[BC] WLBK - WDEK

[Paul Christensen]

>I heard he was a decent guy to work for...but didn't want to spend much 
>money on things.  Typical small market. But he had a 2nd transmitter on 
>both stations, plus the 5KW at the studio from the original installation. 
>So I know someone pressed for those items and he realized the importance. 
>I have the genset from the site as well.

The genset is another story for another time.  But I believe a new generator 
was purchased after the '83 flood took its toll on the old one.  It was 
housed in the garage on First Street.  Believe it or not, the transfer panel 
was located in the basement - and ripe for flood damage

I believe First Street had either a FM-5H or 10H and a four-bay antenna 
insulated on an old Windcharger tower (I think).  A BC-1T was used as a b/u 
to the MW-1.   The system was beginning to deteriorate badly and constantly 
changing ground conditions from the river were greatly affecting base Z.

Jerry's philosophy was that he would spend money when he made money. 
Unfortunately, not a lot of funding was put into WDEK when it was 
programming a progressive rock format.  Too many of the people there thought 
they could actually compete with WXRT in Chicago.  At 20KW ERP and 490-feet, 
it did a decent job of covering Rockford and the western Chicago suburbs 
from south DeKalb.  A serious Chicago player - it wasn't.

Prior to the purchase of WLBK in 1964, Jerry had owned WJOL in Joliet with 
Joe Novy (both ex-CBS engineers and both of Bohemian decent).  Like many 
partnerships, they eventually found that they worked better alone.  WJOL was 
sold in 1964 and Jerry came in loving the fact that there was zero 
competition in DeKalb County for some twenty years.

WLBK had previously been owned by former WLS G.M. George Biggar.  In fact, 
George was WLS' first manager in 1924 under Sears-Roebuck.  From WLS, George 
spent time at WLW until starting WLBK some years later.

> Were you around when they built the tower on 23?  Is that an Atlas tower? 
> I found some drawings for it, but I'm not sure if that's the manufacturer 
> or not.

I came on board one or two months after the tower and building were 
installed.  It was a transition period between Jeff and myself.  Not sure if 
Jeff can provide more info on it.  I do recall that the top portion was 
tapered and I agree that it sure looked like an Atlas.

Paul


====================================
Paul Christensen, CPBE, CBNT
LAW OFFICE OF PAUL B. CHRISTENSEN, P.A.
3749 Southern Hills,  Jacksonville, Florida 32225
Office: (904) 379-7802    Facsimile: (904) 212-0050
pchristensen at ieee.org