NBC transmitter (Jan 1943-Sept 1944)

6 NBC Transmitter PERFECTION THEIR GO AL— Pictured above are members of the champion KOA transmitter crew, ivho, for near perfection in mechanical service, won the 1943 General Electric Merit Award. (1. to r.) Francis A. Nelson and Garland S. Dutton, transmitter engineers; Russell C. Thompson, assistant station engineer; George H. Anderson, transmitter engineer; Roy D. Carrier, station engineer; fames R. MacPherson, KOA general manager; Robert H. Owen, chief engineer; W. Carl Nesbitt, Blair E. Dobbins, and Joseph L. Turre, transmitter engineers, and Emil L. Raeke, building maintenance. (Story below, right). NBG Supervising Building Of Coast Shortwave Unit SAN FRANCISCO.— Under supervision of the National Broadcasting Company, construction of a huge new shortwave broadcasting plant here to serve the Far East, the Pacific area and Latin America will begin shortly, it was announced by John W. El wood, general manager of NBC Station KPO. The shortwave plant, for which land already has been purchased and preliminary plans completed, is expected to be in operation by Fall. It will he designed and built by NBC for and in collaboration with OWI and the Defense Plant Corporation at a cost of approximately $1,000,000. The shortwave plant, consisting of four powerful shortwave stations, will he operated by NBC, for the Overseas Branch of the OWI. These facilities will play an important part in American psychological warfare in the Pacific area and will form a strong link between Latin America and the United States. Vandercook Heads A.R.N.A. NEW YORK.— John W. Vandercook, NBC news commentator, who expects to leave shortly as a member of NBC’s London invasion team, has been elected president of the Association of Radio News Analysts. He succeeds Major George Fielding Eliot. Casting Problem Charles Urquhart, former production manager of the NBC Central division, adds to his collection of cast autographs when Commentator Alex Dreier takes pen in hand. Private Urquhart, stationed at Camp Crowder, Missouri, where he is teaching basic training for the Signal Corps, ivas on furlough while recovering from a fractured heel. KOB Salutes NBC Service Series, “Now Is the Time’’ ALBUQUERQUE, N. M.-High ranking officials of the armed services and members of the WAC, WAVES, and Women Marines participated in a “Now Is the Time” rally in the Student Union Building on the University of New Mexico campus March 27. Women of the university student body were special guests and the rally on the campus was sponsored by Mortarboard, women's honorary organization. Purpose of the rally was to honor the service branches and to stimulate interest in the first of NBC’s “Now Is the Time” series, which paid tribute to American women in service. Ellen Kirk, representing KOB, was m.c. and Carol Williams, president of Mortarboard, represented the student body. Dr. James F. Zimmerman, president of the university, w7as in the official party. Chicago Salvage Campaign CHICAGO.— At least 25 tons of waste paper will he salvaged for the current paper campaign from business records in the dead storage files of the NBC Central division. The weeding out project started March 1 and will continue through June 15, it was announced by Arthur G. Pearson. Central division purchasing agent. Pearson estimated that more than 80 per cent of the old records can be discarded. not only aiding the waste paper drive but also providing badly needed storage space. KOA Transmitter Wins GE Award for Air Performance DENVER, COLO.— Station KOA’s engineering department has been cited by the General Electric Company for the championship performance of all NBC operated stations. Of 6.689 hours and 31 minutes of broadcasting in 1943, KOA was off the air because of technical difficulties only 42 seconds. A championship plaque will be presented to Robert H. Owen, KOA chief engineer; C. A. Peregrine, control operator, and Roy D. Carrier, station engineer representing the entire technical staff, at special ceremonies on a date to be set later. All three men are members of NBC’s Ten Year Club. Ow^en has been chief engineer at KOA since 1924 when it wrent on the air as a GE station. KOA’s present 50,000-watt transmitter, made by General Electric, went into operation in 1934. It is located in Aurora, Colorado, 14 miles east of Denver, on U. S. Highway 40, one of the nation’s East-West transcontinental routes. The transmitter building itself is one of the show places of this area. Its 475-foot antenna is neon lighted and is visible for 50 miles in any direction. The transmitter grounds are beautifully landscaped. In the center of the grounds is located a huge fountain with changing colored lights illuminating the KOA cooling system fountain, thereby making this adjunct to the technical operation both utilitarian and promotional.