Alfred Powell Morgan

Alfred Powell Morgan (1889 – 1972), of Upper Montclair, New Jersey was an electrical engineer, an inventor with patents on radio and mechanical devices and an author of technical and children's books. He had three sons, which is why the books were originally written for boys. The 1970s editions were for boys and girls.

Alfred Morgan's Contributions to Electronics

Alfred Morgan made many valuable contributions to developments in the field of radio and electronics. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a radio manufacturer for a number of years. His most notable books were a series of juvenile books about Radio and Electronics. This series included the Boys First, Second, Third & Fourth Book Of Radio And Electronics.

Adams Morgan Company

Alfred P. Morgan was a partner in the electronics business. The company was Adams Morgan. Adams Morgan was created about 1910 for distributing radio construction kits. Paul Forman Godley, the developer of the Paragon Receivers, was added in 1915 as the third. The company employed 50-100 employees/workers in 1922/23. After economic problems, production was stopped at the end of 1927.

Publications

Drawing on a lifetime of experience, Morgan produced many books on radio and electronics. Many of the projects described in his books cannot be built easily today either because the parts are not available or because of unsafe construction techniques. A few books are available in reprints including "The Boy Electrician" (Lindsay Publications).

Morgan also edited a monthly column on electricity and mechanics in "The Boys' Magazine".

Partial List of Publications

Chemistry

Adventures in Electrochemistry / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York: Scribner, Date: c1977.

First Chemistry Book for Boys and Girls / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner, Date: [1950]

First Chemistry Book for Boys and Girls / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner, Date: [1962] First Chemistry Book for Boys and Girls / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner, Date: c1977.

Simple Chemical Experiments / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: D. Appleton-Century, Date: [1941]

Electronics

WIRELESS TELEGRAPH CONSTRUCTION FOR AMATEURS by Alfred Powell Morgan, Third Edition, D. Van Nostrand Company, NY 1914 [http://www.archive.org/details/wirelesstelegrap00morgrich]

The Boy Electrician by Alfred P. Morgan (1913 copyright)The Boy Electrician is an introduction to electricity and magnetism from a time when you could still build things at home that worked just like commercial gear. The fundamentals haven't changed in all this time, and the experiments and diagrams can be understood by anyone. [http://danielwebb.us/projects/pd_tech_books/]

A First Electrical Book for Boys; Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner Date: [1951]

A First Electrical Book for Boys. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner Date: c1963 First Book of Radio and Electronics / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York : Scribner, Date: c1977. The Boy Electrician; Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. Date: [1948] The Boys' First Book of Radio and Electronics. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner Date: [1954] The Boys' Second Book of Radio and Electronics. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner Date: [1957] The Boy's Third Book of Radio and Electronics. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Scribner Date: [1962] The Boys' Fourth Book of Radio and Electronics; an introduction to solid state physics, semiconductors, and transistors, Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell. Publisher: New York, Scribner Date: [1969] The pageant of Electricity Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, London d. Appleton-Century company, incorporated Date: 1939 Things a Boy Can Do with Electricity, Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's sons; London, Date: C. Scribner's sons, ltd., 1938. Getting Acquainted with Electricity, Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York London, D. Appleton-Century company, incorporated. Date: [c1942] Pets

An Aquarium Book for Boys and Girls, Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's Sons; London, C. Scribner's Sons, ltd., Date: 1936. A pet book for boys and girls, Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, C. Scribner's, Date: 1949.

A Pet Book for Boys and Girls / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York: Charles Scribner's, Date: 1951. Tropical Fishes and Home Aquaria : a practical guide to a fascinating hobby / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York : C. Scribner, Date: 1953, c1935.

Tools / Misc

Boy's Book of Engines, Motors and Turbines. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell. Publisher: Scribner, Date: 1946 Boys' Book of Science and Construction; Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. Date: [1948] How to Build a 20-foot Bi-plane Glider; a practical handbook on the construction of a bi-plane gliding machine. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Spon & Chamberlain; [etc., etc.] Date: 1909. The Boys' Book of Engines, Motors & Turbines / by Alfred Morgan ; illustrated by the author. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, 1889-1972. Publisher: New York : Charles Scribner Sons, 1946. Tools and How to Use Them for Woodworking / Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York : Gramercy, Date: c1948. How to Use Tools. Author: Morgan, Alfred Powell, Publisher: New York, Arco, Date: [1955]

Advertisements for Morgan's Books

It was very popular for publishers in the early 20th century to include advertisements of other books in the last few pages of their publications. Here are a few references to Morgan's books.

GLOSSARY OF AVIATION TERMS, 1917 Advertisement for; WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY SIMPLY EXPLAINED. By ALFRED P. MORGAN. Thisis undoubtedly one of the most complete and comprehensible treatises on the subject ever pubhshed and a close study of its pages will enable one to master all the details of the wireless transmission of messages. The author has filled a long felt want and has succeeded in furnishing a lucid, comprehensible explanation in simple language of the theory and practice of wireless telegraphy and telephony 154 pages 156 engravings. Price $1.00

US Patents

58,808 DESIGN FOR AN INSTRUMENT-MOUNT FOR RADIOPANEL Aug. 30, 1921 [http://www.google.com/patents?id=42JtAAAAEBAJ&dq=58,808+morgan]

60,362 DESIGN FOR AN INSTRUMENT-MOUNT FOR RADIO PANEL Feb. 07, 1922 [http://www.google.com/patents?id=NW5rAAAAEBAJ&dq=60,362+morgan]

1,459,070 RHEOSTAT June 19, 1923 [http://www.google.com/patents?id=0GtBAAAAEBAJ&dq=1,459,070+morgan]

ee also

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External links

* [http://www.radiomuseum.org/m/adams-morg_usa_en_1.html Radio Museum]
* [http://earlyradiohistory.us/1912tes.htm Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony Simply Explained, A. P. Morgan, 1912]
* [http://www.zianet.com/sparks/sparkmakers2.html The Sparks Telegraph Key Review]
* [http://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=1825 History of the radio maker Adams-Morgan Co.]
* [http://www.smethporthistory.org/400.block/scott.redfield/redfieldpage.htm The Boys' Magazine]