Donald Hings
Encyclopedia
Donald Lewes Hings, was a Canadian
inventor. In 1937 he created a portable radio signaling system for his employer CM&S, which he called a "packset", but which later became known as the "Walkie-Talkie
".
While Hings was filing a U.S. patent for the packset in Spokane
, Washington
in 1939, Canada declared war
on Germany
. CM&S sent Hings to Ottawa
to redevelop his new invention for military use, and he worked there from 1940 to 1945. During these years, he developed a number of models, including the successful C-58 Walkie-Talkie
which eventually sold eighteen thousand units produced for infantry use, and for which he received the MBE
in 1946 and the Order Of Canada
in 2001.
Following the war, he moved to Burnaby, British Columbia
, where he established an electronics R&D company, Electronic Labs of Canada. He continued researching and creating in the fields of communications and geophysics
until his retirement. He held more than 55 patents in Canada
and the United States, and was the inventor of the klystron
magnetometer
survey system. In 2006, Hings was inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of Fame
.
Born in Leicester
, England
, he moved to Canada with his mother and father when he was three. He died on Capitol Hill
, Burnaby British Columbia
in 2004.
A celebration of Don's life was held at the Burnaby Funeral Directors, 4276 E. Hastings, on Thursday, March 4 at 3:00 PM.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
inventor. In 1937 he created a portable radio signaling system for his employer CM&S, which he called a "packset", but which later became known as the "Walkie-Talkie
Walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
".
While Hings was filing a U.S. patent for the packset in Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, Washington
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
in 1939, Canada declared war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. CM&S sent Hings to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to redevelop his new invention for military use, and he worked there from 1940 to 1945. During these years, he developed a number of models, including the successful C-58 Walkie-Talkie
Walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
which eventually sold eighteen thousand units produced for infantry use, and for which he received the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1946 and the Order Of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2001.
Following the war, he moved to Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where he established an electronics R&D company, Electronic Labs of Canada. He continued researching and creating in the fields of communications and geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
until his retirement. He held more than 55 patents in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States, and was the inventor of the klystron
Klystron
A klystron is a specialized linear-beam vacuum tube . Klystrons are used as amplifiers at microwave and radio frequencies to produce both low-power reference signals for superheterodyne radar receivers and to produce high-power carrier waves for communications and the driving force for modern...
magnetometer
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
survey system. In 2006, Hings was inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of Fame
Telecommunications Hall of Fame
Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame is a Canadian not-for-profit foundation that seeks to foster a greater awareness of Canada's role in developing and innovating telecommunications...
.
Born in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he moved to Canada with his mother and father when he was three. He died on Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill (Burnaby)
Capitol Hill elev. 203m, is a hill in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and also is the name of the neighbourhood spanning the summit of the hill...
, Burnaby British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 2004.
A celebration of Don's life was held at the Burnaby Funeral Directors, 4276 E. Hastings, on Thursday, March 4 at 3:00 PM.
External links
- Hings' Website includes many original documents and images.