May 1897, age 3y, single, born Maine

Harold registered for the draft for World War I in the first round on 5 June 1917 at Schenectady City, New York and provided his details as follows : Name - Harold H Beverage; Age - 23 years; Address - 23 Ferry St., Schenectady, New York; Date of Birth - 14 October 1893; Citizen - Natural born; Place of Birth - North Haven, Maine, USA; Occupation - Electrical Engineer; Employer - GEC; Place of Employment - GEC; Dependents - Nil; Marital Status - Single; Race - White; Prior Military Service - Nil; Claim Exemption - No; Signature - Harold Henry Beverage; The Registrar added the following details : Height - Tall; Build - Medium; Eyes - Blue; Hair - Brown; Bald - No; Disabled - No;

His 1993 telephone directory listing was - Harold H Beverage, Quaker Path, Stony Brook 11790, New York

[edit] References

[edit] List of Patents

Patent No. Date Issued Subject

U.S. Patent 1697945 Jan. 8, 1929 Phasing of antennas with artificial lines

U.S. Patent 1989965 Aug. 5, 1931 Means for testing recorded sound -- automatic check film

U.S. Patent 1819589 Aug. 18,1931 H.H.B. % H.O. Peterson --Means for eliminating fading on high frequencies (filed1/2/26)

U.S. Patent 1849608 Mar. 15,1932 Frequency modulate or mark/space for AGC (automatic gain control)

U.S. Patent 1874865 Aug. 30, 1932 Acoustic combining system - mix reflections

U.S. Patent 1874866 Aug. 30, 1932 Method for eliminating fading -- basic rectifier telegraph

U.S. Patent 1888065 Nov. 15, 1932 Differential volume control for diversity artificial line

U.S. Patent 1917290 Jul. 11, 1933 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson -- Rotating switch, diversity

U.S. Patent 1917291 Jul. 11, 1933 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson -- Artificial line pickup delay, diversity

U.S. Patent 1987889 Jan. 15, 1935 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson --Means for eliminating fading switch or different beats

U.S. Patent 2014581 Sept. 17, 1935 Remote control system for relay stations

U.S. Patent RE19784 Dec. 10, 1935 Aerial system -- balanced bridge to reduce engine ignition noise of aircraft

U.S. Patent 2025190 Dec. 24, 1935 Multiplex signaling -- commutator and frequency change for multiplex

U.S. Patent 2028860 Jan. 28, 1936 Receiving system-rectifier high frequency for C.W. Hansell electrolytic recorder

U.S. Patent 2034738 Mar. 24, 1936 Radio telegraph repeater -- electronic, no relays

U.S. Patent 2067432 Jan. 12, 1937 Radio communication -- frequency diversity

U.S. Patent 2069831 Feb. 9, 1937 H.H.B. & H.O. Peterson -- Fading eliminator -- different beat notes

U.S. Patent 2070418 Feb. 6, 1937 Multiplex cable code with diversity receivers

U.S. Patent 2076361 Apr. 6, 1937 Crystal oscillator monitor for centralized control

U.S. Patent 2081730 May 25, 1937 Television system -- AGC based on density of film

U.S. Patent 2084760 June 22, 1937 System for radio spectography, horizontal sync on oscillograph

U.S. Patent 2095050 Oct, 5, 1937 Signaling-space between carrier and sidebands, phone

U.S. Patent 2112877 Aug. 5, 1938 Centralized control relay stations

U.S. Patent 2138134 Nov. 29, 1938 H.H.B. & G.S.W. Short signaling -- antennas cancel reflections

U.S. Patent 2144215 Jan, 17, 1939 Electrical energy measuring system frequency modulation

U.S. Patent 2146301 Feb 7, 1939 Warren Knotts & H.H.B. -- Frequency assignments for relay stations

U.S. Patent 2173156 Sept. 191 1939 Amplitude modulation reception -- change to phase modulation

U.S. Patent 2247743 Jul. 1, 1941 Antenna -- phased loop, basis RCA TV receiving antenna

U.S. Patent 2255374 Sept 9, 1941 System for noise reduction - noise random, signal in phase

U.S. Patent 2271909 Feb. 3, 1942 Ultra short wave noise elimination -- balance local noise vertical suppressor

U.S. Patent 2405991 Aug. 20, 1946 Secrecy system -- shift signals between multiplex channels

U.S. Patent 2414791 Mar. 4, 1947 Radio receiving system -- local oscillator varied by signal-noise bursts

U.S. Patent 2487513 Nov. 8, 1949 Radio relay system - frequency selection for relay stations

[edit] External links

• Adventures in Cybersound - Harold Henry Beverage, Dr. 1893-1993
• IEEE History Center, Legacies, Harold H Beverage 1893-1993
• Harold Beverage Interview July 1, 1968
• Harold Beverage Interview March 16-17 1992
• Harold Henry Beverage - Explorer of the Wavelengths
• Radio Pioneer Harold Beverage 2BML
• A Letter from Harold Beverage
• Photos of Beverage and his Ham Station
• AA3PX -Several Photos of Harold Beverage
• AA3PX - List of Patents
• Rootsweb WorldConnect Project, Beverage and Extended Family, Barry Beverage
• Spotlight on a Radio Pioneer, Harold H Beverage 1893-1993, Long Island Wireless Historical Society (reprint of an article by J Marshall Etter W2ER in Proceedings of The Radio Club of America Inc.)