Houdina Radio Control

The Houdina Radio Control Company was an American a radio equipment firm of the 1920s, remembered for demonstrating a radio-operated automobile in several cities.

History

The radio-operated automobile, American Wonder, 1925

Francis P. Houdina is credited with developing a radio-operated automobile.[a] A 1926 Chandler was equipped with a transmitting antenna on the tonneau and operated from a second car that followed it with a transmitter. The radio signals operated small electric motors that directed every movement of the car. On July 27, 1925, a public demonstration of the radio-controlled driverless car American Wonder was conducted in New York City streets, traveling up Broadway and down Fifth Avenue through thick traffic.[2] The car reportedly "barely missed trucks, automobiles and a milk wagon, finally crashing into a sedan."[3]

Also in July 1925, illusionist Harry Houdini and his secretary, Oscar Teale, visited the New York City offices of Houdina Radio Control and an argument broke out.[4][5] Houdini damaged the furniture and an electric chandelier, accusing the company of using his name unlawfully.[b] Afterwards, Francis P. Houdina said that there had never been any intention on his part to capitalize on the name of Houdini.[6][7] A summons for disorderly conduct was issued against Houdini, but the charges were dropped because George Young, the Houdina Radio Control manager, failed to appear in court.[4][8]

A second New York City test drive, this time with an escort of motorcycle police, was conducted on August 1, 1925.[9] In October 1925, the Houdina radio-operated automobile was demonstrated in Boston.[10] In January 1927, after Houdina reportedly left Indianapolis without paying some of his workers, a story was circulated that the "radio control" was actually being done by a person hidden in the car.[11] In February 1927, two youths from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, reportedly took some of the company's equipment after not being paid; the equipment was returned to local police, and police in Chicago were investigating Arthur L. Grayson, "who had gone under other names during his business career", of the Houdina company.[12]

Reports of demonstrations of a "phantom motor car" or "phantom auto" in December 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[13] and in June 1932 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, do not mention Houdina (the person or the company), although described capabilities of the car were consistent with the Houdina vehicle.[14][15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Newspaper reports that mention "Francis Houdina" are only found from June 1925 through July 1928. It is possible that the name was a pseudonym.[1]
  2. ^ Erik Weisz adopted his "Harry Houdini" professional name from French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin.

References

  1. ^ "'Francis Houdina' - Search". newspapers.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Science: Radio Auto". Time Magazine. Aug 10, 1925. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Radio Driven Car Hits Sedan but Keeps Going". The Evening News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. July 28, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Houdini Discharged in Court". New York Times. August 5, 1925. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Charges Houdini Wrecks Office In Off Stage Stunt". Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. AP. July 22, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Summons Out for Houdini". New York Times. July 22, 1925. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Houdini Subpoenaed Waiting to Broadcast". New York Times. July 23, 1925. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Houdini Smashed Office of First DriverLess Car's Inventor" Archived 2017-08-10 at the Wayback Machine. TechBias.
  9. ^ "Gotham Gives Radio Run Auto Right of Way". Chicago Tribune. August 2, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Radio Controls Driverless Auto in Trip Along Commonwealth Av". The Boston Globe. October 12, 1925. p. 3. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Wizard Dupes Hoosier Listeners". The Daily Nonpareil. Council Bluffs, Iowa. January 26, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Youths Disappointed in Business Venture". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. February 7, 1927. p. 9. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "'Phantom Auto' will tour city". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 8 December 1926. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  14. ^ ""Phantom Auto" to Be Operated Here". The Free-Lance Star. 17 June 1932. Retrieved 14 September 2013 – via Google News.
  15. ^ "Phantom Auto is Viewed by Crowds". The Free Lance–Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. June 27, 1932. p. 6. Retrieved May 19, 2024 – via newspapers.com.