Crystal Clear: The Struggle for Reliable Communications Technology in World War II [Hardcover]

Richard J. Thompson Jr. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470046066 | ISBN-13: 978-0470046067 | Publication Date: October 13, 2006 | Edition: 1

Quartz crystal-a technology that changed the tide of World War II

Some of the defining leaps in technology in the twentieth century occurred during the Second World War, from radar to nuclear energy. Often left out of historical discussions are quartz crystals, which proved to be just as pivotal to the Allied victory-and to post-war development-as other technologies. Quartz crystals provided the U.S. military, for the first time, with reliable communication on the front lines, and then went on to become the core of some of the most basic devices of the post-war era, from watches, clocks, and color televisions, to cell phones and computers.

In Crystal Clear, Richard Thompson relates the story of the quartz crystal in World War II, from its early days as a curiosity for amateur radio enthusiasts, to its use by the United States Armed Forces. It follows the intrepid group of scientists and engineers from the Office of the Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army as they raced to create an effective quartz crystal unit. They had to find a reliable supply of radio-quality quartz; devise methods to reach, mine, and transport the quartz; find a way to manufacture quartz crystal oscillators rapidly; and then solve the puzzling "aging problem" that plagued the early units. Ultimately, the development of quartz oscillators became the second largest scientific undertaking in World War II after the Manhattan Project.

Bringing to light a little-known aspect of World War II, Crystal Clear offers a glimpse inside one of the most significant efforts in the annals of engineering.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating book, in which I found the interplay of all the characters and companies becoming more and more enthralling." (Practical Wireless, March 2009)

"...a highly readable and engaging account…" (IEEE Newsletter, July 2007)

"I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has the slightest interest in the topic." (E-STREAMS, June 2007)

"…a fascinating account of a nearly-forgotten technology leap that impacted the course of the war." (Monitoring Times, December 2006)

From the Back Cover

Quartz crystal—a technology that changed the tide of World War II

Some of the defining leaps in technology in the twentieth century occurred during the Second World War, from radar to nuclear energy. Often left out of historical discussions are quartz crystals, which proved to be just as pivotal to the Allied victory—and to post-war development—as other technologies. Quartz crystals provided the U.S. military, for the first time, with reliable communication on the front lines, and then went on to become the core of some of the most basic devices of the post-war era, from watches, clocks, and color televisions, to cell phones and computers.

In Crystal Clear, Richard Thompson relates the story of the quartz crystal in World War II, from its early days as a curiosity for amateur radio enthusiasts, to its use by the United States Armed Forces. It follows the intrepid group of scientists and engineers from the Office of the Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army as they raced to create an effective quartz crystal unit. They had to find a reliable supply of radio-quality quartz; devise methods to reach, mine, and transport the quartz; find a way to manufacture quartz crystal oscillators rapidly; and then solve the puzzling "aging problem" that plagued the early units. Ultimately, the development of quartz oscillators became the second largest scientific undertaking in World War II after the Manhattan Project.

Bringing to light a little-known aspect of World War II, Crystal Clear offers a glimpse inside one of the most significant efforts in the annals of engineering.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press; 1 edition (October 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470046066
• ISBN-13: 978-0470046067
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,511,542 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Major Contribution to Winning World War II, February 10, 2007

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crystal Clear: The Struggle for Reliable Communications Technology in World War II (Hardcover)

Just before World War II the Army Air Corp and the Armored forces ran some tests using crystal controlled radios vs. other typed of frequency control. Their conclusion, without crystals you have radios, with crystals you have communications.

The Army Signal Corp basically had no choice but to agree. Crystal controlled radios were so far superior tht there was really no decision. Except for one little point.

The production of crystals for radios in the United States (and in the rest of the world) was essentially intended for the ham radio market. In the united states this amounted to about 100,000 crystals a year. They were made by small 'mom and pop' companies across the US. Now every airplane was going to need from one to ten crystals, so will every tank. So will every radio from the hand held walkie-talkie up to the search radars. Let's do some calculating, and we come up with needing 2,000,000 crystals per MONTH.

This book is the story of coming up to eventually 2.5 million crystals a month.

It's the story of a couple of youngsters grinding five crystals and taking them for examination at the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation (later to change its name to Motorola). They passed the testing and left Galvin that afternoon with an order in their pocket for 80,000 crystals.

It's the story of the technological manufacturing miracle that went a long way to helping win the war. Think about it. When you see American soldiers in war movies, they talk to each other using radios. The Germans and the Japanese don't.

Splendid book on a little knows aspect of World War II.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story, November 15, 2007

By 

Tony Zbaraschuk "Tony Zbaraschuk" (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crystal Clear: The Struggle for Reliable Communications Technology in World War II (Hardcover)

This is actually a history of the American production of 71 million quartz crystal oscillators for precise-frequency radios during World War II, starting from virtually no production ability in 1939. There's a lot of story here, as the Signal Corps deals with Brazilian quartz miners (virtually all the quality quartz in the world was mined there during these years), American "can-do" businessmen trying to support themselves and make a buck, demands from Air and Armor for masses of radios, quartz shortages, company trade secrets (very few in retrospect; there was a lot of information-sharing from top-down Signal Corps researchers and bottom-up factory floor guys), more quartz shortages, crystal "aging" causing radios to drift off frequency, cooperation (and non-cooperation) with British needs, a quick look at captured Japanese and German radio equipment, and an overall summary.

A little-known story of World War II, and well worth remembering: the quartz crystals were a technical miracle at least as important to the war as the better-known atomic bomb, radar, and proximity fuses.

Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book of History and Technology, October 30, 2011

By 

Jesse Hasty "Jazz Lover" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crystal Clear: The Struggle for Reliable Communications Technology in World War II (Paperback)

This book is the story of how technological and industrial innovation brought reliable communication to our troops during World War 2. While the development of the atomic bomb, radar, and, to a lesser extent, the proximity fuse are well know, the development and mass production of crystal oscillators was fully as important to the successful prosecution of the war, especially among air men and tank crews. This is the story of how crystal oscillators were propelled from relative obscurity in 1940 to the dominant technology in use by 1944.

There are heroes and villains in this book, and the author perhaps speaks too well of the former and too ill of the later, but the interplay of personalities and technological advances makes for a good read. This is largely a historical reference book, but one will take away some new technological knowledge if one takes the time to read through the many details proffered.

Amateur radio operators (hams) can take pride in the positive influence ham radio buffs had on improvements in design and production of quartz crystals. Without the open sharing of knowledge and can-do attitude leading to new and improved techniques, the growth of the quartz crystal industry from a cottage industry of small, hand made production, to mass production of high quality crystals would not have been possible.

This book should be read by anyone interested in the history of technology, war, radio, or the military.