Federal Telegraph Company
Pioneering arc transmitters and early vacuum tube development.
The Federal Telegraph Company, a U.S. firm involved in manufacturing and communications, was a key player in advancing radio technology during the 1900s. It began by working on wireless voice transmission but later pivoted to challenge established telegraph companies like Western Union. Over time, it evolved into a government contractor with close ties to the United States Navy.
Founded in Palo Alto, California, in 1909 by Cyril Frank Elwell, the company started as the Poulsen Wireless Company after securing U.S. rights to Valdemar Poulsen’s arc transmitter. It built high-powered transmitters for long-distance radiotelegraphy. Between 1911 and 1913, Lee De Forest and two assistants worked at Federal Telegraph to create the first vacuum tube amplifier and oscillator, which De Forest called the "Oscillaton," building on his earlier Audion.
In 1912, the U.S. Congress allocated $1 million for a chain of Navy radio stations. Elwell negotiated with naval officials, leading to a demonstration at the new Arlington, Virginia, station. Federal equipment exchanged messages with the battleship USS Arkansas during its shakedown cruise to the Canal Zone, and later with a Federal station in Honolulu—a record-breaking transmission over 4,500 miles. This success won Federal a contract for a 100kW arc transmitter in the Canal Zone, followed by contracts for naval stations in Massachusetts, Texas, and Cuba.
After the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, the government took over the radio industry. The Navy bought nearly all commercial stations, including Federal Telegraph’s, for $1.6 million, effective May 15, 1918. (Company president Washington Dodge, accused of profiting personally from the deal, died by suicide in June 1919.) Federal continued overland service using leased telephone lines. After the war, the Navy’s Alexander bill sought to keep government ownership of radio stations but failed; stations were returned to their owners, and Federal resumed operations in 1921.
In 1924, Rudolph Spreckels gained a controlling interest and appointed Ellery W. Stone as president. Stone recognized that Federal held shop rights to patents Lee De Forest developed while employed there, allowing the company to produce vacuum tubes covered by De Forest’s five patents without infringement lawsuits.
- Founded
- 1909
- Founder
- Cyril Frank Elwell
- Original name
- Poulsen Wireless Company
- Location
- Palo Alto, California
- Key figure
- Lee De Forest
- Acquired by
- Mackay Companies (1927)
- Notable contract
- 100kW arc for a radio station in the Canal Zone
Lore & Background
The company was founded in Palo Alto, California in 1909 by Cyril Frank Elwell, and was first known as the Poulsen Wireless Company, after licensing Valdemar Poulsen's arc transmitter for use in the United States. The company initially developed high-powered transmitters used for long distance radiotelegraph communication. In 1911–13, Lee De Forest and two assistants worked at Federal Telegraph on the first vacuum tube amplifier and oscillator, which De Forest called the 'Oscillaton' after his earlier Audion.
In 1912 the US Congress appropriated $1 million to build a chain of radio stations for the United States Navy. Elwell held discussions with naval officials and a demonstration was carried out at the new naval station in Arlington, Virginia, using Federal equipment to exchange messages from Arlington to the USS Arkansas and later to Federal's station in Honolulu, a then record-breaking transmission of over 4,500 miles. As a result, Federal won a contract to provide a 100kW arc for a radio station in the Canal Zone, and within a year also won contracts for naval stations in Massachusetts, Texas and Cuba.
After the U.S. entry into World War I in April 1917, the government took control of the radio industry. The United States Navy purchased nearly all U.S. commercial radio stations, including Federal Telegraph's for $1.6 million, effective May 15, 1918. Federal Telegraph continued to provide overland service using leased telephone lines. After the war, stations were returned to their original owners, and Federal Telegraph resumed station operations in 1921.
Reader's Guide
Federal Telegraph Company's significance lies in its early development of high-powered arc transmitters for long-distance radiotelegraphy, which secured major contracts with the United States Navy and set transmission distance records. The company also provided the environment for Lee De Forest's work on the first vacuum tube amplifier and oscillator, a foundational step in electronics. After World War I, the company's acquisition by the Mackay Companies and later by ITT allowed its manufacturing capabilities to support ITT's needs during World War II, particularly after the Fall of France. Additionally, in 1931, Federal Telegraph donated an 80-ton magnet developed for a canceled project in China to Ernest O. Lawrence's cyclotron project at the University of California Berkeley, contributing to the invention that earned Lawrence the Nobel Prize in 1939. The company's legacy includes its role in naval communications, vacuum tube patent rights, and its transformation into a division of ITT.
Did You Know?
- Federal Telegraph built a 1MW arc transmitter.
- Lee De Forest developed the first vacuum tube amplifier and oscillator, called the 'Oscillaton', while at Federal Telegraph.
- In 1931, Federal Telegraph donated an 80-ton magnet to Ernest O. Lawrence for his cyclotron project.
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