Brothers in Wireless – Part II: John Diblasi, Radio Pioneer

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

in a rapidly growing industry. In those days, much of the activity in wireless was occurring in the northeast, and especially in the New York City area. Thus John’s ability to be involved with successful MR companies was enhanced by the proximity of so many wireless manufacturing companies. John was listed as the Secretary in 1921 for the Continental Radio & Electronic Corporation, located at 6 Warren St., New York City, which sold various components including the Phonetron speaker and microphone device.28 Around the same time, John worked for the Manhattan Electrical Supply Company (MESCO) on 17 Park Place in New York City.29, 30, 31 MESCO was one of the premier manufacturers and sellers of electrical apparatus, telegraphy equipment, and as it matured, they also sold wireless equipment. The early amateur radio operators in the New York City area bought equipment from John at MESCO, and he got to know many of them. John joined the RCA in 1920, became a Fellow in 1926, and a life member in 1971.32 From 1921 to 1925 he served as treasurer of RCA, and in 1926 he became a vice president.33 In 1923, John married Anna Barone, the sister of Sal Barone, another wireless pioneer (see Part I of this article). They had three children.

ENTREPRENEUR

In 1930, John and Charles B. Cooper formed CooperDiBlasi, manufacturers’ representatives located at 91 Seventh Ave. in New York City.34 This new company sold equipment from the major manufacturers at the time including: Electro-Snap, James Millen, Meissner, Radiart, Sarkes Tarzian, and Thordarson. Later, they relocated to expanded facilities on West 14th Street. During those years, John Sr. commuted into New York City from his home on Long Island via the Long Island Railroad. Each morning, a group of amateur radio operators would gather in the first car of the train to talk radio. Some of those in the car included Walter Grosselfinger W2ATQ, David DeWitt W2CNJ, George Rulffs, Walter Pierson, and Ted Long.35 In 1947, Cooper-DiBlasi was appointed to be the first manufacturer’s representative of Airpax for the New York area.36 Airpax at the time was a small company that made specialized power supplies and was located in Baltimore, Maryland. Cooper-DiBlasi helped Airpax secure an order from Sperry Gyroscope on Long Island for a specialized vibrator supply. The devices were used in the early ground-air missiles, forerunners of the Sparrow missiles. Later on, Cooper-DiBlasi invested in Airpax, and eventually, John was appointed to their board of directors. Many years later, Airpax was sold to Phillips Electronics of Eindhoven, Netherlands. In 1950, John’s oldest son, John DiBlasi, Jr. joined the firm as an outside sales engineer responsible for covering industrial users and OEM manufacturers.37 In 1960, Paul DiBlasi, the younger son, joined as a sales engineer. Sometime in the 1950s, the firm moved to 90 Main Street in Port Washington, Long Island. Later in the 1960s, they moved to Vanderventner Ave. in the same town. One of John’s customers in the 1950s and 1960s was Northern Radio, run by his brother-in-law Sal Barone. The families were close, and John and his brother-in-law often spent family visits talking about the radio business. In 1962, upon the death of Charles Cooper, CooperDiBlasi was re-organized as John DiBlasi Associates, Inc. In 1964, John’s oldest son, John S. DiBlasi, Jr., was elected president. In 1969, John DiBlasi Sr. suffered a stroke, and became bed ridden and mute. This must have been an intensely frustrating period for a man who spent much of his free time talking with friends on his amateur radio equipment. The next year, at the age of 72, he officially retired. It is interesting to note that his brother-in-law Sal also retired that same year at the same age.

Press Wireless Event, L to R: James Millen, Sal Barone, John DiBlasi, Ray de Pasquale. (Author’s collection; from Press Wireless Signal magazine, Vol. III, No. 2, April 1946, page 19)

Amateur Radio Emergency Corps, Suffolk Co. Long Island NY, John DiBlasi in center, circa 1920s. (Author’s Collection)

QCWA logo.

QCWA Initial Organizational Meeting at Pappas Restaurant on Dec. 5, 1947. L to R: Doc Walsh W2BW, Morton Kahn W2KR, John DiBlasi W2FX, Irving Groves W2DX, Uda B. Ross W2UD. (Courtesy QCWA Website)

AMATEUR RADIO AND QCWA

John had been an active amateur radio operator since 1915; he was one of the true pioneers of the era. On November 4, 1947, John and five other early wireless pioneers were talking on the 10 meter band, when they decided during their three-hour conversation (QSO) to form an ‘old timers’ organization. Other participants in that eventful QSO included Dr. E.A. Cyriax W2DI, John Gioe W2FD, E.S. Crane W2EF, Irving Groves W2DX, and Uda Ross W2UD/OA4J. The following month, on December 5, 1947, they met at Pappas Restaurant.38 John was elected president, and the organization was named the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). John remained president until 1964. There were 34 charter members present at that first meeting. John was Charter Member #1, and is considered the founder of QCWA.

THE LEGEND OF PAPPAS RESTAURANT

Pappas Restaurant, NYC (Courtesy NL7XM Collection)

John DiBlasi had booked a small banquet room on the second floor at Pappas Restaurant on 14th Street in New York City for the inaugural meeting of a group of radio amateurs on December 5, 1947.39 The purpose of that meeting was to formalize the organization that would become known as QCWA. The hungry group of 34 radio amateurs waited for a long time in a narrow, freezing, and drafty foyer until their tables could be vacated by a meeting still underway that was ahead of theirs. John complained about the delay to the staff. As the wait grew to 30 minutes, John deliberately complained loudly enough in order to be heard by the squatters at the tables upstairs. A few minutes later, an impeccably well-dressed, perfectly coifed, cigar-chomping group of nearly 30 of New York City’s most notorious and feared legendary gangsters of the era emerged in single file. They passed closely by each waiting QCWA Charter Member in the tiny foyer, glaring viciously at these men who had had the temerity to rush them out of their important conclave. John and the others became very concerned and remained absolutely silent as each famous gangster passed them without a single word, but glowered at each member of John’s group with deliberate intimidation. It took a few minutes for everyone to compose themselves once inside. Finally, that first meeting was called to order, and the rest is history.

Membership in the QCWA is restricted to those who were licensed with an amateur radio license 25 years prior, and are currently licensed at the time of application to the QCWA. QCWA members reside all over the world, and there are scores of chapters where members can attend regular meetings. The QCWA has become one of the most prestigious amateur radio organizations, and its member list reads like a who’s-who in the amateur and professional wireless communities.40

In the 1960s and 1970s, John was active in several amateur “nets” including what he called the “Spaghetti Network” of Italian stations on early Saturday mornings on 20 meters. John enjoyed conversing in Italian with those amateurs.

LEGACY

John was involved in many wireless related organizations in the northeast. He was a senior member of the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE), which later became the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In November 1945 the New York section of the IRE held a “Radio Pioneers Dinner” in New York City, and he was on both the Executive Committee and the Chair of the General Committee.41 The men that were involved in this dinner reads like a “Who’s Who” of the industry at that time. John was also a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and a member of the North Shore Amateur Radio Club.42 John began to fall into ill health in the mid-1960s; and, as a result, he resigned as president of his beloved QCWA on September 21, 1964 during a Board of Directors meeting at the Engineer’s Club in New York City. John had been QCWA president for almost 17 years, from its inception in December 1947. John remains to this day (2021) the QCWA president with the longest tenure. John passed away on December 13, 1981 at the age of 83. He was eulogized on the front cover of the QCWA News in the spring 1982 issue. During John’s life he participated as 2FD in the famous 1921 Transatlantic Tests with other radio amateurs. He was a wireless entrepreneur, founding two companies that sold parts and equipment to companies in the greater New York City area. He also helped found, over 70 years ago, one of the most prestigious amateur radio organizations, with thousands of members all over the world. In 1984, the QCWA established the John DiBlasi Award. This is awarded “to any QCWA member who has over a long period of time made an outstanding contribution to the honor and preservation of our Association”.43 It is said that the acorn does not fall far from the oak tree. John DiBlasi’s oldest child, John S. DiBlasi (John Jr.), also pursued a career in wireless. John Jr. was born in 1924 in Queens, New York. Now fast forward to 1941. John Jr. had graduated from Bayside New York High School, and had just started attending St. John’s University in his first semester. John Jr. also had his amateur license and could copy Morse code at 25 words per minute. He was sitting with his father in their basement ham shack on December 7, 1941, communicating with amateurs around the country. Suddenly, bulletins were being broadcast on the amateur bands from the ARRL and the FCC for amateurs to cease operations because a state of war existed. John Jr. decided to enlist in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey, and later to Camp Crowder, Missouri for Signal Corps training. He then heard that pilot training could qualify for a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force (the forerunner of the U.S. Air Force of today). So, he signed up for training as a cadet pilot at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Prior to completing training, he was re-assigned to the 75th Infantry Division in Breckenridge, Kentucky, apparently because the military needed more infantry soldiers. While undergoing that training, John Jr. became aware of an opportunity to volunteer for a mysterious assignment involving hazardous duty, communications, and intelligence work behind enemy lines. Of the 200 applicants, only John Jr. and fifteen others were accepted. He was sent to Washington, D.C. where he learned he was joining the OSS (Office of Strategic Services).45 John Jr. trained in communications exercises, sending and receiving 5 letter code groups in Morse code. They also received weapons and explosives training at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, and a British Major from Shanghai taught them knife fighting. While undergoing training, he participated in an OSS test that evaluated the feasibility of an aircraft controlling a torpedo boat using television and radio remote controls (remember this was the early 1940s!). They twice almost crashed into a U.S. Navy cruiser at 55 miles per hour, and the test ended. Nothing more was ever heard of this contraption!

JOHN S. DIBLASI JR. (1924-2009), RCA MEMBER (1951)

OSS insignia.

John DiBlasi Jr., operating OSS radio station in China, circa 1944. (Author’s collection) OSS Radio Station YA3, Nanping China, circa 1944. (Author’s collection)

W2QNR Receives His QCWA Certificate from His Father W2FX. (Courtesy CQ Magazine, Jan. 1968)

John Jr. then made a long journey to Calcutta, India via San Francisco and 35 days by ship to Australia. From there, it was a six hour plane ride in a C47 aircraft flying over the Himalayas to Kunming, China. After a few weeks of receiving Morse code radio communications, he was sent to station PWF near the small town of Wutu, where they trained local Chinese operators to send intelligence reports on Japanese units. The OSS operators, in turn, sent this information back to Kunming, where it was evaluated and used to create bombing targets for the 5th and 14th Army Air Force units. Many tons of Japanese shipping were sunk in the Straits of Formosa as a result of the work of the OSS. Allied aircraft crews that were downed along the China coast were intercepted by Chinese agents and led back so that they could be returned to their units. Messages had to be sent only during the daytime in three one hour shifts because the electrical storms in the mountains would make night messages impossible to get through. The OSS agents used small suitcase transceivers with a 6L6 final tube. The main base at Kunming used a large BC-610 transmitter. Generators were used to run the radios, and the Chinese drivers showed the Americans a trick to conserve precious gasoline: they would start the generators on gasoline until they were running at normal temperature, and then they could switch to a turpentine-like pine oil substitute. The generator would run with a bit less power, but it was sufficient to run the radios and lights, and conserved scarce gasoline! At one point, a Japanese aircraft with high ranking officers crashed in the mountains. OSS and Chinese agents searched for it and found it. All the occupants had been killed, but plans and code books for the next month were found and forwarded to the headquarters at Kunming. After about a year, John Jr.’s group received a message to return to OSS Headquarters in Shanghai. It took two weeks to travel over bad ox-cart roads, by sampan on rivers, and by jeeps that by the end were barely running. John Jr. then volunteered to help a buddy and operate radio station RAM in Formosa (Taiwan today). Part of their mission included reporting on the status of repatriating Japanese troops. Finally, he received orders to return home after three years overseas. He returned via San Francisco and Fort Meade, Maryland. Upon returning to the U.S. after active military service, John Jr. attended St. John’s University, and graduated with a B.S. degree. He then worked at his father’s firm as a sales engineer starting in 1950. In 1951, John Jr. joined RCA as a member. In October 1967, at the QCWA’s 20th anniversary meeting, the circle was completed: John Jr., W2QNR, joined the QCWA that his father had helped found, and he was presented his QCWA membership certificate #5401 by his father W2FX.46

John Facella is a Fellow and Life Member of RCA. He earned his BSEE degree from Georgia Tech, an MBA from Georgia State University, and is a registered professional engineer. His work career has spanned over 35 years in wireless, starting with service in the Signal Corps platoon leader, 28 years working for Motorola and Harris Corporation, and as a consultant. He is also a radio amateur, and a life member of the ARRL, QCWA, and the Antique Wireless Association.

DIBLASI REFERENCES

1. “Diamond Jubilee, A History of the Radio Club of

America, 1909-1984”, Proceedings of the Radio

Club of America, Vol. 54 No. 3. 2. “The Story of the First Trans-Atlantic Short Wave

Message”, Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, 1BCG Commemorative Issue, October 1950. 3. The QCWA Newsletter, January 1965, pp. 1, 7, 8. 4. QCWA Website: a. https://www.qcwa.org/w2fx-00001-sk.htm b. www.qcwa.org/1953/17-member-pictures.jpg c. https://www.qcwa.org/awards-member.htm 5. Information provided by family including John T.

DiBlasi and Paul DiBlasi. 6. Airpax Electronics Newsletter, 11 Dec. 1972, Vol. 1,

Issue 19 (Provided by John T. DiBlasi). 7. Discussion with Pete (“The Greek”) Varounis,

NL7XM, QCWA Historian. 8. Unpublished Manuscript: “Military History of John.

S. DiBlasi, Little Neck, NY” edited Aug. 13, 1998. 9. John S. DiBlasi Newsday Obituary, Legacy.com, Nov. 3, 2009. 10. John DiBlasi, W2FX, Quarter Century Wireless

Association Celebrates Its Twentieth Anniversary, CQ

Magazine, April 1967, pp. 68-69. 11. QCWA 20th Anniversary, CQ Magazine, January 1968, p. 58.

ENDNOTES

See Part I in the fall 2020 issue for references and endnotes associated with the first half of this article. 25. The 1920 listing in the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s

Radio Stations of the United States (p. 31) shows

DiBlasi’s address as 227 E. 75th Street, NY, NY, and his transmitter power was listed as 30 watts. This location was just a few blocks away from his brotherin-law Sal Barone, who was licensed in 1914 as 2WO at 343 E. 76th Street, NY, NY. 26. See DiBlasi Ref #2, pp. 35, 37, 51, 52 (all excerpts from QST, Feb. 1922), and p. 61 (excerpt from

Radio News, Feb. 1922). 27. Source: Discussion with the Archivist at Cooper

Union. 28. See DiBlasi Ref. 4a. 29. For more information on the company and some pictures of equipment they sold, see www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail. cfm?company_id=12964. The company had 3 outlets in the greater New York City metropolitan area, and also had outlets in three other cities. They manufactured at three locations. 30. For more detailed information on MESCO operations, see www.telegraph-history.org/manufacturers/index. html, and www.telegraph-history.org/manufacturers/ mesco/index.html. The company originated in 1891, selling telegraphy equipment at 32 Cortland St. in

New York City until 1906, and expanded to other locations. From 1907 to 1921, they were listed in

New York City telephone directories at 17 Park Place in New York City. 31. Article excerpt from The QCWA News (Vol. 21, No. 4,

Dec. 1972) by Uda Ross on the origins of the QCWA as excerpted in Worldradio Magazine (Dec. 1987). 32. See Proceedings of the Radio Club of America

Oct. 1982, p. 20 and Aug. 1926 (See the RCA

Centennial CDROM, 1926-08.pdf). The RCA president at the time was Ernest Amy, and

Armstrong and Godley were directors. RCA moved its headquarters that year to the Bryant Park Building,

Room 469, 55 W. 42nd St, NYC. DiBlasi was only vice president for one year. The articles also noted that Edwin Armstrong paid RCA $100 to be a life member in 1927 (Vol. 3 No. 13, Jan. 1927). 33. See DiBlasi Ref. 1, p. 262. 34. Tribute to John DiBlasi Associates, Airpax Electronics

Sales Confidential Newsletter, 11 Dec. 1972, Vol. 1

No. 19, front page. 35. Memorial by George Rulffs, AA4GR, QCWA News,

Spring 1982, p. 4. 36. Ibid. 37. Ibid, p. 2. 38. Some accounts indicate the first meeting was held at the famous Fraunces Tavern in New York City, others say Pappas. 39. From article by Ralph Hasslinger, W2CVF (SK), published in the Spring 1994 QCWA Journal Vol

XLIII, Number 1 (V43N1) Pages 19-20. The legend story was told to the author but its accuracy cannot be verified at this time. 40. Uda Ross, A Club is Born (QCWA), Proceedings of the Radio Club of America, Oct. 1982. 41. IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. CE30, No. 2, May 1984, pages 114 & 120 42. See DiBlasi Ref. 3. 43. See DiBlasi Ref. 4c. 44. This entire section on John Jr.’s military service is based on DiBlasi Ref. 8. 45. OSS was the forerunner of the CIA. It was formed in Jun. 1942 under Maj. Gen. William J. Donovan, and was dissolved in Sep. 1945. See https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Strategic_Services. 46. CQ Magazine, Jan. 1968, p. 58.