BROTHERS IN WIRELESS – PART II By John Facella, P.E., RCA Fellow This is the second part of a two-part article presenting the history of two brothers-in-law who shared a love of wireless, and grew up during the pioneering days of the 1920s. Sal Barone and John DiBlasi were both Radio Club of America (RCA) Fellows: one served as a director and one was a club officer. By the end of their careers in the 1970s, both men had left their marks on the wireless industry. We also discus John DiBlasi’s son, John S. DiBlasi, who had his own wireless career and was also a member of RCA. Part I of this article, which was about Sal Barone, appeared in the fall 2020 issue of the Proceedings of the Radio Club of America. Our discussion will reveal two successful entrepreneurs and their associations with important personalities, some unfortunate business disagreements, and the reality that
success never comes easily. During our journey, we will meet some of the wireless industry luminaries of the time. It is hoped that this history will provide inspiration for others in their own wireless careers. Recall that both men had several common connections. John DiBlasi was related to Sal by virtue of marrying Sal’s sister Anna Barone. Both men were the same age, both came from families that emigrated from Sicily, and both studied electrical engineering at the Cooper Union in New York City. Both engaged their early interest in wireless as radio amateurs, but only John stayed licensed. Both men were entrepreneurs, both starting several businesses during their careers. Part I of this article presented the story of Sal Barone. Part II of this article presents the story of John DiBlasi.
PART II
JOHN DIBLASI, RADIO PIONEER, 1898-1981
(RCA FELLOW, RCA TREASURER 1921-1925, RCA VICE PRESIDENT 1926) THE EARLY YEARS IN AMATEUR RADIO John DiBlasi was born on November 5, 1898 in Sicily. John demonstrated an early interest in radio by becoming a radio amateur. He started in wireless in 1913, and was first licensed as a radio amateur in 1915 (2AGP), then in 1919, just after World War I commenced, as 2FD.25 This same listing is shown in the 1921 U.S. Department of Commerce call sign listings, but then in 1922 and again in 1923, he is listed as 2FD. The listing reflects a power of 450 watts and the address is changed to 33 Sinclair Ave, Flushing, New York. As 2FD, John operated one of the stations heard by Paul Godley in Scotland during the December 1921 transatlantic shortwave wireless tests on 200 meters.26 John operated a continuous wave (CWMorse code) station, as opposed to the more primitive spark transmitters, which some of the other stations were using at the time. After 1924, he is no longer listed in the federal call sign books as 2FD, and that call is eventually given to a Roy Cook of Vanderbuilt Ave., Brooklyn in 1925. In 1937 or 1938, he received the amateur call sign W2LKC; and finally in 1945, W2FX, which he used for the remainder of his life. John attended the Cooper Union and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1922.27 His brotherin-law, Sal Barone, attended about the same time but did not graduate, perhaps because of family responsibilities.
John DiBlasi. (Courtesy Airpax Sales Confidential 11 Dec. 1972)
EARLY JOBS Unlike his brother-in-law Sal, who concentrated on manufacturing, John focused on the sales side of the radio industry. He worked for or founded manufactures representative (MR) companies. In those days, modern companies like Tessco and DigiKey Electronics did not exist. Instead, wireless manufacturing companies and radio amateurs depended on MR’s staffed with smart engineers to assist them in ordering electronic parts www.radioclubofamerica.org | SPRING 2021 PROCEEDINGS
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