[BC] Oldest Transmitter still in daily service

[Milton R. Holladay Jr.]

The 1939 RCA 250D, now in the State Museum, was used every night at WCOS
until the Class IVs got 1,000 watt nighttime authorization, and as an aux
until ~1990 (working perfectly when removed from service).   In the 21 years
that I ran it, the only repair needed was to replace a small pin in a relay
that had worn out from vibration. Even though every audio stage was xfmr
coupled (4 xfmrs) and used no feedback, it would modulate almost 1 dB higher
than the BC-1F because it would pass clipped waveforms through with far less
tilt, just rounding the corners slightly. Sounded better, too, although the
BC-1F measured equally good or better.
ISTR that WDSC replaced the BC-1E with an MW-1; they had replaced their
BTF-3B with a FM-3G/TE-1 ~1970. They really knew how to pick
'em...............
M
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Groome" <bobgroome at yahoo.com>
To: "Broadcast Radio Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 8:30 PM
Subject: Re: [BC] Oldest Transmitter still in daily service


> I recall seeing a Gates BC-1E in Dillion, SC. At
> the time it was their only rig.
> Check with Corneleas to see if the RCA BTA-5F is
> still servicable at WERE
> There  was a Collins  21E in Hazelton, PA (5 kW
> DA) a few years ago.
> WMFJ AM had a Collins 300G (1940's) don't know if
> it got moved or not.
> Bob
>
> --- Mike Erickson <wirelessmedia at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I know WNBZ 1240 AM in Saranac Lake NY has a
> > Gates from the early 1950's as
> > their main (and I believe ONLY) transmitter.
> >
> > =Mike Erickson=
> >
> >
> > On 12/10/05, Scott Fybush <scott at fybush.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > >Now and then, people have mention Gates
> > BC-1F's on the list that are
> > > still
> > > >running, but I don't recall where. The BC-1F
> > dates to about 1950. I think
> > > >if you look hard you might also find a few
> > Collins 20V2's out there, and
> > > >those date to the mid-50's.
> > >
> > > There is a Collins of that vintage that's
> > still running at KSTN in
> > > Stockton, California. I can't find my notes
> > from that trip to confirm
> > > the model number, and I'll have to get with
> > Paul Shinn, their chief,
> > > to confirm. (If anyone can figure it out from
> > a not-very-good
> > > picture, there's one here:
> > >
> >
> http://www.fybush.com/sites/2005/site-051118.html)
> > >
> > > I can say with more certainty that the two
> > oldest transmitters I've
> > > seen that are still in place, albeit
> > non-working, at an active
> > > transmitter site are a 1930 McClatchy
> > homebrew 100-watter at KWG in
> > > Stockton (you can see it at the URL above,
> > too), and of course the
> > > 1927 Western Electric at WLW. Sadly, I was
> > told during my last visit
> > > to WLW a month ago that the heat exchanger
> > for the Western failed a
> > > couple of years ago, and so the old beast
> > isn't currently operable -
> > > but, being WLW, they hope to get it fixed
> > sometime soon.
> > >
> > > s
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > =Mike Erickson=
> > W1WHN
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
> Bob Groome
> An apology is the 'superglue' of life. It can repair just about anything.
Lyndon Johnson
>
> Home address is bobgroome at yahoo.com
> Work address is bobg at jampro.com
> Web: www.Jampro.com
> at Jampro Antennas, Tel: 916-383-1177 Building TV & FM antennas for 50
years
>
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