The ‘Titanic Crystal Set’
Made by George Leadbetter of Newbury in 1910
The 'Titanic Crystal Set', 1910. An exquisitely made Edwardian crystal receiver, nearly 2 feet in length, built by mechanical engineer and amateur wireless enthusiast George Leadbetter, and installed at his workshop at 81 New Street, Ledbury. On the night of April 14th/15th 1912, George and his 15 year old son Walter were listening-in to the usual Morse code traffic when they suddenly heard distress signals put out by the sinking Titanic on the other side of the Atlantic.
According to the Ledbury Reporter, Walter rushed round to the local police station to tell them that the Titanic was sinking but they simply laughed at him. This receiver is a remarkable survivor from the very earliest days of wireless, and a tangible link to one of the more famous disasters in modern history.
A phonograph wax cylinder recording of the Titanic distress signals and associated Morse traffic was also made by Leadbetter, but this has subsequently disappeared.