The Lincoln Highway National Museum & Archives 102 Old Lincoln Way West Galion, Ohio 44833 (202) 536-5329

In 1922 Radio was the new kid on the block.

Keeping with their tradition of firsts,
the Lincoln Highway Association
along with the Detroit Board of Commerce
and the Detroit Auto Club
sponsored America's First Radio Tour.

The idea being to showcase the new radio equiped autos
by giving a series scheduled Concerts along the way.

Two Rickenbaker automobiles weres selected for the expedition
from a large field of entrants due to its advanced vibrationless motor.

The lead car carried an exceptionally powerful and sensitive radio
receiving set designed by Thomas Clark and built by Tecla Labs in Detroit.

In addition there were and two powerful antenas,
The first was a compactly built 200 foot loop on the top and the
second an emergency 200 foot aerial located on the running board.

The second went along as a supply car to carry sufficient radio replacemenet parts
for constant service throughout the trip.

Wallace Blood and William Heinz, both Detroit business men and expert radio operators
were in charge of the tour and were accompanied by their wifes.

World War I Ace, Captain Eddie Rickenbaker was even on hand
to wish them well on their 40 day-2800 mile journey across the continent.

When the tour arrived in San Francisco on July 10, Mrs Blood said,

"Every night we would tune in, no matter where we were
along the Lincoln Highway.

One night, when we were nearing Omaha, we listened to Eddie Cantor
and Fanny Brice, who are with the Follies in New York.

We had a vaudville star for an entertainer nearly every evening."

Mrs. Blood even spoke of Sunday Evening sacred Concerts picked up
while touring the Deserts and Forests.

1922--America's First Radio Tour--1922 Detroit to San Francisco in a Rickenbacker

DAY	WEEK	DATE	CITY	STATE
1	Thursday	June 1, 1922	Detroit	MI
2	Friday	June 2, 1922	***	***
3	Saturday	June 3, 1922	***	***
4	Sunday	June 4, 1922	***	***
5	Monday	June 5, 1922	***	***
6	Tuesday	June 6, 1922	***	***
7	Wedensday	June 7, 1922	***	***
8	Thursday	June 8, 1922	***	***
9	Friday	June 9, 1922	***	***
10	Saturday	June 10, 1922	***	***
11	Sunday	June 11, 1922	***	***
12	Monday	June 12, 1922	***	***
13	Tuesday	June 13, 1922	***	***
14	Wedensday	June 14, 1922	***	***
15	Thursday	June 15, 1922	***	***
16	Friday	June 16, 1922	***	***
17	Saturday	June 17, 1922	***	***
18	Sunday	June 18, 1922	***	***
19	Monday	June 19, 1922	***	***
20	Tuesday	June 20, 1922	***	***
21	Wedensday	June 21, 1922	***	***
22	Thursday	June 22, 1922	***	***
23	Friday	June 23, 1922	***	***
24	Saturday	June 24, 1922	***	***
25	Sunday	June 25, 1922	***	***
26	Monday	June 26, 1922	***	***
27	Tuesday	June 27, 1922	***	***
28	Wedensday	June 28, 1922	***	***
29	Thursday	June 29, 1922	***	***
30	Friday	June 30, 1922	***	***
31	Saturday	July 1, 1922	***	***
32	Sunday	July 2, 1922	***	***
33	Monday	July 3, 1922	***	***
34	Tuesday	July 4, 1922	***	***
35	Wedensday	July 5, 1922	***	***
36	Thursday	July 6, 1922	***	***
37	Friday	July 7, 1922	***	***
38	Saturday	July 8, 1922	***	***
39	Sunday	July 9, 1922	***	***
40	Monday	July 10, 1922	San Francisco	CA

Press Coverage

DAY	DATE	PAPER	HEAD LINE	PAGE	COL	SIZE	PHOTO	VIEW
Tues*20	June 20	Galion Inquirer	First Radio Tour Over Lincoln Highway	***	2	PR-10"	***	Click
Sun*25	June 25	San Francisco Chronicle	Radio Tour on Way to Coast	A2	4	PR-10"	1	Click
Sun*32	July 2	San Francisco Chronicle	Radio Cars on Way to Coast	A7	8	5"	***	Click
Wed+2	July 12	San Francisco Examiner	Radio Machine Ends US Trip	7	6	6"	***	Click
Wed+2	July 12	San Francisco Chronicle	Radio Autos Make Continental Trip	II-13	5	5"	***	Click

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