Technicians Gather Round

A look back at various radio stations

Technicians Gather Round

Postby Jack Bennest » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:48 pm

Image


To the best of our knowledge this picture is from the forties but more research is needed.

It is the CBU (GE) transmitter at Lulu Island - its a 10 KW

I have made the picture smaller and can show more detail
but wanted to see how this "crop" looked.

***

The station moved to AM 1130 in 1941 and to 690 in 1952 when the call sign was changed to its current CBU.
Last edited by Jack Bennest on Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Jack Bennest » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:58 pm

Image



690 KCS self supporting tower
guyed trilon-reflecting tower - signal north
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Postby Mike Cleaver » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:04 pm

I think your time line is probably correct.
I'm not sure when the powers that be allowed remote transmitter controls to be used but it was before my time.
Previously, there were engineers on duty at the transmitter site while the station was on the air.
That accounts for the comfy chairs.
The console controls the audio and transmitter and that looks like a turntable beside it that could be used if the program line failed.
Many of these transmitter sites included a house or apartment for the chief engineer and his family.
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Postby Neumann Sennheiser » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:08 pm

Mike Cleaver wrote:Previously, there were engineers on duty at the transmitter site while the station was on the air.
That accounts for the comfy chairs.


..and the spiffy-looking Broil-King grill at center stage.
"You don't know man! I was in radio man! I've seen things you wouldn't believe!"
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Postby Jack Bennest » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:07 pm

I think jon might be blowing up that calendar to see the date.

The gentleman I talked to spent his working day at the transmitter
site. Once the newer 50KW was installed I think the engineers were brought downtown to the hotel to monitor the meters. He talked about an office at Hornby and Georgia - a few floors up in the Hotel where he
had a good view of the court house.

Image
The picture circa 1970 shows left to right: Rusty Hopper, engineer,
Joe (de) Silva, sound engineer, unidentified women and Rick Hunt from
CBC newsroom.

I would have to check the data, but CBUT was located further west
in a seperate building and they all moved to the slab in the sky about
1975.

Funny I worked at CBC about that time and don't remember the building
being brand new but my memory fades.
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Postby Jack Bennest » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:14 am

Image

left to right - Rusty eating, Gerry Stanley, sound engineer, Bruce
Gatley and Jay Hireen - technicians

Xmas Party complete with ample spirits - engineering dept CBC
circa 1970
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Re: Technicians Gather Round

Postby Steve Sanderson » Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:58 pm

Top Dog wrote:Image


To the best of our knowledge this picture is from the forties but more research is needed.

It is the CBU (GE) transmitter at Lulu Island - its a 10 KW

I have made the picture smaller and can show more detail
but wanted to see how this "crop" looked.

***

The station moved to AM 1130 in 1941 and to 690 in 1952 when the call sign was changed to its current CBU.


I think it's a thermal nuclear demodulator.


:shock:
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Postby freqfreak2 » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:15 pm

Aren't they using this in the CERN super collider?
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Postby Mike Cleaver » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:43 pm

People today always are amazed at the size of radio and tv broadcast equipment of yesteryear.
Even 5 thousand watt transmitters were huge back in the day, a family could easily live inside one.
The microphones and turntables were huge.
There were 16" transcriptions and 14" reels of tape.
Even the first computers were giants compared to today's models.
Everything has become smaller and much more compact.
Back in the old days, engineers and techs actually FIXED equipment and invented and built what they couldn't find commercially.
And everything you bought was expensive, tape machines for 16 thousand dollars, for example.
Today, they just throw it away and buy the newest, latest, cheapest stuff they can find.
Now, you can run an entire radio station on a $700 lap-top.
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Postby Jack Bennest » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:53 pm

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"Jay Hireen died unexpectedly on January 23, 2002 from complications following a hip replacement operation the previous week. Jay joined CBC Vancouver as an Office Junior in 1957, transferring to Radio and ultimately joining the Sound Effects' Department. He was born James Andrew Hireen but early on in his CBC days, he formed the habit of signing all documents with only his initial "J". Very quickly the moniker stuck and he became known as "Jay". He remained with Radio Production until his early retirement a few years ago. Those NABET Technicians who walked the picket line with him in 1981 will always remember Jay for his camaraderie, his eternal optimism and his good humour - even on days when it was cold, wet, and windy. Retirement allowed Jay the freedom to enjoy his passion for golf and cycling, both of which were severely curtailed in the past year because of his hip problem.

It was actually a heart attack that took Jay.

Photo taken during 1981 CBC NABET strike.
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