Serie A brev nr 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of BREVCIRKELN, titled 'RADIO TILL ANDRA VÄRLDAR' (Radio to Other Worlds), published as Serie A - brev nr 1, issue 2, likely in 1915, details the extraordinary case of David Wilson, a lawyer who developed a unique 'wave detector'. The magazine explores his invention, its investigation by authorities, and the nature of the messages it received.

David Wilson's Wave Detector

The central focus of this issue is David Wilson's self-built radio receiver, referred to as a 'wave detector'. This device was capable of receiving messages in Morse code, which Wilson believed were not from terrestrial inhabitants. The investigation into his activities was initiated by Scotland Yard and British intelligence, particularly during the period when London was under threat of German bombing in World War I, raising concerns about the origin and purpose of these mysterious signals.

Wilson, the son of a respected lawyer, was initially investigated, and his homemade radio receiver was confiscated. However, after thorough examination, he was cleared of any wrongdoing, and his device was returned. The investigation concluded that Wilson's activities were not illicit and could not be stopped. His experiments were aimed at determining the range of his receiver, specifically its ability to penetrate the stratosphere and reach distant regions of space.

The article emphasizes Wilson's driven nature, suggesting he was motivated by a deep desire to explore hidden truths, both on Earth and in the cosmic universe. He sought to understand the mystical and distant regions, aiming to find new and effective methods for uncovering secrets and exploring the unknown.

The Experiment and the Crystal

When Scotland Yard encountered Wilson, he was engaged in experiments involving metals, wires, chemicals, and electrical cells, seeking a new energy source. He was convinced that by discovering the right electrical conductor, he could harness hidden cosmic forces. His primary invention, the 'wave detector', was a device that, in some ways, resembled a radio receiver but crucially incorporated a 'bergkristall' (rock crystal) as a vital component.

This crystal, weighing approximately 170 grams, possessed unusual properties. It emitted luminous flashes in sync with an electrical mechanism that switched 'on' and 'off'. Most astonishingly for Wilson, these synchronized flashes, combined with the electrical pulses, spelled out words in Morse code.

An engineer from Scotland Yard described the wave detector in detail. It was portable, housed in a wooden box covered with green flannel. A sealed copper cylinder, 75 mm in diameter, contained a substance similar to radium, emitting some form of radiation. Beneath this cylinder were two oscillators, similar to those used in wireless telegraphy equipment at the time. A dry battery was connected nearby, along with a small microphone, presumably for input or calibration.

The Messages and Their Content

After months of experimentation, the machine suddenly began transmitting a rapid series of dots and dashes, which repeated continuously. Wilson was intrigued by this peculiar rhythm. A friend of Wilson's, who had been a telegraphist, recognized the sequence as Morse code and transcribed the message. To their surprise, the message was in Spanish, a language neither of them understood. Upon translation, it was revealed to be a request from an unknown source, suggesting a minor adjustment to the mechanism to improve reception.

This marked a significant moment, confirming Wilson's machine could indeed communicate. However, alongside the encouragement, Wilson was perplexed. He followed the mysterious advice, and the rhythm of dots and dashes became clearer. He began to feel uneasy about his involvement.

Wilson discovered that his machine had idiosyncrasies, functioning best between midnight and 4 AM, and was less effective during dry English months like May, June, July, and August. Following the initial Spanish message, a stream of communications in Morse code followed. Many of these messages were fragmented and confusing, but Wilson's telegraphist friend diligently transcribed them. The most startling and surprising aspect for both men was that the messages appeared to come from deceased individuals. Many identified themselves by name and date of death, named living acquaintances and places they had lived, and often described the circumstances of their deaths.

Wilson meticulously recorded all received messages, noting dates, names, and other data. This documentation, preserved after Wilson's death, provides a clear picture of his work and the astonishing messages received.

Collaboration with a Medium

Wilson, who had no prior knowledge of the occult or spiritualism and was aggressively skeptical of 'spirit messages', found himself in need of assistance. He contacted Mr. A.V. Peters, a psychic. Wilson had two motivations: curiosity about Peters's insights into the unusual material from the wave detector, and to observe any effect a psychically sensitive person might have on the apparatus. Peters was a medium with undisputed psychic gifts and was personally unknown to Wilson.

The results of Peters's presence were immediate, causing contradictory messages, long pauses, and confusion, seemingly due to Peters's psychic influence. However, this disruption soon ceased, and Peters's presence did not impede the reception of the coded messages.

Personal messages were received by Peters, most of them highly personal and seemingly credible. One was from a deceased friend, Dawson Rogers. Another concerned a living person, Miss Scotherd. Peters followed up on this latter message by visiting and introducing himself to Miss Scotherd, discovering the mysteriously received message was of interest to both of them. Similarly, Peters investigated other messages from individuals claiming to be deceased, verifying the facts provided by the wave detector.

Verification and International Reach

One of the best-verified messages came from an old sailor named Pete, who claimed to have died years earlier. Pete referred to a small silver ring, too small for his finger, which seemed nonsensical. However, Pete provided a name, and one of them was Peters's father-in-law. Upon inquiry, it was learned that the ring had previously belonged to a child and had likely been seen and tried on by Pete when he worked for Peters's father-in-law, whose wife still possessed the ring.

These types of incidents appeared to be generated by the deceased not as significant facts, but as proof of identity and continued existence.

Most subsequent communications were in English, but the wave detector also transmitted messages in other languages, including Arabic, Italian, Russian, Greek, Portuguese, German, and French. Many messages were of a highly personal nature, expressing a strong desire for contact with living people in distant parts of the world. Some contained warnings and admonitions. At times, a dozen or more deceased individuals would simultaneously attempt to communicate, resulting in chaos. It was naturally impossible to verify the authenticity of messages directed to distant places or to strangers, both to Wilson and Peters.

Examples of messages from deceased foreigners were provided. One in Portuguese, from 'Tayeira', expressed joy at being able to communicate after a long wait and conveyed best wishes from hundreds of people. Another, a poignant message in Spanish from 'Antonio' in August 1915, pleaded for reconciliation with a 'Dona A.V.' in Seville, Spain, reminding her that charity is the greatest of Christian virtues.

Some messages contained 100 words or more. Wilson often needed clarification for parts of these messages but could not ask questions; he could only receive what came in, as the apparatus functioned solely as a receiver.

It is notable that many communicators insisted on two points: that they had survived physical death and retained their memories from their lifetime. Wilson faced a dilemma, as some of the information received seemed important for the living, but he did not know where to turn until a friend suggested contacting 'Light', a metaphysical magazine in London. He did so, and some messages were published with the intention of reaching the intended recipients. Often, these attempts were unsuccessful, with the intended recipients not reading them, but occasionally, the published message was eagerly received, and the deceased sender was fully identified.

Wilson and Peters often received highly personal messages. One such message was from a young woman who had recently died, asking if Peters remembered her taking roses from his room, identifying herself as 'Staffa'. Peters recalled an episode where, during a visit to acquaintances, the mischievous girl had sneaked in and taken his beautiful roses from his bedroom.

Another message to Wilson from someone identifying as 'A.C.' read: 'Do you remember me from Redcliffe Gardens 28 years ago, my two servants and my parrot? This is sent with great difficulty, but I hope to come again with more.' It took Wilson considerable thought to recall his granduncle Alexander Colder, whom he had visited in Redcliffe Gardens. He remembered two old servants and a colorful parrot.

Wilson's Conviction and Secrecy

By this point, Wilson was fully convinced he had established contact with deceased individuals. His conviction was strengthened each time a living person confirmed a message.

One persistent communicator, who called himself Jonquil, frequently interrupted other messages. His communications took the form of quick, disrespectful, and sometimes indecent remarks or harmful jokes. He refused to cease communicating when asked, but Wilson eventually discovered that he could stop Jonquil by shining a strong lamp in the room.

Judging by the notes, Wilson had good reason to believe that the presence of energy indicated the presence of life. His communicators brought forth vast amounts of memories, ideas, emotional states, desires, and sympathies, all pointing towards immortality. Wilson was a man who perceived heights where human reason had not yet firmly established itself – heights intended for the alpinists of philosophy. Perhaps this was why he refrained from publicly disclosing the construction of the wave detector. He may have feared that it could fall into irresponsible hands.

A rumor suggests that a copy of his wave detector was sent to Paris before March 1915, but this has never been confirmed, and there are no records of its use in France. No one seems to know where his apparatus went. It can only be assumed that, for reasons known only to himself, he destroyed the apparatus before his death. His wife has not provided any information about this 'super radio', and Scotland Yard's records are not accessible to outsiders.

Ongoing Research and the Unanswered Question

Both in England and elsewhere in the world, physicists and technicians have, for many years, dedicated significant effort to constructing a wave detector similar to Wilson's, but so far without success. Currently, experiments are underway at The Psychosomatic Research Communication Society and The Spirit Electronic Communication Society. A mechanism has been invented by Metla and Van Zelst. Other researchers report progress with the Zwaan Super-ray device. Among other research groups are de la Warr Laboratories, Oxford; the Hammond Research Corporation, Glouchester, Mass.; Dr. Michael Ash and Dr. Fumiere, Paris; Dr. Hulke; Mr. A.C. Mains; and certain physicists at the Radio Corporation of America.

Arthur H. Bird of Birson Laboratory in London is perhaps the one who, after 30 years of experimentation, has surpassed all others with a mechanical construction that appears to be equivalent to Wilson's.

The issue concludes with a profound question: Will any of these men succeed in mechanically bridging the chasm that lies between the living and the dead?

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the possibility of communication with the deceased, the nature of consciousness after death, and the potential for technology to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation into extraordinary claims, presenting the case of David Wilson and his wave detector with detailed accounts and evidence of verification, while acknowledging the skepticism and the lack of public disclosure regarding the device's construction.