Christos Tsigiridis
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| Christos Georgiou Tsigiridis | |
 Christos Tsigiridis picture in color, hosted by Thessaloniki Radio Museum
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| Born | 1877 Filippoupolis, East Romylia (nowadays known as Plovdiv, Bulgaria) |
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| Died | 17 December 1947 Thessaloniki, Greece |
| Residence |  ,  ,  |
| Nationality | |
| Fields | Electrical engineer |
| Alma mater | Stuttgart, 1900s |
| Known for | Radio, founder of the 1st radio station in South-East Europe, in 1926 |
Christos Tsigiridis (Χρίστος Τσιγγιρίδης - pronounced /΄xrιstɔs tsιgι΄rιδιs/) , (1877 - 1947) was a Greek electrical engineer and a great hi-tech pioneer of his era. He was the first one who imported to Greece the technology of sound reinforcement system and he led the installation of the first sound system of the Greek Parliament. He is mainly known for setting up the first radio station in Greece and Balkans, based on Thessaloniki.
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[edit] Birth and first years
Christos Tsigiridis was born in 1877 in Philippoupolis of Eastern Romylia (today: Plovdiv, Bulgaria) by Greek parents. In the 1880s the Macedonian issue broke out and all Greek people living in the area were being harashed. The once wealthy and aristocratic family of Georgios Tsigiridis had a hard time, which got even harder after his death. In the beginning of the 20th century they are forced to leave and move to Stuttgart of Germany. There, they founded a small cigarette production unit which brought enough money, so that Christos was able to study. Finally, he was able to study in the electrical mechanisms faculty of Stuttgart. A few years later, he got married with the aristocrat Maria Vogel (pronounced Fog-el) and they move to Greece together in 1918.
After moving to Greece, he settled himself in Larissa, hosted by his brother, Nikos. There, he gets Director of the Electric Lighting and Water Supply Company of the city. Though, the wireless communication experiments he had had in the university, had got a great impact on his ideas. Therefore, he decided to move to Thessaloniki, aiming to fulfill his vision: to found a radio station.
[edit] The loud speaker, or "big speechmaker"
The first tests for the radio transmission were held in his home, in Thessaloniki. In 1926 the 1st International Trade Fair was held in the area in front of the 3rd Army Corps premises. Tsigiridis's home was almost opposite, in the former Dimocratias str (nowadays called Vassilissis Olgas).
Christos Tsigiridis used to sell loudspeakers and sound amplifiers in the 1st International Trade Fair, as an agent of the German company SIEMENS HALSKE. It should be mentioned that the object was completely unknown in Greece, at that time. His sound reinforcement systems and his loudspeakers in specific were described as "noisy instruments" and spread the awe and the marvel to people; what's more, a radio receiver which was placed in the central square of the Exhibition by him.
His loudspeakers played spots about the exhibitors and music. The term "loudspeaker" was inexistent at that time in Greek. Thus, he fixed a quick direct translation of the English term, which today sounds something like "the big speechmaker".
[edit] The radio station
In 1926, Christos Tsigiridis set up his transmitter of approximately 400 Watt power, in the premises of the International Trade Fair. He used to operate it only during the Fair, in September. The first radio station of Greece, Balkans and South-Eastern Europe was finally true. The transmissions started on 25 of March 1926, when he had only two listeners. The one was in around Ippodromiou square, and the other in an English ship in Thessaloniki harbour. Keep in mind that a radio receiver, at that time, worthed a small fortune; though, the receivers multiplied soon.
The strict law on radio transmissions had been already established and therefore he operated the transmitter only during the International Trade Fair. Tsigiridis kept applying for a long-term broadcasting license were intense. Though, there was no result for a lot of years.
Tsigiridis operated the transmitter on his own expense, based on income from advertisement.
Tsigiridis's radio station hosted not few artists. The grammophone had just incorporated electric signal, the records were rare and the Greek record collection even more rare. Neither had the tape recorder been spread yet. Therefore, the music program consisted of live performance by singers and musicians, in the studio. The most important employees of Tsigiridis, in the 30's were M. Ghrosomanidis, Nicos Karmiris, A. Stratidis, Traianou, K. Tsantsanoglou etc.
The radio station of Tsigiridis made interference on the fascist propaganda radio of Bari, since the beginning of the 2nd World War, in purpose. Thessaloniki radio was the one which provided information for the Italian invasion to the citizens, since the Athens radio signal could not reach Northern Greece.
[edit] German occupation
Beginning the German occupation the transmitter was confiscated and Tsigiridis was forced to technically support the German-directed transmissions. Since he was the only one able to operate the equipment, kept causing trouble to the German transmissions by regularly suspending them for "essential repairs", as he claimed. The military officers got him imprisoned, believing they would be able to operate the transmitter by themselves, but it was proved to be impossible. So, they released Tsigiridis the day after, in order to have their propaganda on air. Soon, they hired a German mechanic to work with Tsigiridis, so as to be instructed on how to operate the transmitter, while they logged every move of Tsigiridis. Tsigiridis, being suspicious of the situation, made irrelevant connections all the time and the Germans could never operate the transmitter themselves. Finally, they had to install a radio transmitter of 20 kW on their own.
During the occupation, the receivers were sealed by the occupiers, and thus Tsigiridis used to tune in BBC in his own receiver (which was left intact by the Germans, in order to be able to relay German stations) and spread the news in the word-of-mouth, whenever he got to the cafe. Some time he was almost caught having an illegal listening, but he instantly set the radio dial on a German radio frequency without being noticed.
[edit] The last years
After the liberation of Greece, the transmitter was bought by Markos Vafiadis and operated on his purpose, during the Civil War. In 1945 it was returned to its constructor who started broadcasting again. For approximately one year, the transmitter got a temporary license for continuous transmission.
In 1945 the radio station was bought by the National Radio Institution (EIR) (which had started broadcasting in Athens in 1938, after an obligatory decision. Tsigiridis's equipment was turned off and a brand-new, more powerful trasmitter was installed at the same place. The studios were in the House of the Soldier, next to the military theatre, where the new Mayor Hall is being constructed today.
Tsigiridis was suddenly idle, since he had no more any equipment and the state broadcasting authority decided not to take advantage of his knowledge and experience. He finally died the same year and had a funeral with honours which were never paid during his life.
[edit] External Articles and Reference
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Plechova, Olga: The first Greek radio... and the first of Balkans, Barbounakis publications 2002, ISBN 960-267-107-6
- Tyrovouzis, Nestoras: "Macedonia" newspaper and "Radio tsigiridis", University Studio Press 2005, ISBN 960-12-1440-2
