[BC] Equipment Hall Of Fame

[Rex Hyum Lee]

RCA 50E
Subject: Re: [BC] Equipment Hall Of Fame


> The American radio newspaper, "Radio World", gives the very interesting 
> story of the mediumwave radio station KOB in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This 
> radio station began operation as a small experimental 50 watt unit in June 
> 1920, several months ahead of the famous KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
>
> During the following year, the transmitter power was increased to 1 kW and 
> one year later again, in 1922, the station was officially licensed as a 
> broadcasting station and given the callsign KOB. Over the years there were 
> several increases in power output, thus enabling the station to be heard 
> in ever widening circles of coverage.
>
> On July 17, 1941 a powerful new transmitter was switched into service, 
> using the earlier 10 kW unit as the exciter. This new transmitter was the 
> first production unit of the RCA model 50E. It was in service with KOB for 
> 35 years as the main transmitter and for another 20 years as the standby 
> unit.
>
> Finally, the blue giant must take its rest, and on November 30, 1992 the 
> transmitter was switched off for the last time, with due ceremony and a 
> half minute of respectful silence. However, that is not the end of the 
> story of this magnificent giant.
>
> The author of this article in Radio World, Thomas Bolack, also owns a 
> radio museum, the Bolack ElectroMechanical Museum in Farmington, N.M. and 
> he procured this original transmitter with the cobalt blue windows. He 
> re-erected this 34 foot long giant, weighing nearly nine tons, in his 
> museum where it is now on daily display in its original splendor.
>
> Couple of miles down the road.......  _Rx.
>