Re: Last transmission from old WBZ tower

[k4kyv]

I suppose it was inevitable, but still sad news.  Surprised they lasted this long. The bean counters strike again.

Wonder if they are demolishing the entire building or just the towers.  Or if this has anything to do with last year's tornado.

[W2PFY]

Wonder if they are demolishing the entire building or just the towers.

The towers are on top of the building Don. I posted pictures of the building and towers here in the past. When I first saw them around 1973, there was a heavy wire stretched between the towers. It  may have been  the original transmitting wire?

[KC4ALF]

More history lost! I wonder what will happen to Radio on the USS Olympia in Philadelphia if she goes to the breakers next year?

[DMOD]

It would be neat if they would do one more program of Paul Revere's "Midnight Ride."

Phil - AC0OB

[k4kyv]

Has anyone heard whether or not they are demolishing the entire building, or just taking down the towers from the roof?

[W2PFY]

I have heard that the entire building is being demolished. Way back when, I was right at the building and it was empty then.

[k4kyv]

Pity someone did not have the wherewithal to purchase the towers as scrap metal, dismantle them, and re-construct them at another site, even mounted directly on the ground.  Would have made a fine business set of ham towers for the low bands, relocated at some historical site like the Chatham Marconi station museum on Cape Cod. However, if they weren't galvanised, they might be too rusty to be in any condition to safely dismantle, and probably way too expensive to remove in one piece using a crane.

[AJ1G]

More history lost! I wonder what will happen to Radio on the USS Olympia in Philadelphia if she goes to the breakers next year?

Apparently that fate may not be sealed yet...apparently there is a fund-raising program underway to save her, and have her put on display in an historic drydock at Mare Island, near where she was built in San Francisco.  Came across several references about it while trying to come across any pictures of the radio room.  Obviously there was none in 1898 when she was Dewey's flagship at Manila Bay, but she must have had one before here final decommissioning in the early 20s.  What ever is left must certainly be very buzzardly!  From the History News Network website:

"So far, the Navy Yard Association of Mare Island, a nonprofit organization based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, has shown significant interest in this ship.  They are gathering resources in hopes to “Bring the Olympia Home to the San Francisco Bay Area.”  The ship was initially constructed in San Francisco, hence the desire to bring the ship back to its birthplace.  The Navy Yard Association has launched a webpage detailing the plan they hope to follow to save the USS Olympia from scrapping.  In order to be given stewardship of this vessel, an organization must have the necessary funds and prove that they can maintain preservation of the ship."

[W2PFY]

Pity someone did not have the wherewithal to purchase the towers as scrap metal, dismantle them, and re-construct them at another site

These towers are probably the last tidbit of hands on hardware that is left over from the birth of BC radio. I think we in ham radio are the only people thinking that they are worth preserving. That being said, I guess we are to blame for not getting on the band wagon to save them?

I see HLR somehow is involved. I hope someone in his group will get lots of pictures of the event!

 You'd think there must be a millionaire out there somewhere who would want them on their land in New Mexico? As far as my finances to endeavor on such a project,  I'm too poor to pay attention!

[W2PFY]

I heard Tim earlier tonight on 160 saying that a shopping center will be built at the site.

[WA3VJB]

Makes sense. The site is near a road.

http://www.necrat.us/wbza/wbza.html

[K2AEP]

Here is a Shot I took of the Westinghouse Building Yesterday (Nov.3) a sad story of History lost. Neighbors told Me that the Property may develop into a Casino.

[k4kyv]

These towers are probably the last tidbit of hands on hardware that is left over from the birth of BC radio. I think we in ham radio are the only people thinking that they are worth preserving. That being said, I guess we are to blame for not getting on the band wagon to save them?

There are others besides amateur radio AMers who find an interest in such things.  A lot of the AWA members are not hams.  Some even take a faintly dim view of ham radio. A number of broadcast history buffs have their own websites.

The problem is, these are usually private deals decided behind closed doors, and no-one finds about them until the last minute, after it is too late.  If the proposed demolition had been publicly announced well in advance, someone with financial means might have offered to purchase the towers and have them removed from the building without destroying them, before it was to be torn down. Not many of those old 4-sided towers of any kind left.

[KM1H]

The tornado went 1 1/2 miles south. The site is 2 blocks from where my #1 son used to live on Fresno St and I stopped by there in April on the way back from Utica with the BC-1T parts to say hi to his old neighbors.

The site fronts right on Rt 20A just coming into Springfield on the East side and about 1/2 mile West of I-291. If you zoom in its the leftmost group of buildings in the photo and I believe that complete area is coming down.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=springfield+MA+map&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89e6e62c08e4b81f:0x1d1808da41b9aabd,Springfield,+MA&gl=us&ei=2Iq0TtK5MM_o2gX1_tHMDQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ8gEwAA

[kb3ouk]

so has anyone heard them yet? i'm on 3875 listening and its 20 after 9 and i haven't heard anything yet.

UPDATE: right after i posted this i heard someone calling them but no reponse.

[DMOD]

Same here (11:11AM cdst) but all I hear is atmospheric noise.

I called on both AM and SSB but heard nothing.

Phil - AC0OB

[WA3VJB]

UPDATE --

I heard TimTron mobile last night on his way there, he had just crossed into Massachusetts, but have not heard him on the air here.

OK, struggling to hear here.

[KA2DZT]

They are running about 250 watts, IIRC Johnson 500,  Inverted L antenna with a Johnson Matchbox.

They have pile-ups.  I worked the station when Timtron took the mike.  Their signal was only about S-9 in Central NJ.

Around 12:15PM they were on 3883Khz

Fred

[K3YA]

They are on 3882 right now.  Started about 10 AM local on 3874 or thereabouts.  They are a pretty steady 10+ db above the noise near Washington DC the whole time.  I hear a number of W3 calling but they seem to be working mostly W1&2.  Seems that the big inverted L is transmitting better then hearing.

[kb3ouk]

yea that inverted L must be a good transmitting antenna but a horrible receiving one. i can heard them fine but they haven't heard me and i've been calling all morning. steve,QIX just got off with timtron.

[W2NBC]

Many strong stations were calling.. I think the major reception problem is a combination of local demolition noise, and the receiver they're using.. It's a Hallicrafters S-85 with limited selectivity..

For an SWL Reception Card, here is the E-mail address:
hampdencom@aol.com

This is for stations having heard W1Z but weren't able to get through..

[kb3ouk]

i'll send them a reception report, i made three recordings at different times throughout the operation, two were made while they were down around 3875 (i had them drifting around the 3872-3 area) and the third was made after timtron moved up to 3885 (once again, i think they were drifting around 3883-4) to get away from the slopbuckets downband.
shelby

[Steve - K4HX]

You're kidding, right?

It's a Hallicrafters S-85 with limited selectivity..

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I snuck in under the wire, think I was next-to-last to work them with Tim working Curt from his mobile just before he went off the air. I logged them at 14:10 totally by chance, having looked around and listened earlier in the day with no luck. While doing some work around the house I wandered back into the garage for something, heard a big signal up the band a bit, tuned in and heard Curt signing W1Z at a strong 59 level. Threw the switch on the transmitter to warm it up fast, did a quick & dirty tune up down the band a bit, and gave a holler just as Curt said he was signing out since there were no more stations to work.

Didn't realize they were flattening the entire site, but that's progress for ya.

[W2PFY]

I see they used L type antenna. Were they able to get on the building and use the towers or did they hook to a near by tree?