Percy Wilson (March 8, 1893-April 30, 1977).
Audio scientist extraordinaire & spiritualist
Percy Wilson was technical adviser to “The Gramophone” magazine from 1924 to 1938, and its technical editor from 1953 to 1966. In November 1924, he established the "Expert Committee" for The Gramophone magazine, gathering the experts of the time to discuss, study and inform the public on the technical improvements in the reproduction of sound. He co-wrote, “Modern Gramophones and Electrical Reproducers,” with George E Webb in 1929, and wrote “The Gramophone Handbook” in 1957. He was a founder-member of the British Sound Recording Association.
Percy Wilson’s contributions were paramount in developments in E.M.G Handmade Gramophones. His exponential formula for the ‘Wilson Panharmonic Horn’ lead to some of the first gramophones with purely scientifically designed horns. His work with Henry Seymour to improve the Seymour tonearm and his many insights into the soundbox, created a standard for later E.M.G & EXPERT products. He was a sharer, someone who inspired and brought together likeminded scientists to achieve a common goal. The dream of creating perfect reproduction of sound.
Through the “Expert Committee”, a regular column in The Gramophone Magazine, Percy Wilson and his fellow Committee members readily offered advice to it readers on all important changes in the reproduction of sound. Percy Wilson wrote numerous papers on the subject even into the late 1960’s.
The other side of Percy Wilson, from science to Spiritualism. (‘Perseverance’, his spiritual name). It seems that Percy Wilson was embroiled in spiritualism from an early age. His grandfather was a Unitarian minister who became a Spiritualist medium and preacher. Percy Wilson became a SNU (Spiritualists' National Union) minister in 1941. He was SNU president from 1950 to 1953. From 1958 to 1964 he was a vice-president of the College of Psychic Science. He was managing director of Psychic Press Ltd, from 1951 to 1962. He was also a trustee of the Spiritual Truth Foundation since its inception in 1965 and acted as a trustee of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers from its foundation in 1951.
He had three sons. Oldest, Laurence is a barrister. His other two sons, Professors Geoffrey and Richard Wilson are leading scientists in their own right with studies in acoustics and physics.
Here are some pdf files with info on Percy Wilson
My fifty years with gramophone records.Modern Gramophones and Electrical Reproduction 1929.
Percy Wilson SNU President 1950 - 1953.
Sound Reinforcement for Banquet Halls, Ballrooms and Conference Rooms.
Percy Wilson
Percy Wilson
Percy Wilson
Percy Wilson
Wilson Horn Theory
Wilson Protractor
Percy Wilson caricature
