Everybody wants a Grebe Radio for Christmas.

EDITOR’S NOTE (September 15, 2008): The images and website referred to below appear to have gone off-line.

Found an interesting web site of Antique Radio Pictures including A. H. Grebe Radio CR5, CR8, and many others at this page.

Listening to the World Series on the radio is part of the baseball legacy. Here is a page from Grebe Radio history.

A. H. Grebe also experimented with broadcasting from cars and boats, with his mobile transmission station WGMU broadcasting horse races in 1925. Here is Alfred Grebe’s brother Rudolph in a car outfitted to transmit radio in 1919.

Alfred H. Grebe Jr. will be presenting the ALFRED H. GREBE MEMORIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE at the Radio Club of America 96th Anniversary Annual Awards Banquet, November 18, 2005 at the New York Athletic Club.

The recipeint will be Jerry Minter, an officer and very long-time member of the club. This is only the fourth time in eleven years the award has been presented. The award is a very attractive plaque that includes a photo of Alfred H. Grebe.

Continued from Don Patterson’s Radio Age Newsletter.

After being home for a month and a half Alfred left for Pittsburg on May 29th. He relates this assignment as follows…

Left New York 29th May 8.33PM for Pittsburg. Had pretty sleepless night but felt ok in morning.

May 30
Susan met me then went up the hill through the tunnel to Susan’s house. It rained until about 4PM so we stayed in house until it stopped, then went to see Aunt Belle. Came back about 6.15 and had supper. Went to movies in evening and saw good show. Went to bed 11.30 and had good nights rest until 7AM. Had breakfast and went to office with Susan. Then had walk around town and went back to meet Susan at 12. Then stayed around house until it was time to leave for train had half hour time at station and Susan’s father came to say goodbye at last minute then found out the train was 1 hour late leaving but Susan was gone so couldn’t see her anymore.

May 31
Had pretty good night sleeping.

Jun 1
Mostly farms we are passing.

Jun 2
Stop at North Platt for 15 minutes and then proceed on way. Now over a mile above sea level. Had hail storm little while ago but its all melted away now. Train going slow as we are going up very rapidly.

Jun 3
Arrived Frisco 9.30AM and went to Herbert Bachelor Hotel. Found it to be nice place and had a good meal.

Jun 4
Went over to see Standard Oil Co. Very rotten people especially J.C. Rohlfs – mgr. “SEMINOLE” arrived on the 7th. Completed in 3 days after a new buss was built for wireless room. Went up to see Susan’s Aunt. Only had a half hour as I had to go back to the Standard Oil office. Went up Mt. Amalplis with Mr. Brehme. Very fine trip. The wood caught fire a few hours before we started up the mountain and made the trip even more interesting. The fire last 3 days after we were up and destroyed 7000 acres of shrubbery and small trees. Finished all the ships in due time. Work day and night on most of the ships. Finished “ADORNA” with only 1 helper in 23 hours actual work. Getting ready to leave for Seattle now.

Aug 19
Left for Seattle 10.20PM. Very warm next day.

Aug 20
11.20 AM arrived at Shasta Soda Springs and had three big drinks of natural soda. Fine and cool tastes even better than the regular carbonated water.

Aug 21
Arrived at Portland Oregon 8.30AM. Had breakfast in station. 10.15AM left for Seattle on Norhern Pacific Train. Passing through lots of timberland and occasionally cattle fields and lakes. Arrived Seattle 5PM. Took taxi to Hotel and got cleaned up again.

Aug 22
Went down to Electric Boat Co and saw the wireless stuff. Wave meter and trunk haven’t arrived yet.

Aug 23
Still waiting for baggage.

Aug 24
Gone half crazy. Baggage still not here.

(Last entry)

These hand written diary pages were photo scanned and published in Don Patterson’s Radio Age Newsletter Volume 8, Number 5, May 1982, although they were barely legible. Alfred H. Grebe Jr. (editor) has transcribed the following text from the diary. I take great pleasure in entering this story for the Internet community to see. – AHG3

NOTED ON PAGE PREVIOUS TO FIRST ENTRY IN DIARY:

New York to Port Said, Karachi, Bombay, Paucal aug Soesoe, Pula Sambo, Singapore, Port Said, Bizerte, Thameshaven, London, Hamburg

Dec 8, 1912
Left New York for Bombay 8:30AM. Anchored off Stapleton 12 noon. Speak to Sayres over wireless. Picked up anchor 10PM and proceed on way.

Dec 9
Weather quite rough. Nothing extra.

Dec 10
Smoother sea. SS Cincinnatti and Stampalia pass us.

Dec 11
Weather warmer. Nothing extra.

Dec 12
Rough sea – waves over deck continually. Great sight.

Dec 13
Weather calming down but still big sea.

Dec 14
Very bum weather.

Dec 15
Same rotten weather.

Dec 16
Slightly better weather.

Dec 17
Fine weather for a change. Have fire on upper deck. Chinese crew half crazy. Put out fire with two cans of fire extinguisher.

Dec 18
Very fine weather. Patch up deck and lead in with cement, etc.

Dec 19
Very smooth but rainy weather. Communicated 800 miles with Oussant France.

Dec 20
Absolutely the rottenest day I ever spent aboard a ship.

Dec 21
Also as above.

Dec 22
Coming back to life once more. Pass Cape St. Vincent at noon. Take two photos of same.

Dec 23
Pass Gibraltar 6:30AM. Fine sight. Looks a lot different than pictures. First looks like

INSERT PENCIL SKETCH

And then

INSERT PENCIL SKETCH

Sea very smooth and weather warm.

Dec 24
Still having lovely clear weather. Everybody getting ready for the big feed tomorrow.

Dec 25
Fine weather and everybody feeling good. Have fine Christmas dinner. Flaming Plum pudding etc. Everybody enjoyed the occasion. In the evening I communicated the Norddich Germany… which made me feel good as it was the first real long distance 1140 miles.

Dec 26
Fine weather. Saw Carthage and another city on an island. Had Norddich again in evening. Now well satisfied.

Dec 27
Same fine weather.

Dec 28-29
Same except little rough on 29.

Dec 30
Arrive Port Said. Many funny looking people and sail boats. About 30 ships in harbor waiting to go through Canal.

Dec 31
All the boats in harbor making loud noise. Everybody on ship is up and wishing “Happy New Year.” Go to bed 1:30AM. I forgot t mention that yesterday I went ashore in Port Said. Great place. Very glad to have seen it.

Jan 1, 1913
11AM. Now leaving for India. All well. Fine weather.

Jan 1
Sailing at slow speed through Canal. Fine weather. Slight sand storm on desert.

Jan 2
Leave Suez and passing through Gulf of Suez. See Mount Sinai in afternoon.

Jan 2
Fine weather. Still cool.

Jan 3
Slightly warmer but very comfortable.

Jan 4
Getting warmer-but fine smooth sea. Pass quite a few ships during day.

Jan 5
Very fine weather. Pass few ships.

Jan 6
First real hot weather. Stay on deck most of time. Very few steamers near. Pass a few small islands in afternoon. 4th engineer gave me hair cut.

Jan 7
Weather cool again. Pass Island of Pierim. See vessel ashore there.

Jan 8
Pass Aden. Fine weather.

Jan 9
Still having great weather but strong currents against us.

Jan 10
Sea calm as a mill pond. Expect arrive Karachi Tuesday.

Jan 11
Same fine weather. See couple sharks. Otherwise nothing unusual.

Jan 12, 13
All same fine weather.

Jan 14
Arrive Karachi 7AM. Very cool. All well. Walk 2 _ miles to the main part of the city but by time I got there was tired out. Then met Captain Gray and his wife and had gharry ride all around the city. Visited the zoo and saw a great collection of birds.

Jan 15
Take ride through city in train car. Very fine sights. Get good photos. Ordered a spring suit from a native tailor.

Jan 16
Had lunch with the ship chandler’s family with Capt and Mrs Gray. Showed wireless station. Operator from the SS Dufferin payed me a visit and I gave him a galena detector stand. Great bunch of native Hindus are always aboard selling stuff and mending clothes. Had pair of white pants mended for 4 cents.

Jan 17
Received the suit of clothes and satisfied. Left Karachi for Bombay at noon. Weather very hot but glad to be leaving. One of my parrots which I bought for40 cents yesterday got away before I left port. Of course it was the best one.

Jan 18
Fine weather.

Jan 19
Same.

Jan 20
Arrive Bombay in morning. Lots of boats and silk merchants come aboard to sell and changie for changa (Editor: Maybe this means “exchange.”) for old clothes, etc.

Jan 21

Go ashore and see the town. Go with Capt. and Mrs. Gray. Have some lunch and tea at Mongini’s. Buy lots of stuff.

Jan 22
Go ashore again with Capt. And Mrs. Gray. Find fine store and buy some good stuff.

Jan 23
Go ashore with Second Mate and have lunch at Mongini’s. Drive around town. Went to Victoria Gardens on 22nd with Mrs. Gray.

Jan 24
All the Chinese crew go ashore to be fumigated. Bought some grass wall mats for 4 anna’s a piece. Getting ready to leave Bombay.

Jan 25
Weather fine but getting warmer.

Jan 26
Passing many native Indian sailing vessels near shore.

Jan 27
North east wind getting strong but feel ok as yet.

Jan 28
Pass southern coast of Ceylon 11AM. Quite close to the shore. Pretty vegetation.

Jan 29
Very warm weather. Keep on deck lot of the time. Ship not making very good time only 29 miles the last 24 hours.

Jan 30
North easter keeping up steady making slow time.

Jan 31
Still going slow. Expect arrive Paucal ang Susu Sunday around noon. Now have 2 months more to go till New York.

Feb 1
Passed Puls Wa and Sabang Sumatra.

Feb 2
Arrived Saembilong and leave in afternoon. Dock at Pankalang Susu in evening.

Feb 3
Go ashore. Pankalang Susu. Very mucky ashore. Visit native quarter and construction engineer of the Oil company.

Feb 4
Left Pankalang Susu 9PM for Singapore.

Feb 5
Very quiet on wireless. No ships around at all.

Feb 6
Arrived Pulo Sambo 10AM. Anchored in stream. Went ashore in afternoon. Most of Chinese stores closed on account of their new year Holiday. Bought a Swaton linen table cover in a Japanese store. Had drive all around city. Little Chinese children all painted and powdered up. Look like wax dolls.

Feb 7
Rain. Don’t expect to go to Singapore until tomorrow.

Feb 8
Went to Singapore in the company’s launch. Had jinrickshu ride all over the town. Went to a Swaton Linen store and bought $18.13 worth of linen goods. After that had lunch at Raffles Hotel and enjoyed same very much. After lunch went to a Japanese store and bought a lot of pictures some satsuma vases and some elephants. Have altogether 10 elephants of various kinds now. Then took launch back to ship. In the evening went to the Club house (Pulo Sambo Club) of which I was made member and spent the evening and a few dollars there.

Feb 9
Left Pula Samboe for Port Said. All well. Took photo of island when leaving.

Feb 10
Fine weather but very hot. Keep on deck most of the time.

Feb 11
Passed Sabaug. Poor weather. Very hot.

Feb 12
Weather same but for a rain squall in afternoon.

Feb 13
Slightly cooler weather but still pretty hot. Had my hair cut by 2nd mate in afternoon. Small rain storm in afternoon. In evening we drew for the sweepstakes and I drew Amsterdam. I haven’t got much chance but may go there. General opinion is that we will go to Rotterdam only or Rotterdam and London. Hope we go to Rotterdam and London anyway.

Feb 14
Same warm weather.

Feb 15
Overcast all day. Very cool. Pleasant.

Feb 16
One of the three weeks to Port Said over, doesn’t seem so awful long since leaving Singapore. Weather very pleasant.

Feb 17
Overcast, fresh breezes. Fine smooth sea. Clean up my room. Looks ok now. Hope to get Karachi tonight 1250 miles.

Feb 18
I didn’t get Karachi.

Feb 19
Bad lightning all night.

Feb 20
Same beautiful electric storm but can’t do anything on wireless.

Feb 21,22
Got Karachi 1000 miles.

Feb 22
Fine weather. Got Karachi both nights 1050-1100.

Feb 23
Passed Aden 4PM. Very hazy on shore so can’t see much.

Feb 25
Passed Perim Island 11PM. See few lights ashore.

Feb 24 (Editor: no explanation for dates reversed.)
Pass four small islands in Red Sea in morning. We’ll pass another at 2PM and another at 6PM. Fine breeze coming up after us.

Feb 25
Fine weather continually seeing ships.

Feb 26
Breeze coming down from the north is keeping us back a little.

Feb 27
Strong winds from north making very poor time.

Feb 28
Passed Shaduan Island and can see the mainland quite plainly. Mount Sinai in distance.

Mar 1
Arrived Suez 6AM and have to wait until 11AM before starting. Left 11AM and anchored in Bitter Lakes for the night after 6 hour run.

Mar 2
Left Bitter Lakes 7AM. Arrived Port Said 3PM. Only stop 2 hours so can’t go ashore at all.

Mar 3
Very bad weather only making 5 miles an hour. Sick most of day. Everything in room thrown around during the night. Very rotten.

Mar 4
Weather very rough in morning, but gets a little better in evening.

Mar 5
Pretty decent weather against last five days. Pretty cool breezes coming from Italian coast.

Mar 6
Fine cool weather making usual speed now expect arrive Bizerte Saturday afternoon if all goes ok.

Mar 7
Very fine weather. Pass Island of Malta 8AM fine sight, pass so close that we can see the small fishing boats around the Harbor.

Mar 8
Arrived Bizerte 8AM. Fine weather. Walking along shore to the town of Bizerte but had lot of trouble changing English coin for French Francs. Finally changed six shillings at 25% loss. Then had coffee and cakes with 3rd mate and 4th engineer. Also bought some cards and milk chocolate on way back to ship. Took photo of gypsy kid who begged for money. Left Bizerte 8PM and got right into big swell. Rolling like dog.

Mar 9
Passing along Tunis coast.

Mar 10
Passed Algiers ten AM. Fine weather once more. Copy news from Norddich in evening.

Mar 11
Passing coast of Spain. Snow capped mountains in distance. Weather fine and steamers report good weather in Bay of Biscay. Have hopes of half way decent passage through the Bay now.

Mar 12
Pass Cape St. Vincent 10PM. Still having good weather.

Mar 13
Passing off Lisbon and few other towns. See King Manncel’s Castle on Mountain.

Mar 14
Weather still ok but steamers report rough weather in English Channel.

Mar 15
We’re in it now alright. Starting to roll like a log.

Mar 16
Still rolling badly. Wind shifting astern.

Mar 17
Wind astern now. Passed Ushant (Quissant) 10AM. Expect get into decent weather tomorrow. Weather smoother but hazy. Picked up pilot 3PM at Dungeness light house. Arrive Thameshaven midnight and anchor for the night.

Mar 18
Get alongside oil wharf and start discharging the benzin. Went in tug 10AM and had a tug-boat voyage to Tellury dock. Got train for London and arriving Fenchurch St. station at 3PM. Had lunch and then took bus to Westminster. They were holding service there so had to wait awhile before looking around the Abbey. Later had look around and saw tombs and statues of all the big guys and kings, etc. Some boob carved his initials into the head of the Black prince. Saw coronation chairs and lot of other old woodwork. Some of the mosaic work on the tombs has been picked out. Some place. Next took bus around to Bond St and saw all the swell shops- but didn’t buy anything. Saw St. Pauls, Bank of England, Court Buildings. Had supper and registered in Shaftsbury Hotel. Then went to Empire Theatre and saw good show. Had a good nights sleep and woke up to see the whole city in fog and rain.

Mar 19
Had Breakfast in Hotel and went around town again. Around Threadneedle St., Bishop’s Gate, etc. Raining half the time. Then went around to the Tower of London and took train car along the embankment to Blackfriars bridge. Saw Cleopatra’s needle. And out in the Thames was the Steamer “GREBE.” I was nearly struck dumb when I saw the name so I forgot to take a picture of the ship. Then I bought a hat for 10/6 ($2.52). Looks like a good hat alright. Then had to get along to the train took the 12.25 for Stanford La Hope and then got cab for 5/ ($1.25) to the tank place. Wind blowing badly when I got back. In evening went to The Pig and Wistle with the 3rd, 4th, 5th engineers and stayed there from 830 to 1000. Thay had an old piano there and sang songs etc. The mate had his wife and three daughters aboard the ship and I showed the bunch of them the wireless outfit. The captains wife and the mates daughters left the ship and went in the tug in the afternoon. Ship left Thameshaven at midnight. Old man boozed.

Mar 21
Fine weather expect to get to Elbe river light ship tomorrow 9.30AM.

Mar 22
Arrived Auxhaven 9AM and got pilot for River. Beautiful scenery on way up. See the Kiel Canal and windmills along the shore. Lots of ships along the river. See the Big “Imperator” in the building docks in Hamburg. Only one funnel on so far. Also they are building another one 100 tons larger right near the Imperator. Docked in Oil wharf 4PM. At 5PM all hands ordered off ship to hotel ashore. Captain drunk. Ever since leaving London. Get to hotel but had to wait until 8.45 before could get supper. Went out after supper up town and saw moving picture show. Not very good show.

Mar 23
Went ashore about nine am bought knife and went around town. Fine place. Hope we will have a few more days here.

Mar 24
Captain still dead to the world. He must be taking dope of some kind. Nobody can get a word out of him. Went to Hagenbecks Zoo in afternoon. Wonderful place. I took two pictures but was stopped from taking more. Had ride around park in miniature railway. Went to Opera House in evening. Went to best place in town, but the theatre was not as near so pretty as most of the New York and Brooklyn ones. Had supper at a small café. Had no complaint there though.

Mar 25
Went to a wax work show. Most of figures very good, but the one of President Taft not a bit natural. Had lunch in an automatic lunch room where for just 10 pfennigs in slot and get what you want. Bought some leather pocket books and sent a lot of cards. Also bought a tungsten flash lamp.

Mar 26
Ship moved out of petroleum basin to river to clean boilers. Captain is still dead drunk. Office making arrangements to take him to Hospital. Second mate will refuse to sail if they send same captain out on the ship again. Got paid off at British consuls office. Went around with Chief engineer and his wife and helped them buy hat, leather goods, etc. I am the only one who can make them understand. I have improved my German a lot in past few days. Went to moving picture show in evening. Picture’s good this time. Bought 27 cards from man in street for 10 pfg or 2.5 cents (cheap).

Mar 27
Getting near time to sail. 1st mate is going as captain and second mate as 1st mate same 3rd mate new 2nd mate coming soon as possible. Eight Chinamen ran away so have to get white men to go on ship. Went around town again and bought some photographic supplies. Had lunch in automat and proceeded on way to ship. Enjoyed visit to Hamburg very much, but glad to leave as money is going low even though everything is very cheap. Left Hamburg for New York 4.45PM.

Mar 28
Fine weather making 10.5 Knots. Hope weather will be half way decent.

Mar 29
Fine weather in morning and afternoon. Passed Dungeniss Light at 7.30AM. Weather rough in evening from 5PM until midnight.

Mar 30
Fine weather again and barometer rising. Expect make New York Saturday or Sunday 12-13th. Yacht “KISMET” passed last night and the wireless operator is going to send a card home for me. He makes nearly twice the speed we make and will arrive in New York on the 5th of April. The new captain has given me the extra cabin amidships to stay in, in bad weather if I care to. I wont have to use it though.

Mar 31
Weather bit rough but still making good time.

April
This sure is April fool’s day. The wind is blowing 40 miles and the sea is building up rapidly. Very rotten weather in evening. Went to bed early.

April 2
Terrible rough weather. Ship being thrown around like a cork. Not seasick but nearly so, slept midships.

Apr 3
Weather fine again in morning and afternoon. Bad thick fog from 730 to 900PM.
Few steamers passing within few miles. 11 more days to go. Oi oi.

April 4
Fine day for a birthday. Have been rigging up on phone between the chief engineer room and the engine room but can’t get it to work right as yet. Beautiful weather and indications of at least 12 hours more of it by barometer.

April 5

Fine weather. The mess boy has been eating garlic again and he stinks some awful. The “OLYMPIC” is coming up astern bound for New York and the “MAURETANIA” is passing us bound from New York to England. Going to get busy polishing up instruments soon now.

Apr 6
Fairly good weather in morning but making bad time. Bad fog in night. Those are the anxious hours at sea. We got through it safely though.

Apr 7
Fine weather and making better time now. Had bad fog in evening until 8PM when it cleared up again. Making very good time now 10.8 Knots. We can get into New York by Sunday evening if we make 10 Knots average. Hope we get good weather and get in on Sunday evening.

April 8
Weather bit rough and making rotten headway. Only 7.2 Knots. At this rate haven’t got much chance to get in Sunday.

Apr 9
Got no chance to get in on Sunday at all. Weather muggy all day. At 5PM we got into the Gulf stream and the wind started blowing from the NE about 40 miles an hour. To make it worse the cold wind on the warm gulf water caused bad fog. The sea looks just like a Kettle of boiling water with steam rising and being blown along surface. Ship rolling terribly. Just got hold of the drawers full of curios in time to stop them from dropping on the floor. Had to hold on to table and brace myself upagainst the wall with both my legs. Fine. Not a bit sick though.

Apr 10
Still very rough but clear. Made fairly good run today 230 Knots.

Apr 11
Weather getting better. Made fine run today 246 Knots. Steamers ahead report fine weather all way but it may change by time we get along. Only 584 more miles to go.

April 12
Fine weather and made 248 knots in last 24 hours. That’s going some. Am packing up now and will not write any more for this time.

Apr 13
Smooth weather but hazy. Fine fog will set in. 5PM got into thick fog. Picked up pilot 6PM. Arthur Roche in pilot tender. Proceeded few hours but had to anchor for night.

Apr 14, 1913

Left quarantine 6.30AM. Going up river. Docked 7.50AM at North 10th St oil dock. End of Voyage.

From May 1982 to November 1983 Donald O. Patterson wrote in his Radio Age newsletter the story of Grebe Radio, A. H. Grebe & Company, Inc. In order to research the story, Don traveled to interview in person Alfred H. Grebe’s surviving wife, Stephanie M. Harvey, as well as daughter Stephanie Meier and son Alfred H. Grebe, Jr. Here are excerpts from Part I.

Alfred Henry Grebe, the son of Henry Grebe and Anna Marie Krick, was born at Richmond Hill, Long Island on April 4, 1895. Grebe had a brother, Rudolph Louis. His father was a horticulturist by trade conducting his business from behind the family home on Van Wyck Avenue. Grebe’s father was strict and didn’t allow Alfred to attend public school. So his father had a tutor teach him German, English, Math and Art. He was quite good at the latter and a still life of apples still exists today.Early in his childhood Grebe told his father about these radio waves that were in the air. He wished he could have a book on them. Elder Grebe sent to Germany for a textbook that would eventually lead Alfred down the path to success in the radio manufacturing business. Grebe’s first radio was made from an oak sewing machine box and all of the family listened to the strange waves called wireless. When Grebe was about 10 years old his father died. His mother then allowed him to attend public schools. Here and in the neighborhood the kids congregated at a little shack behind the house to hear and see the wireless sets Grebe was making. None of the mothers were worried as they knew their kids were at the Grebe’s. A cartoon published in 1940 (shown in previous article) exemplified what went on around his house.Once when Grebe had the measles, his mother sent for Doctor Woods. When Dr. Woods arrived, Grebe wasn’t in his room. So Dr. Woods exclaimed, “Where is that measily kid?” Well, he was outside his window putting up an antenna. As soon as he came in, he put the earphones up to Dr. Woods’ ears and said, “Listen, Doc, it’s Mexico.” Dr. Woods, quite satisfied with the demonstration said, “He’s got the measles, but he will be OK.”

Alfred was like any other child when it came to devilment. He had cousins who lived in Hempstead, Long Island; his mother’s brother’s family. While a trolley went down in front of their house, Grebe threw something across the lines and shorted out the electricity. Grebe and the cousins would sit in the house and laugh while the operators would try to figure out why the trolley stopped.

Ralph Sayers, long time friend, said the first meeting with Grebe was at his shop (rear of Van Wyck Blvd. home) one afternoon in 1910. “Arthur H. Lynch, a schoolmate, took me there and introduced us as all three of us were interested in wireless. the shop was a former toolhouse adjacent to an abandoned greenhouse and Grebe was busy with a small foot lathe turning out some machined brass.”

“Grebe was in his first long pants while Arthur and I still wore knickers. He was a striking personality then with deep red hair, keen dark eyes that twinkled at the corners.”

“In a few weeks I purchased at a bargain a fine homemade receiver with crystal detector as vacuum tubes were then unknown in wireless. Grebe planned a new receiver to go with his homemade amateur transmitter.” Leroy Hammond, a telegraph operator for Western Union and Long Island Railroad taught Grebe and Ralph Sayers code for 25 cents per hour each.

“Soon Grebe made his first voyage to Turks Island on S/S Cherokee of the old Clyde Line. This was before the first operators licenses were issued. His wages were $30 monthly.”

Louis Gerard Pacent, – then Retail Manager of Manhattan Electrical Supply Co., NYC became interested in GREBE DETECTORS, – an exclusive and highly efficient improvement conceived, developed and made personally by Grebe. Copper and Brass was bought, along with Sheet Hard Rubber from New York sources and electroplating had to be done in New York. Two models were in the Grebe “Line” and Pacent featured same in the Retail Shop of Mesco. In addition we began advertising them in small space in the then few amateur periodicals. Business grew steadily. After school and Saturdays, I helped and Grebe taught me how to handle the lathe, thread brass and finish the product.

Grebe complained to his mother that he wanted to learn more about wireless. He quit high school and his mother enrolled him in the Marconi Institute of America on Cliff Street in New York City. For six months he learned everything known about the phenomena called wireless. Officials at the school recommended that he go to sea as a wireless operator. According to Ralph Sayers he began sailing as Assistant, then Chief on vessels of Panama Railroad Steamship Company, Clyde Lines and other American flag vessels in coast wise trade.

During “Port Time” he doubled up and worked long and late in Shop with Grebe Detector Manufacture, which business I did on a part-time basis after school and weekends on a basis of “piece work”. “It gave me extra pocket money and I enjoyed it.” One day Grebe announced the business was netting him $15 weekly and he was going to remain ashore awhile and give it all his time.

The German Telefunken Company was then entering the American field and also the British Merchant Marine field with its excellent Ship-to-Shore Radio Telegraph equipment, and Grebe was one of the first American lads to be employed by them on American ships carrying their equipment. He later installed several Telefunken sets of equipment to replace that of the Marconi Company on vessels of the Panama Railroad Co., American-Hawaiian Steamship Company and others. Later, he took the British Tramp Tanker S/S Saranac out on a run to India with Telefunken gear – the first to be installed board a British vessel. The following pages contain excerpts from the diary of A.H. Grebe on his voyage which began December 8, 1912 and returned April 14, 1913. (The diary text will appear in the following entry, “Places Visited.”)

When Grebe was about 10 years old his father died. His mother then allowed him to attend public schools. Here and in the neighborhood the kids congregated at a little shack behind the house to hear and see the wireless sets Grebe was making. None of the mothers were worried as they knew their kids were at the Grebe’s. A cartoon published in 1940 (shown in previous article) exemplified what went on around his house.

“I don’t know what spurred the appearance of this cartoon. The GREBE RADIO company was already suffering badly in the Great Depression.

I do know my father liked to read The New York Sun. Many times I would go to a local “cigar store” and get it for him in the afternoon.” – A. H. Grebe, Jr.