Apr 12, 2018 - Sale 2473

Sale 2473 - Lot 245

Price Realized: $ 780
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 300 - $ 400
(CUBA.) Policia Nacional División Central, Radio Patrol, Havana, Cuba. Photograph, 7 1/4 x 50 inches; moderate soiling and foxing; not examined outside of frame; 6 signed inscriptions in lower margin. Havana, 18 June 1940
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Additional Details

A striking panorama of Old Havana, centered on the castle-like police headquarters building which had been erected the year before. Dozens of police cars and officers are lined up to face the camera. At the center of this grand display, in all-white civilian clothing, is the American radio engineer Fred Link (1905-1998). Link had recently invented two-way FM radio communication technology suitable for police departments. The Connecticut State Police were the first adopters in 1940, and then Link brought his system to Havana. This photograph was presented to Link in appreciation, and was signed by 6 leading Cuban officials, most notably President Federico Laredo and police chief Bernardo Garcia, who inscribed it to "the man with the broadest knowledge in radio that I have ever met, as testimony of my sincere affection." See Dan Bishop, "Fred M. Link, Goodwill Ambassador," in Proceedings of the Radio Club of America 72:3 (Fall 1998), pages 8-13, which includes an early image of Link in his office with the present photograph hanging on his wall.