Harold Beverage of the Eponymously Named Antenna Type
August 1944 Radio-Craft

August 1944 Radio-Craft [Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Craft, published 1929 - 1953. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

The Beverage Antenna, very familiar to amateur radio operators, is a simple but efficient, highly directional, non-resonant antenna that consists of a single straight wire of one or more wavelengths that is suspended above the ground. It is orientated parallel to the direction of intended reception. One end is terminated to ground through a resistor, and the other is connected to the receiver. The following quote comes from the patent (US1,81,089) text (reference Fig. 3 in drawing below):

"In accordance with theoretical considerations, if an antenna were to be freely suspended and if the surface of the earth constituted a perfectly conducting parallel plane, current waves would travel through the antenna conductor at a velocity equal to the velocity of light. ... By choosing proper values for the condensers the wave velocity on the line for continuous waves of any specified frequency may be made equal to or greater than the velocity of light."

Harold Beverage of the Eponymously Named Antenna Type

Dr. Harold Beverage, recipient of Army honors.

It is the intention of the Signal Corps to present such certificates to individuals and companies who have performed notable services beyond the normal requirements of duty but who are not under the direct control of the War Department and are therefore, not eligible for the Army-Navy "E."

Several other certificates have already, been awarded to individuals and companies. Possibly the most notable figure to receive one is Dr. Harold H. Beverage, old-time radio researcher and inventor, now an associate director of the RCA Laboratories.

Posted August 9, 2019
(updated from original post on 8/11/2014)