The Houdina Radio Control Company was an American a radio equipment firm of the 1920s, remembered for demonstrating a radio-operated automobile in several cities.
History
[edit]The radio-operated automobile, American Wonder, 1925
Francis P. Houdina is credited with developing a radio-operated automobile.[a]A1926 Chandler was equipped with a transmitting antenna on the tonneau and operated from a second car that followed it with a transmitter. The radio signals operated small electric motors that directed every movement of the car. On July 27, 1925, a public demonstration of the radio-controlled driverless car American Wonder was conducted in New York City streets, traveling up Broadway and down Fifth Avenue through thick traffic.[2] The car reportedly "barely missed trucks, automobiles and a milk wagon, finally crashing into a sedan."[3]
Also in July 1925, illusionist Harry Houdini and his secretary, Oscar Teale, visited the New York City offices of Houdina Radio Control and an argument broke out.[4][5] Houdini damaged the furniture and an electric chandelier, accusing the company of using his name unlawfully.[b] Afterwards, Francis P. Houdina said that there had never been any intention on his part to capitalize on the name of Houdini.[6][7] A summons for disorderly conduct was issued against Houdini, but the charges were dropped because George Young, the Houdina Radio Control manager, failed to appear in court.[4][8]
A second New York City test drive, this time with an escort of motorcycle police, was conducted on August 1, 1925.[9] In October 1925, the Houdina radio-operated automobile was demonstrated in Boston.[10] In January 1927, after Houdina reportedly left Indianapolis without paying some of his workers, a story was circulated that the "radio control" was actually being done by a person hidden in the car.[11] In February 1927, two youths from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, reportedly took some of the company's equipment after not being paid; the equipment was returned to local police, and police in Chicago were investigating Arthur L. Grayson, "who had gone under other names during his business career", of the Houdina company.[12]
Reports of demonstrations of a "phantom motor car" or "phantom auto" in December 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[13] and in June 1932 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, do not mention Houdina (the person or the company), although described capabilities of the car were consistent with the Houdina vehicle.[14][15]
