Alandyer

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Richard Rogers
                                       15 Coolamon Road
                                       Taroona   7053
                                       27th September, 1995

       Dear Alan,

                 I enclose a copy of a note I wrote for myself about 7AU, 
       a copy of the photos and a copy of the list written by Trevor 
       Watkins.
                 The experimental license 7AU would have been issued 
       between late 1922, when the restrictions on radio were eased and 
       early 1925 when amateur licenses were issued by examination.   I 
       know that 7AA was issued in October 1922 and 7BN, which was issued 
       to Wills Bros in the Quadrant, Launceston in March 1925.   A list 
       of experimental stations in the Illustrated Tasmanian Mail for 
       7/2/24 includes J.F.Slater but does not indicate that he was 
       licensed to transmit.  It was not uncommon for unlicensed stations 
       to transmit and pretty easy to make a low powered spark 
       transmitter.   As early as 1921 the PMG's Department was writing 
       letters to licensed experimenters asking them to report any 
       "irregular use of Wireless apparatus -- especially in transmitting 
       signals".
                 My interest in this was started when the Wireless 
       Institute gained the use of the old Coast Radio building on the 
       Domain in Hobart and I looked in old newspapers to find out about 
       its building.   I followed up by trying to find out exactly when 
       the Wireless Institute started in Tasmania and then started going 
       around talking to aged amateurs, which is where I heard about your 
       mural.   Syd Medford in Burnie told me of it and so I had a look 
       at it on my way home.
                 I don't get up your way too often, but I'll certainly be 
       visiting Jan and Lyell Thomas sometime soon and I'll give you a 
       ring when I do.
                 My main interest is in the technical side and I may be 
       able to guess what sort of equipment the Slaters were using when I 
       see the photo.

                                      Cheers,