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WCFL Plans Move to Downers Grove: 1927

davideduardo

davideduardo

Moderator/Administrator
Staff member
davideduardo said:
Here is a picture of the proposed WCFL building in Downers Grove as announced at the end of 1927:

Whole issue with pictures of old location and description of new 50,000 watt transmitter at https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/STATION MAGAZINES MISCELLANEOUS/WCFL-Radio-Magazine-1927-10-11.pdf
View attachment 9997View attachment 9998
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This is from the same time frame, selling lots for the "Labor Park" Subdivision. The Great Depression hit and plans for Labor Park were scuttled selling off the land to private developers for a good deal of what comprises the North East portion of Downers Grove.

The CFL's plans for a Super 50kW station were not looked upon fondly by the FCC and the broadcast industry as a whole as the labor movement was considered socialist in nature. The 50kW status was battled in court over a 15 to 20 year period with the final directional three tower array configuration most were familiar with taking shape in 1948.

Image 17.jpg
 
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hmmm...wonder what kind of "highly restricted" deed restrictions were placed on the land. No Gremlins? No WLS jocks? No one who calls himself Chickenman?
 
I immediately noticed the ads on page 2 for those early portable receivers, and ran their prices through the inflation calculator page at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The "Trav-ler" would cost $1,564.18 in today's dollars. The "Super Ten" would cost $2,649.36 ... and was in kit form without a speaker (!).
 
tvnut said:
A tremendous find, David.
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Thanks.

I have 100 (the max limit) of eBay searches I get updates on each day. Most are rather intricate searches, using eBay's bizarre boolean search capability. I look at each result, every day and cross check with my collection of about 150,000 publications. That takes about 2 hours and at least 2 cups of Alto Grande espresso.

When I find something like the WCFL magazine, it is sort of like a touchdown, a goal, a hole in one.
 


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