Maxwell Howden
15 Claremont Crescent, Canterbury, VIC

Max Howden was a pioneer of radio research in Australia. He was a keen radio amateur and experimented with, and manufactured crystals for frequency control in the 1920’s. Max ran his Crystal manufacturing company until the 1970’s and his son continued the business into the 1980’s.

Walter Francis Maxwell Howden (1899-1980) made the first successful, two-way amateur telegraphic shortwave radio contact between Australia and the US on November 4, 1924, followed by England 9 days later. This was from the experimental station "VK3BQ" he operated at his residence in Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria. [1][2]

In 1924, he worked as a Consulting Engineer for Corbett, Derham & Co. designing Tunaphone radios.

After a visit by Alf Treager and Dr John Flynn of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 1930 he agreed to manufacture and supply crystals for Treager Flying doctor radios. This was the start of his business which he operated from his home address. As business increased, he built a workshop/factory in his backyard. Initially the crystals were hand-ground and he later invested in a lapping machine. His staff were mainly family and he supplied the military with crystals during WW2. He supplied crystals to industry and radio amateurs until he retired in the 1970’s with his son taking over the business which he ran until the 1980’s.

[1] The Herald (Vic.)  Nov 6, 1924, Page 22.
[2] The Herald (Vic.)  Nov 14, 1924, Page 1.