[BC] Western Union Clocks

[Dave Hultsman]

 Brent:
 
As I recall sometime in the 1960's we tried to get three clocks from Western Union for a new FM station we were building.  They were still tariffed but they no longer had equipment available and had to gather it up all over the country to repair and/or rebuild clocks.   In our case we didn't have a W.U.  cable so we had to lease the wire from the Phone Company which was going to be $25.00/ month as I recall $15.00 per clock per month plus a large installation fee.  The owner said buy GE 115 Volt Clocks and we would reset them.
 
I had seen the bills at WRR and was there when Western Union pulled out their 12 pair cable and leased  the 6 pair we needed from Southwestern Bell.  At that time they were getting $3.50/month per clock but that was a 1940's contract in the early '60's.
 
Regarding W.U. Faxes and Telepypes  the small fax machines was a small line charge as longs and you transmitted and received so many units.  Back in those days it seems that National Agencies and the FCC we using telegrams so our cost was low.   I remember when they raised the Telex rates  we canceled and went to Bell's TWX AND ABOUT EVERY TWO YEARS THE BOSS MANY WOULD GET MAD AND CANCEL bELL'S twx     because the National Sales Manager could not type and wouldn't use the paper tape to send a twx so he was using a high speed dial up twx at 3 or 4 words per minute.  My suggestion was have him give tie information to the secretary to type it onto tape.   He had a girl friend at the National Rep in N./Y. 
 
Dave Hultsman
 
In a message dated 6/28/2012 4:12:28 P.M. Central Daylight Time, HallLB at ldschurch.org writes:
>Anyone know the monthly fee that Western Union and UPI charged for clocks and teletypes?