NBC transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

14 NBC TRANSMITTER WHAM's F.-M. Station Used for Special Music Programs in Seven Rochester War Factories • ROCHESTER. N. Y.-Long study has shown that “music hath charms”— to increase production and alleviate work fatigue. Station WHAM, through its frequency modulation station W51R, is broadcasting eight 20-minute daily periods of “Music While You Work” to war workers in the Rochester area. The successful results of British war plants in spurring production and keeping it at a high level by broadcasting music for workers at their machines and benches is sought here in seven industrial plants. The plan to couple tuneful melodies with the busy hum of war-geared machinery was offered to the Rochester industries in May of this year by William Fay, vice-president in charge of broadcasting for the Stromberg-Carlson Company. The plan was accepted on an experimental basis by the representatives of the seven plants. Fay’s offer was made after consideration of programs which were selected on the basis of studies made of the successfid British experiments by George Driscoll, head of the war service department of W51R. The programs are picked up by the factories and broadcast through the buildings by loud speaker systems. The music is largely light classics— and no swing or jive— since Driscoll’s study of the British plan indicated that the livelier music tended to distract the attention of the listeners. Since vocal music and MUSIC BOOSTS WAR WORK -George Driscoll, head of W5IR’s war service department, spins the turntables for the special frequency modulation programs going to seven war plants in the industrial city. announcements had a similar effect, all music is instrumental with no breaks for identification of the number to be played. All programs consist of 20-minute concerts of recorded music. Originally, two periods of one-half hour each were scheduled. but the demand for more “Music While You Work” has increased the schedule to eight periods daily of 20 minutes each. Some of the plants concerned have made individual experiments with music for its workers, but this is the first experiment on wide lines with the guidance of practical experience in the types of music. War industries which are tied-in are Eastman Kodak Company, Folmer-Graflex Company, Rochester Button Company, Sargent & Greenleaf. Max Lowenthal and Sons, Ritter Manufacturing Companv and the Stromberg-Carlson Company. The extent of the service and the thousands of war workers who have music while they work is illustrated by the setup at the Eastman Kodak camera works, which has placed 500 loudspeakers at strategic intervals around its whole plant. The times of the broadcasts are arranged in line with Driscoll’s research on the experiment, which indicated that the peak of the work fatigue— which the music is designed to lessen— comes in the middle of the morning, afternoon and evening. Persons who have checked the operation of the plan in use say the workers hum, sing and tap their feet during the numbers, forgetting their fatigue but without enough distraction to affect their work. Milwaukee F.-M. Activity • MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. L. W. Herzog, manager of WTMJ and W55M, The Milwaukee Journal stations, has been named secretary-treasurer of FM Broadcasters, Inc. Walter J. Damm, general manager of the Journal stations, is the president of FMBI. The Journal Company recently announced that the call numerals for W55M. their f.-m. station, were to be changed to WMFM as of November 1. The station is keeping abreast of all developments in readiness for the anticipated post-war demand for f.-m. receivers. Honor KSTP Executive for Home-Front War Activity • MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.-Ray C. Jenkins, general sales manager of KSTP (Minneapolis-St. Paul), recently received the Minneapolis Ad Club’s initial quarterly award for outstanding war service on the home front. Jenkins is chairman of the military and naval morale committee of the American Legion, department of Minnesota; director of the military and naval entertainment committee of the USO: chairman of the radio committee, Fifth District American Legion; chairman of the military service committee of the Minneapolis Rotary Club; director of the “On to Victory” Minneapolis Aquatennial: radio chairman of the American Legion, department of Minnesota; chairman of radio of the Mayor’s committee for Navy and WAVE recruiting, and holder of still additional posts. WINS 4-H AWARD Singular award “for outstanding service ” recently came to Bill Prance, farm director of W'SB (Atlanta), from the 110,000 4-H Club members in the State of Georgia. The plaque ivas presented as a surprise feature on PraJice’s own program, the “Dixie Farm and Home Hour.” It read: “For his contributions and encouragement in 4-H Club work. This is the first award to be given to a radio personality by the Georgia 4-H Club. Prance teas responsible for the recent plan under which the 4-H girls and boys paid for and launched a liberty ship at Savannah, Georgia. Sallie Cook, 4-H council president, made the atvard.