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Thomas P Giblin was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on March 17, 1888 57. He was the son of Patrick and Mary A (Dorethy) Giblin. He had two sisters, Rose and Teresa (Mrs Harry L Donnelly 56) 1.
In 1908 21 and 1909 22 Giblin is listed as working at N E Battery Company. Living at address 295 Fountain St, in 1908 and 467 Broadway in 1909. Then in 1910 23 and 1911 24 he is living at 457 Broadway with no busineess referance listed.  Pawtucket Times March 18, 1909 Giblin entered the Pratt institute in New York in 1910 and graduated as an Electrical Engineer in 1912.67  8
 Click to enlarge Pratt Institue of Technology, School of Science and Technology, Applied Electricity Class of 1912  
Click to enlarge Pratt Institue of Technology, School of Science and Technology, Applied Electricity Laboratory. In 1914 25 , 1915 26 , 1917 27, 1919 28 and 1920 29 his address remains as 457 Broadway but he is listed as being a electrician.   Providence News September 30, 1919 In 1917, Giblin is working at Univesal Winding company accoding to his WWI draft card. Giblin is 29 years old 61.
On May 10th, 1919 Frank E Dyson, Thomas P Giblin and Ratcliffe G E Hicks formed the Commercial Radio Company of America. 12 Robert H Smith was the fiscal agent 58 In 1920 the company increased its capital from $100,000 to $1,000,000.19  Providence Journal May 11, 1919  Providence Journal May 12, 1919 In 1921 and 1922 their address was listed as 69 Sprague St. 20 In 1921 the company registered that name as a tradmark in the US 13. In 1921 it is reported that the company is paying a 2% dividend on its prefered stock payable January 15th. 68 Frank E Dyson was also the president of Electrical Products Manufacutring company (Dymac) with Thomas P Giblin Vice President. He is believed to have designed and built the first radio station in New England in 1919 and began broadcasting phonograph music. At this time his occupation is listed as Electrician 14 He claimed to be Rhode Island's first "disc jockey" An inventor and designer, he held patents in the electrical and automotive field. 1 During his life he invented the compact "honeycomb" inductance coil. This coil design was used on the first radio equipment instrumental in helping the US Navy complete its historic first Trans-Atlantic flight in 1919 4. Giblin was visited in January, 1919 by Robert F. Gowen an engineer who worked for Lee DeForest. Ever since the cancelation of government contacts, Deforest became interested in the amateur market and he sent Gowen to meet with Giblin to work out the manufacutring of Honeycomb coils to be used in Gowens newly conceived "unit" sets with plug in coils.9 In 1920 Giblin is listed as married to Genevieve in the 1920 Census. 62 Genevieve died in 1923 63 possibly during child birth because in the 2930 Census we find Giblin living with his mother Mary who is now 80, his 45 year old sister also named Mary and his son Thomas (listed as grandson) who is 7 years old which means he was born in 1923. 64  Pawtucket Times May 28, 1921   Pawtucket Times October 11, 1921  Pawtucket Times October 28, 1921 In 1921 30 his address changed to 463 Broadway. This address continues being listed in 1923 31, 1924 32 and 1926 33.
   Pawtucket Times February 28, 1922  QST March 1922  Click to enlarge Providence News August 28, 1922  Providence Journal April 17, 1922  Woonsocket Call October 31, 1922   Woonsocket Call January 17, 1930  Pawtucket Times October 24, 1923  Woonsocket Call March 7, 1924  Pawtucket Timese September 13, 1924  Pawtucket Times November 18, 1924     Pawtucket Times January 25, 1928 Mr Giblin setup one of the first radio communication systems in a vehicle, in this case a Ford Coup in 1921 2  He then set up the original broadcasting equipment for the WJAR radio station in 1922 3 as well as the transmitter of WBBQ in Pawtucket in 1924. 65 66
 Click to enlarge Pawtucket Times August 31, 1922  Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge Pawtucket Times November 4, 1924
His companies, Standard Radio and Electric Company and the Giblin Radio Company produced and sold radios during the infancy of "Radio" in the early 1920's. 1 Standard Radio and Electric is listed in various directories in 1924 15 , 1925 16 and 1926 17 as being at 90 Bayley St Pawtucket 
The Pawtucket and Central Falls Rhode Island Directory January 1, 1922  
Click to enlarge
Providence Journal January 31, 1926 Suit against Standard Radio and Electric by Fred Quinn Giblin was also referanced as the head of the Coto-Coil Company 9 and working with the Electrical Products Manufactuting Company. 10
We still see a radio related listing in 1927 34 and 1930 35 with mention of the Giblin Radio Company at 64 Exchange St in Pawtucket and residence at 457 Broadway. 
Pawtucket Times October 26, 1928 
Pawtucket Times March 26, 1929 
Pawtucket Times September 17, 1929 
Pawtucket Times October 9, 1930 The Giblin Radio Company Reference is not seen in 1934 36 and he is listed as a Electrical Engineer and the home address changes to 764 Barrington Parkway. In 1936 we find the listing has again changed to 463 Broadway and still an Electrical Engineer 37. He also constructed a television set in 1931. 1 The 1935 Rhode Island census has some interesting information about Giblin. Usual occupation is Electrical Engineer, industry is retail electric shop, then present occupation is research engineer with industry listed as invention. 57 In 1938 38, 1939 39 and 1941 40 although the address stays the same, his occuptation is listed as Manager. In 1942 41 and 1943 42 Giblin becomes a inspector for AOG Corporation. AOG Corp was American Oerlikon Gazda Corp, 100 Fountain St Providence RI, makers of 20mm Oerlikon machine guns for the war effort 43. In 1944 his occupation changes again to a expeditor 44. In 1945 45, 1946 46, 1947 47, 1948 48, 1950 49, 1951 50, 1952 51, 1953 52, 1956 53, and 1958 54, Giblin is listed as an Electrical Engineer. The last listing found is from 1960 55 and his address is 463 Broadway but the Electrical Engineering listing is gone. At this point Giblin is 72 years old! Before his retirement in 1956 he worked as a designer for Grant Money Meters 1. During his life he was also manger and co-owner of Sherlin Automotive Company. 1 Mr Giblin died in 1963. 1 Giblin and his family is buried in Mt St Mary's Cemetery in Pawtucket
1XAD 1XAD is the broadcasting station set up by Mr Giblin for the Standard Radio & Electric Company. It was described in the "The Consolidated Radio Call Book", 4th edition, May, 1922, on page 267 as 290 meters. 2 50-watt tubes, radius 400 miles. Heard at distances of 1,000 miles. Located at 463 Broadway, Pawtucket, RI. Broadcasts three days per week, music, lectures and letters read. Aerial 70 foot long, 9 wires on spreader 15 feet, 11 wires on counterpoise. Ground, 11 wires 70 foot long, copper plates at end.
Product Matrix
Sets
Pawtucket Hall Of Fame On October 19th, 2018 Giblin was inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame as a Historical Inductee.
Giblin Music Box This Giblin made radio was a barn find and is in pretty rough shape.
The consensus is that it was once a battery set that was converted to AC at some point. However an ad for the set was found in the Pawtucket Times Its tube compliment is 2 401 tubes and 3 201 tubes. The front panel is etched "Music Box" Click Photos To Enlarge
APPARATUS
PATENTS
38 Patents cited Thomas P Giblins last patent US2518538
1 Obituary, Pawtucket Times, February 18, 1963, D 35,193 2 "Motor Truck", Vol XII, #10, October 1921, Pawtucket RI 3 Providence Sunday Journal, Providence to have powerful new radio station WJAR, August 18, 1922 4 Providence Saturday Journal, Providence Man Aids NC-4 Trip, September 30, 1919 7 "Rhode Island Story" by David Patten 8 Photo courtesy of Pratt Institute, 1912 Yearbook 9 De Forest company engineer travels to Providence to work out manufacturing of Honycomb coils with Thomas P Giblin 10 Duo-Lateral Type Inductances 12 Acts And Resolves Passed By The General Assembly Of The State Of Rhode Island And Providence Plantations, 1920 13 Index of Patents Issued From The United States Patent Office, 1921 14 1919 City Directory 15 1924 City Directory 16 1925 City Directory 17 1926 City Directory 19 The Iron Age, July 1920 20 1921-1922 PROVIDENCE HOUSE DIRECTORY 21 1908 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 22 1909 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 23 1910 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 24 1911 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 25 1914 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 26 1915 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 27 1917 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 28 1919 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 29 1920 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 30 1921 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 31 1923 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 32 1924 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 33 1926 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 34 1927 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 35 1930 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 36 1934 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 37 1936 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 38 1938 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 39 1939 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 40 1941 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 41 1942 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 42 1943 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 43 WWII Industrial Facilities: Authorized Federally Funded Facilities 44 1944 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 45 1945 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 46 1946 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 47 1947 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 48 1948 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 49 1950 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 50 1951 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 51 1952 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 52 1953 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 53 1956 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 54 1958 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 55 1960 Pawtucket and Central Falls Directory 56 1939 Pawtucket Directory 57 1935 Rhode Island Census 58 Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, February, 1920 61 WWI Draft Card 62 1920 Census 63 Giblin-Cahill Family Headstone. 64 1930 Census 65 Providence Journal, February 11, 1924 66 Providence Journal, February 9, 1924 67 Providence Journal, September 28, 1910 68 Providence Journal January 10, 1921 |
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