Greetings Capital District radio history buffs, Bob Savage (WYSL) here from Rochester.
I'm very interested in the ill-fated 10kw 850 kHz iteration of WXKW that operated from a site in Selkirk approximately 1947-1953, after which the troubled station signed off for the last time. Dan Strassberg and others relate that the station had perpetual problems with its DA-1 array and was under nonstop attack from GE's sister station to WGY, co-channel KOA Denver, for its entire life. Contemporary accounts relate that WXKW actually had permanently-installed monitor station buildings at monitor points and was actually required to log field intensity several times DAILY!
WXKW had what must have been an incredibly impressive array consisting of 6 free-standing 300-foot Blaw-Knox towers, an in-line configuration (just THAT fact gives AM engineers a clue as to what could have contributed to the station's reputed antenna stability problems) in Selkirk.
My question: does anyone there in the original WXKW's home turf have any photos of this array or of WXKW's studios in Albany? It must have been quite a site...and sight! Reports are that the studios were very impressive as well.
Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008!
I'm very interested in the ill-fated 10kw 850 kHz iteration of WXKW that operated from a site in Selkirk approximately 1947-1953, after which the troubled station signed off for the last time. Dan Strassberg and others relate that the station had perpetual problems with its DA-1 array and was under nonstop attack from GE's sister station to WGY, co-channel KOA Denver, for its entire life. Contemporary accounts relate that WXKW actually had permanently-installed monitor station buildings at monitor points and was actually required to log field intensity several times DAILY!
WXKW had what must have been an incredibly impressive array consisting of 6 free-standing 300-foot Blaw-Knox towers, an in-line configuration (just THAT fact gives AM engineers a clue as to what could have contributed to the station's reputed antenna stability problems) in Selkirk.
My question: does anyone there in the original WXKW's home turf have any photos of this array or of WXKW's studios in Albany? It must have been quite a site...and sight! Reports are that the studios were very impressive as well.
Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008!