April 1922. Chicago. "The Singing Valise -- F.W. Dunmore, of the U.S. Bureau of Standards radio laboratory, with radio built in suitcase." Underwood & Underwood photo. View full size.

        CHICAGO, May 19 -- "The Singing Valise," or "Talks-as-it-walks," may be the latest thing in radiotelephone reception, displayed to the amazement of delegates attending the American Institute of Engineers meeting here last month at the Drake Hotel, by F.W. Dunmore of the radio laboratory of the U.S. Bureau of Standards. Incidentally, it may be pointed out that the engineers at their spring meeting are paying a great deal of attention to radio ...

        Mr. Dunmore has a small suit case about one-third the size of an average grip. In the body of the suit case he has batteries, condensers and other paraphernalia of a radiophone receiver. Neatly packed in the cover part is a loud speaker and a loop aerial of tiny wire. The only opening in the sides of the valise is for the mouth of the loud speaker.

        While the engineers were gathered in the French Room of the Drake, all windows closed, Mr. Dunmore opened the grip, turned the aerial director toward the Westinghouse broadcasting station KYW, and at once the voice of the announcer of a radio news service was heard.

        "That's easy," said Mr. Dunmore, and, closing the satchel, he took hold of the handle and walked about the room. The news bulletins continued to come and were heard in all parts of the room. He walked to every corner of the room and the voice continued until KYW, having completed the news bulletins, signed off.

        The reception of radio in a set inclosed in a leather case and all within the confines of the steel, concrete and brick structure of the hotel, amazed even those of the engineers who thought they had seen the very latest in radio reception.

        Of greater practical importance, however, was the relay recorder for remote radio control, which Mr. Dunmore displayed and which he described at length in a written report to the engineers.

        This instrument, not more than 15 inches square by eight inches deep, contained the mechanism by which ordinary radio telegraph code signals can be strengthened so as to make them operate and control mechanisms at great distances.

        By this instrument, also from the radio laboratories of the United States bureau of standards, airships, automobiles, or units of power, electric light, and water plants can be controlled.

        A machine equipped with the proper apparatus can be operated by radio through this instrument, said Mr. Dunmore. "We have perfected the instrument to furnish the control. The matter of equipping machinery to respond to this control will be simple."