Tung-Sol World Radio Log

While looking for something else, I found this booklet in my archives. I think I acquired it about 30 years from my wife’s uncle, who was a ham radio operator.

Copyrighted 1935, the Tung-Sol World Radio Log was the World Radio TV Handbook of its day. It was very interesting perusing it and I was surprised how few radio stations were on the air from Connecticut – six to be exact. Three are still on the air today with their original call signs (WATR, WICC, WTIC. One with a different callsign (WHUS nee WCAC). And the remaining two (WMFI, WNBC) are gone. I was also surprised that back then the AM radio band ended at 1500 kHz nee kc.

The 32-page Log also lists US television stations (all 27 of them!), foreign AM/MW radio stations, world shortwave stations, ocean liner radio stations and other useful radio-related information.

You can download a copy of the booklet from here.

Violet's Radio

This episode of Peanuts from 1953 made me laugh out loud this morning!

2CSC Television Network

Atlas Obscura posted an interesting article about the history of the television network of Allen Dumont, 2CSC.

"Before getting into the broadcast game, DuMont Laboratories, the company of inventor and TV tech pioneer and Allen B. DuMont, was known for being one of the first firms to manufacture television equipment. Launching their own content factory to fill the screens it was selling must have seemed like a no-brainer.

"In the late 1930s, DuMont began experimenting with small TV stations in the New York and Washington, D.C. metro areas. Eventually, they all came together as the DuMont Network, which was officially created in August of 1946. By comparison, NBC and CBS launched around 1940-41, and ABC came on the scene around 1948, putting DuMont smack in the middle of the dawn of television programming."

Read the rest of the story here.

This Day in History… Farnsworth's First TV Demo

On September 7, 1927, inventor Philo T. Farnsworth made his first successful presentation of the “image dissector,” a crucial part of the first televisions. Read the rest of the story here.

Lightning on Channel 7

The line of thunderstorms that passed through here around 8 PM last night, passed through NYC a little earlier and made an appearance at the end of WABC TV's 6 PM newscast, as seen here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I used to enjoy watching the New York City Thanksgiving Day parade — the bands, the floats, and especially the big balloons. I would be glued to the television set from the beginning to end, but not anymore.

It has been a long while since I enjoyed watching the parade on TV.

Today, the telecast is not coverage of a parade. Rather, it is a blatant wall-to-wall advertisement for the current musicals playing on Broadway or the latest boy or girl band that Disney is trying to promote.

No thank-you.

I actually saw the parade in person a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. Too bad I can't enjoy it on television any longer.

Happy Thanksgiving anyway!

Surfin’: An Extremely Long Delayed Echo

This week, Surfin’ discovers the truth about a radio urban legend that was too good to be true.

Surfin’: More TV DX

This week , Surfin’ is still sitting in front of the boob tube waiting for Cuba, Canada or Iowa to come rolling in on Channel 2.

How’s TV DX?

This week, Surfin’ recalls the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summertime TV DX.

Surfin’: I See Live Hams

This week, your Surfin’ editor sees hams in the salt water antenna video and maybe on The Big Bang Theory.

Abbott and Costello Live

This actually happened on an episode of Antique Roadshow that I watched last night.

Very old gent brought a portrait of a woman to get an estimate of its value.

The antique expert says, "We think it was painted by a man named 'Ware.'"

Old gents asks, "Ware?"

The antique expert replies, "From Vermont."

I thought I was hearing a lost Abbott and Costello routine.

Surfin’: Looking for Channel 1, But Finding WNBC

This week, Surfin’ discovers that call letters can have an interesting -- and unexpected -- history.

Surfin’: Where’s Channel 1?

This week, Surfin’ uncovers what really happened to broadcast television Channel 1.

Show the Parade Already!

At 9 AM, WFSB - Channel 3 - the local CBS affiliate and WVIT - Channel 30 - the local ABC affiliate began broadcasting the NYC Thanksgiving Day Parade in name only.

I have been switching between the two broadcasts for 45 minutes and I have seen about 2 minutes of the actual parade. The rest of the time has been filled with acts from Broadway shows and commercials for junk to buy for Christmas.

Show the parade already!!!

Surfin’: Post-Apocalyptic Hamming

This week, Surfin’ discovers ham radio in the post-apocalyptic world of Robot Monster.

Surfin’: Connecting the Dots between Gutenberg and Uncle Bill

This week, Surfin’ reaffirms that the Internet is indeed a wonderful thing.

Surfin’: The 500 Club

This week, Surfin’ considers the previous 499 installments of Surfin’.

QSLs On Cloth

Our local weatherman, Geoff Fox, K1GF, has what I call “a collection of QSLs on cloth.” You can see it here for yourself.

Surfin’: Short Bits

This week, Surfin’ is full of short stuff that is not big enough to be tall stuff.

Ham Radio on Highway Patrol

“Radioactive,” the ham radio episode of Highway Patrol is now available for viewing on Hulu. (Thank you Mark Thompson, WB9QZB, for the heads-up.)