For those of you who visit this site from time to time, I am making a few changes. First (and most obvious), I have updated the look using a WordPress template. I actually like the old look but I initially started on the site as a way to learn HTML. The whole thing was basically written in raw HTML code using Windows Notepad for an editor. Sadly, a number of HTML functions have since been deprecated. They still work in most cases, but they’re no longer supported and they’re on borrowed time. Also, the site does not load in most versions of Firefox. So I am dragged into the future.
When I started on this project more than a decade ago, my aim was to assemble a collection of artifacts, more or less. Now I find that I have put together nearly all the components of a working AM radio station in the 1940-50 period. The WMRN control room photo above gives a pretty good idea of my collection, although I’m missing a couple of items in the rack to the right of the transmitter. The RCA limiting amp comes on the market on a pretty regular basis, but the prices demanded—and received—for them have gotten outrageous. I’ve gotten my ham ticket and I actually have a use for most of this stuff (although I’m not quite sure how useful the turntables will be on the 160-meter band). But most of the other stuff will work perfectly well in a radio shack. And the turntables still look very cool.
Of course, I still enjoy listening to programs from the Golden Age of radio using a micro-power transmitter. I have (or have access to) tens of thousands of individual episodes of a wide variety of programs. One simply has to download and enjoy them. I have managed to put together a modest collection of actual 16-inch transcription disks representing several different programs, mostly from the 1930s. I even have the majority of the records from a couple of shows. I have also built a fairly respectable collection of period sound effects 78s. I suppose I will have to round out the station library with some popular music from the time. There really is not much point in having a radio station without the programming material to fill the on-air hours.
Anyone out there reading this who enjoys working the AM bands, radio from the golden age, or vintage broadcasting equipment, please feel free to drop me a line. Enjoy the website and let me know if you have suggestions to make it more interesting.
KWD was a micropower radio station operating just outside Reno, Nevada. I am currenly living overseas and my station goes with me, so now it covers only my house. Most of my program material comes out of my PC, using ZaraRadio automation software. I work for a living though, so automation is still the way I will go most of the time. At the end of my current overseas tour, I should be pretty close to retirement. At that point, I plan to set up one of the coolest ham shacks around (AM of course). It’s a pretty simple matter to set it up so that the output from the RCA board can be switched between the Part 15 transmitter and whichever ham transmitter/antenna I have running. I just have to be careful that I don’t send any music or program material out over the HF airwaves as this is strictly verboten.
I put this page together to see if I could find others out there with similar interests. I’ve met enough people who are into this stuff to know there must be a reasonable number. Admittedly, this is a fairly narrow field but a fascinating one. If you are into this stuff, drop me a line at KWD Radio. I would love to hear from you.