Other than a humming box, that is. RCA broadcast, prior to the period in the seventies just before they went out of business, made some good-looking transmitters:
The Art Deco design was favored for a number of years, especially with the AM units:
Some of these RCA transmitters are still in service as backups.
GE made the BT-25A, which was a 50 KW transmitter in Syracuse, NY for a few years. These units were very similar to the RCA BTA-50 transmitters.
Gates of Parker Gates, pre-Harris, also made some classic transmitters:
I remember the BC5P had a similar look, with more transmitter cabinets.
Fritz Bauer made a very solid AM transmitter. Good looking, too. We need more pictures of old transmitters and other hardware.
I remember the RCA BTA-1R quite fondly as it was the backup at WMMM in Westport, CT. The main transmitter, a Harris MW-1 always reminded me of an overgrown refrigerator, looks wise.
While both transmitters operated well there was nothing more frustrating with my high voltage “buddy” who accompanied me during transmitter maintenance would hit the crystal switches on the RCA to pop it into “Conelrad” mode. There was nothing more frustrating than having to open the box to manually reset the latching relay when he decided to play this little prank on me.
Some stations are still using them as mains. I have 1r3 as a main and a 1r1 for back up. Both make full power and mod!
Like real radios, real transmitters glow in the dark.
Those classic radio broadcast transmitters sure look neat,…and it’s nice to know some are still in use! I like the looks of the RCA units,and though they’re not pictured,…a few of the old Collins and Continental units as well. Seen photos of those on another radio related site,…www.oldradio.com,I think! Another neat looking transmitter is the 50HG-2 Westinghouse transmitter
featured on the Jim Hawkins Radio and Broadcast technology website for WOWO AM 1190!
Off-topic: Sorry, Paul. I lost your e-mail and wanted to let you know I’ve transferred my domain for “Site 2241” on your blog roll to Namecheap. The URL is now just “www.site2241.net”.
BTW, I loved your post on the Titanic!
BTA-1AR looks good enough to display in my living room.
That’ll speed the divorce along, as well.
@spine, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I myself had to upgrade to wife 2.0 a few years back, the first version of the program was buggy.
Hi everyone. Iam based in Australia. I am seeking some information on a radio dation that has in use a Harris MW-50-C using 4CX-35000-C power tubes. I am truing to get hold of a set of photographs of the transmitter both inside and out, including power supply and R.F. units. Any help appreciated. David Van Barneveld VK4BGB davidbarneveld@bigpond.com
David, I’ll check around and see, many of that model transmitter has been retired. I worked on a couple of MW-50A and B transmitters over the years. They have issues with the solid state damper diodes going bad. I believe those parts are no longer available.
Thanks Paul. Any help appreciated. If you or anyone else here knows where I can get my hands on a 4CX35000C tube, please let me know. I want one for a display piece. Happy to pay shipping costs to Australia. 73’s. David………….davidbarneveld@bigpond.com
David, I don’t know of anyplace where these tubes are just laying around, but I will keep my eyes open.
Thanks for posting the pictures.
I am an old broadcaster seeking an RCA BTA 10u,
Also seeking an “AmpliPhase” nameplate from the big 50kw Ampliphase transmitter from back in the day. If anybody knows anybody with recently decommission RCA transmitters that fall in the BTA era, please let me know, as I am working on a special project for a friend with cancer, and trying to build familiar surroundings as well as get his stories written down so a documentary and perhaps even a feature film about AM radio’s glory days can be told.
Please reply to: jj@jjmccartney.com
Hi
W#e need a copy of RCA RTA-20 Am transmitter manual
Thank you for your cooperation
RCA MODEL BTH-10A.This classic gentalman of the am broadcast band served us very well. WGTO AM 540Khz in “Beautiful Cypruss Gardens fl. This distinguished dude strolled along at 10KW FROM TWO HOUR EVERY TO ALL DAY SHOULD OUR HARRIS GATES 50KW DAYTIME POWER XMITR FAIL ME(BILL)AND THE OTHER ENGINEER (PAUL).OUR PROPANE FIRED V-10 GEN WOULD RUN THE 10KW BUT NO WAY ON THE 50KW. WE WERE A”DOAD”(DAYTIME ONLY,ANTENA DIRECTIONAL) 4 tower phase array.common point current at 50kw=32.1plate V=9.8kvdc,plate I=9.2ampsdc 56Kw forward,6KWREFLECTED.SIGN ON AT 2HOURS BEFORE LOCAL SUNUP AT 10KW. AT LOCAL SUNUP-SWITCH TO 50KW, DUMP FILAMENTS AND PLATE VOLTAGE ON THE RCA-BTH10A.At sundown, dump plate voltage and filaments on the Harris-Gates 50 KW. HAVE A DRINK THEN GO HOME(WINTER HAVEN).THE STUDIO WAS IN CYPRUS GARDENS WINTER HAVEN FL.TRANSMITTER BUILDING AND FOUR TOWERS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTH IN LAKE ALFRED FL.A MOSELEY MODLE 808 WAS INCORPERATED WBG-512 microwave multiplex STL,VERY NICE PEACE! BEATS THE HELL OUT OF THE NOISY PHONE LINES OF THE ’60S WGTO…GULF TO OCEAN(AND MUCH FURTHER. USE TO GET QSL CARDS FROM HALIFAX,NOVA SCOTIA! ! ! “THE SLEEPING GIANT” THE GREAT JOHN TERRY WAS OUR PD WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE! STUDIO: NEWS ROOM, PRODUCTION ROOM,THE OLD UPI AND AP TELETYPE MACHINE ROOM(NOISY CONTRAPTONS) 5 OFFICES, CONTROL ROOM COMPLETE WITH LATE 60S STYLE SHAG CARPET I.3 INCH NAP
12 ROTARY POT MARTIN BOARD. 3X4 (12 ITC CART MACHS. TWO RUSSCO QUICK START T.T.S TWO REVOX REELTO REEL TAPE MACHINES MOUNTED VERTICLY IN THE PANALED WALL. FINALLY AN OUTGOING-INCOMING MAILING ROOM. RENT=1.OO$YES ONE DOLLAR/YEAR PAYABLE TO DICK POPE OF CYPRUS GARDENS FL.(CYPRUS GARDENS GOT FREE PLUGS,IT WAS IN OUR LEGAL STATION IDENT.” THIS IS…AM 540 WGTO IN CYPRUS GARDENS FL. WHAT A GREAT JOB I HAD THERE. SAT. AND SUN I WAS ON AIR FROM SIGN ON O600 TILL 12 NOON. I HAD MY FIRST CLASS FCC LICENSE. OTHER THAN SIX HOURS SAT&SUN, I WORKED WITH PAUL THE OTHER ENGINEER FROM ST. PAUL MINN. THE HOME OF STANLY L. HUBBARD OF HUBBARD BROACASTING INC. HE OWNED US AS WELL AS WTOG CHANNEL44 TAMPA,ST.PETE. SADLY WGTO DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE. AS I TELL U THIS, 540KHZ AM IS IN ORLANDO FL. FORMAT, YOU GUESS IT TALK BS. CALL LETTERS… WFLA.ALSO, 970 AM WFLA TAMPA.ARE SALES MANAGER WAS NONE OTHER THAN DICK BENNICK(DR. PAUL BEARER) “I’LL BE LURKING FOR YOU” THE KIDS ABSOLUTELY ADORE HIM. DICK WOULD GO PUTTING AROUND IN THAT ICONIC BLACK CASUALAC HEARSS. THE FORMAT WAS MOR POP. THEN CHANGED TO COUNRY, 650AM WSM STYLE.