The Alexanderson alternator of Grimeton Radio, Sweden

Ernst Fredrik Werner Alexanderson (1878-1975) was born in Sweden and emigrated to the United States in 1901. Employed by General Electric, Schenectady, New York, he remained there for the rest of his long and creative life. Just after the turn of the century, Alexanderson began to design HF alternators. Reginald Fessenden used one for his first broadcasting experiments at Christmas 1906 when voice, singing and music bewildered the radio officers of ships along the US east coast. The design of the 200 kW alternators for VLF were ready in 1918. Including the multiple tuned antenna, they were manufactured by General Electric and sold by the Radio Corporation of America around the world. The network included 18 transmitters in USA, Hawaii, Wales, Poland and Sweden (Grimeton).