[BC] Some historical questions

[Phil Alexander]

On 18 Jun 2006 at 15:56, Richard Fry wrote:

> Nat Kayle:
> > Well this is interesting info, but I was looking for specifics on the
> >transition from flat-top-Ts to verticals in general broadcasting.
> __________
> 
> Can't help ya, there.  But  on July 4, 1905, Fessenden was granted a U.S 
> patent for that series-fed tower radiator with insulated guys, and the 
> umbrella "capacity hat" at the top.  I've seen a copy of the patent letter 
> on the web.
> 
> Maybe that was enough to delay its adaptation.  Or maybe it just took a 
> while to be recognized by the broadcast stations that started later as 
> garage and attic operations in the early 1920s, and needed something less 
> expensive to get on the air?

In those days patents ran for 17 years from date of issue, thus unless an
unusual re-issue was done, the patent would have expired July 4, 1922 and
the idea would have been public domain. 

Some of the old straight sided self-supporters date back to the early days
of insulated vertical radiators. Perhaps tracing the history of some of
those would give us a clue. Both WSBT and WNDE (originally WFBM) here in
Indiana have some of those old straight self-supporters and are of that
vintage although I'm not sure of the history of those plants. (However,
ISTR 1926 for WFBM.) I'm thinking the self-supporter may have been a
way to get around the Fessenden patent before it expired, and the trend
continued for a few years afterward.


---------------------------------------------
Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology 
(a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) 
Ph. (317) 335-2065   FAX (317) 335-9037





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