In a nutshell...

• 1894-Guglielmo Marconi invented his spark transmitter with antenna at his home in Bologna, Italy.

• 1896-Marconi took his "Black Box" to Britain in February and although custom officials broke it, he filed for British Patent number 12039 on June 2nd.

• 1897, 1898 & 1899-Marconi formed his first Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company at age 23 (1897). He created the world's first radio factory on Hall Street in December 1898. The American Marconi Co. was formed in 1899.

• 1900-Marconi controlled patents for the Lodge tuner of 1900 with dial.

• 1904-Marconi also controlled the Fleming Valve of 1904 that sold spark transmitters to the U.S. Navy for point-to-point transmissions.

• The thermionic valve is used as a radio transmitter in 1914, carrying speech at over 50 miles per hour.

• During the pioneering days of the radio, crystal sets, also called cats' whiskers, were very popular.

• In September of 1927, the first Philips radio was introduced.

• By 1934, it was not uncommon to see a radio in every household.

• In 1940, the Dutch were forbidden to listen to any foreign radio broadcasts.

• In January of 1941, it was forbidden to play any English or American broadcast if you were Dutch.

• All radios were confiscated from the Dutch in May of 1943 because the Germans were trying to stop the foreign broadcasts in any way possible.

• Today the radio has made vast bounds. Not only are there radios in many homes, but also in many vehicles. We also use the radio to help us with everything from upholding the law, to landing space shuttles on the moon!