CKDA Van - down memory lane

[Jack Bennest]

note - message edited for clarity


Dear BC Radio History

I'm looking for information and old pictures of a 1957 Mercury vanette that was owned by CKDA Victoria.
It was purchased by the station in 1957-58.
I bought it a few days ago in Saanich.
I know CKDA had it up for sale back in 1992 and since then it has hardly been used.



Pix 1. This is the ad from the old car trader in 1992 when it still had the original signwriting on it.



Pix 2. This is a picture I took yesterday of it.

I believe there the CKDA signwriting is under there.
It was repainted in the mid 90's. I am considering removing the paint and restoring it to original CKDA colors.

Any information or pictures on it would be greatly appreciated .
If these pictures would be of any use to BC Radio History - feel free to post them.



Regards - Murray Scott

[Jack Bennest]

1950: Jan. 18: CKDA 1340 signs on as Victoria’s second radio station. Its power was 250 watts.

1954: Aug. 1 5 pm: CKDA 1340 moves to AM 1280 and increases its power from 250 watts to 5KW

1957: Sept. 18: CKDA 1280 Victoria moves to AM 1220. Its power 10KW

1971: CKDA 1220 Victoria increases its power to 50KW

1986: July 1: CKDA 1220 moves to AM 1200.

1995: Sept. 1 5 pm: CKDA 1200 signs off the air.

[Victoriaradio]

I think the van was yellow, with red lettering. Norm Pringle may have more details.

[Jack Bennest]

I have emailed "crash"

and I hope gerry pash will remember the van

[gwp]

I have emailed "crash" and I hope gerry pash will remember the van

It was once painted gold and then very bright yellow ... ie. Golden Sound Radio. It had a board with two turntables and an ampex 600. To prep for a remote you would put all your produced commercials back to back on a single reel of tape for the period and cue them as you went. It was possible to run with out hydro power as there was bank of car batteries through a rectifier to produce 120 AC. You could broadcast either from inside or even up on the roof. Victoria's answer to the Crystal Palace. The Golden Sound mobile studio. During 1961-62 Bob Brooks did the "Rolling Home Show" each day from on location in the Monterey Restaurant parking lot at the "Round-about" (Corner of Government, Hillside, Douglas, Gorge Road)

[murray]

There is some yellow paint still showing in the hood area .
I seen the battery compartment . it is below the floor behind the passengers seat
It is aprox. 18" wide , 36" long , and about 12 " deep .
There is still a big buss bar to join the batteries .


So does anyone have any old pics of it ?