Early Tasmanian AM Radio Stations Bruce Carty

1990sDocument

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From:
Bruce Carty,
1 Woodley Close,
Kariong, N.S.W., 2250.

[email address removed]

Ph: 02-43401740.

To:
REAST,
Tasmania.

Dear everyone,
Greetings. [ am attempting to research the early development of A.M.
broadcasting in Tasmania. When I started my research, it quickly became evident that
we wouldn’t have such an industry without the experimental licenses conducted by
licensed amateur radio operators. I have, therefore, tried to include these amateurs in
my research. [ write in the hope that some of your members may have access to some
historical or trivia notes on these stations. Any relevant information would be greatly
appreciated. As several amateurs eventually became involved in licensed broadcast
stations (e.g. first engineers) I would also appreciate any information that your
members may have on these stations. To give you a better idea as to what [ have
researched so far, | have enclosed a draft copy. Once my research is completed, I will
send you a final copy.

Thankyou.

Yours in nostalgia broadcasting.

@mf@t ﬁ
Bruce Ca
RADIO HISTORY of AUSTRALIA ........
The most comprehensive list ever compiled of early Australian A.M. broadcasting stations.

Early Tasmanian A.M. Radio Stations
7AA Hobart -1921 Experimental station owned by Trevor Watkins. Changed to 7DX after the P.M.G.
commandeered the 7AA callsign.
7AB Hobart -1921 Experimental station owned by Arthur Smith, owner of Tas Radio P/L. Built 130
Willsonia radios, financed by Wills and Co. (see 7BN and 7QT). Closed in 1927 after
the batteries powering his transmitter blew up. Arthur later designed and built the Sound
On Film recording equipment for Cinesound.
7RS Hobart Experimental station owned by Ron 8. Hope with a ten watt transmitter (see 7HO).
7LJ Hobart Experimental station owned by L. Jensen. Transmitter at New Town.
7BC Burnie Experimental station owned by Bruce Craw. This callsign was later reissued in
Launceston.
7CS Launceston Experimental station owned by Cecil Scott. This callsign was later reissued in Hobart.
Hobart Experimental station owned by George Bills-Thompson.
7AG Hobart Experimental station owned by J. C. Milne. Transmitter at Gretna. This callsign was
later used by the P.M.G. to test the A.B.C. 7NT transmitter in July 1935.
7BP Hobart Experimental station owned by J. C. McMillan.
7JB Hobart Experimental station owned by J. C. Batchelor. Transmitter at West Hobart.
7CS Hobart Experimental station owned by A. €. Scott. Transmitter at Lindisfarne. Later moved to
Sandy Bay. This callsign was previously issued in Launceston.
7JR Launceston Experimental station owned by T. C. Kitto, with a 15 watt transmitter.
7AS Launceston Experimental station owned by A.S. Gill.
7BC Launceston Experimental station owned by Norman Cave (previously a radio operator for the R.A.F. in
WW1). Norman designed the Willsonia radios for Tas Radio P/L (see TAB and 7BN).
This callsign was previously issued in Burnie.
7BH Launceston Experimental station owned by E.C. Sheldrick.
7PF Launceston Experimental station owned by P.O. Fysh.
7CW Hobart Experimental station owned by Crosby Walch. Transmitter at Battery Point.
7WI Launceston Experimental station owned by Tasmanian Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia.
7LA Launceston Experimental station owned by O.A. Hope. This callsign was reissued on 13-12-1930 as
a commercial license (see 7TBN 1926).
7WR Hobart Experimental station owned by William Nicholas. Transmitter at North Hobart.
7ZL Hobart 17-12-1924 Originally planned to open as 7AA, then 7AR. Owned by 3AR and started with the
original 3AR 350 watt transmitter, (1,000 watts in 1927). Situated in one room in the
“Mercury” newspaper office with a staff of one. Later a “sealedset” station above a fruit
shop. Phone No. 5059. In October 1928 they broadcast an appeal for funds to purchase a
radio for Hobart hospital patients, and moved into the old Hobart railway station.
Operated by the privately owned Australian Broadcasting company from 14-12-1930 with
60 minutes of advertisements per day. On air 0730-0830, 1100-1400, 1500-1630, and
1800-2300. Broadcast live the opera “Maritana” from the Bush hotel in New Norfolk on
26-6-1932 (an aria was written at the Bush hotel). Their original “Reisz” microphone is
on display at the “Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery”. Taken over by the A.B.C. on
1-7-32 with 3,000 watts. All programs were live until a disc recorder was installed in their
Sydney studios in 1935 (P.M.G. landlines from the mainland did not exist). Established
their own orchestra with 11 players in 1936. Became 7RN in October 1990. Moved into
a new, purpose built building in October 1997 with 7ZR.
7BQ Launceston 28-01-1925 Experimental station owned by Leonard Crooks. On air each Sunday. Closed in 1939.
7BN Launceston -1926 Experimental station owned by Norman Findlay of Wills and Co. in an eight foot square
room with only one piano and one microphone. Used to advertise radios and parts sold by
Wills and Co., including the “Willsonia” radio, designed and built by Norman Cave (see
7BC) for Tas Radio P/L (see 7AB). Became commercial license 7LA on 13-12-1930.
7DR Devonport -1929 Experimental station owned by the Devonport Radio Club. Actually licensed in 1924. On
air each Sunday with 18 watts. Phone No. 20. Situated opposite the old wharf entrance
with a 100° tower and an antenna attached to the Tasmanian Woolgrowers Building.
Heard throughout Australia.
7HO Hobart 13-08-1930 License obtained by Ron Hope (see 7RS) who then sold it to the Findlay family
(Findlay’s electrical and radio store). Ron Hope stayed on as Chief Engineer. Started with
three people and one room, housing the office, studio, and 50 watt transmitter built by Ron
(200 watts in 1932, and 500 in 1937). Advertisements cost 1/6. Phone No. 7731. The
only microphone was slid along a string between announcer, instrumentalist, singer, organ,
and gramophone horn. Overseas news was taken from the B.B.C. via a short wave
receiver. Listed as 2HO by the “Broadcast Business Year Book 1936”. Criticised by the
A.B.C. for ‘copying’ their “Hospital Half Hour” program in 1938 (also see 2UE 1925).
Raised 5,000 pounds for the Red Cross, and organised volunteers to make 350 camouflage
nets for the war effort in WW2. (Also see 7EX 5-2-1938). “Hobart’s Original Station”.
Used a wire recorder to record church services. First Australian station to broadcast
“Carols by Candlelight” (1949). Member of the Macquarie (2GB) network. Broadcast
live from the Royal Hobart Show each year during the 1950s. Bob Rogers started his
career here. In 1960, weather reports were live from the Bureau of Meteorology,
conducted by meteorologists. A publicity stunt with two announcers racing two elephants
down the main street in 1961, attracted 20,000 people. Known as “Personality Radio” in
the 1970s. Col Joye and the Joy Boys were featured at their 1980 Golden Anniversary
Ball. Moved to F.M. on 1-11-1990, with their A.M. frequency going to “Radio for the
Print Handicapped” in 1991.
7LA Launceston 13-12-1930 (See 7BN). Installed by A.W.A. in the Findlay building (later the T.A.A. building).
Owned by the Findlay family (A.W.A. distributors), who wrongly believed they could
cover all Tasmania on 50 watts (200 watts in 1932 and 500 in 1936). Phone No. 1486.
Opened by the Post Master General, Joe Lyons. Sir Kingsford Smith was a special guest at
the opening on his honeymoon. Known as “The Voice of Northern Tasmania”. Their
President was Ernest Fisk. On air 1200-1400 and 1730-2230. Used two towers 160’
high located at Prospect. Their 1930s QSL card stated “Tasmania’s Apples are World
Renowned”. Interviewed Lord Baden Powell in 1931. Their requested quote from the
A.B.C. of one hundred pounds in 1932 to establish relay stations for 3AR and 3LO for
five hours per day was rejected. Relayed several programs and New Zealand
advertisements to New Zealand in 1934, as advertisements were banned on New Zealand
radio stations. Chief Engineer, Rex McLean stayed for 50 years from 1936-1986. Their
1937 transmitter is in the Queen Victoria Museum. Member of the Macquarie (2GB)
network. During the depression, they sponsored cheap entertainment with lunchtime
concerts at the Princess Theatre. Their “Girls and Boys Club”” had 11,000 members in
1946. Manager Val Sides invented the moving coil pickup for record players. Increased
power to 2,000 watts in 1954 with a new transmitter at Riverside. Built the first outside
broadcast van in Australia (a 1961 V.W. Kombi). Opened a relay studio at Georgetown on
10-6-1970. Known as “Funtastic Radio” in the 1970s. Increased power to 5,000 watts in
the 1990s with a new transmitter at Rocherlea. Installed digital studios in 1997.
Commenced F.M. broadcasting from Mount Barrow in 2007, but their A.M. transmitter
was still on air in 2008 due to poor F.M. coverage.
7UV Ulverstone 06-08-1932 “7UV - the personal touch”. Phone No. 48. Installed by the Findlay family and owned by
the Jehovah’s Witness Sect. First located upstairs in the front of the Town Hall and then in
the picture theatre. Bought by 3AK in 1933 and increased power to 300 watts. The
studio microphone was powered by a large battery. The transmitter hut, located at Gawler,
had one turntable and one microphone for use during studio failures. Often heard in the
U.S.A. and Canada. Used two towers 200’ apart. Relayed some programs from most
Melbourne stations via a receiver, and the A.W.A. shortwave relay VK3ME. On air 0730-
0900, 1730-1800, and 1930-2230. Moved to Devonport as ZAD on 9-3-1940, with new
owners, the “Advocate” newspaper and the Findlay family.
7AG Launceston -07-1935 This callsign was used to test the 7TNT transmitter. QSL cards are rare and highly prized.
Also see 7AG Hobart.
7NT Launceston 03-08-1935 A.B.C. Northern Tasmania. Their 7,000 watt transmitter was at Kelso. All the equipment
was installed by the P.M.G. Opened by the Prime Minister Joe Lyons. Relayed 7ZL,
with some local programs (first A.B.C. regional station to broadcast local programs). Also
relayed some programs from Sydney and Melbourne via a short wave receiver until an
undersea cable was installed in 1936. Employed journalists in Devonport and Burnie in
1959. Increased power in 1993. Moved to F.M. in 2006.
7BU Burnie 19-10-1935 Started by the Findlay family with 50 watts above their radio shop. Phone No. 125.
Originally planned to operate as 7WB. Renowned for the large number of live outside
broadcasts. Their own staff designed and built their second transmitter in 1936 (200
watts). Known as “The Station with a Smile”. Their “Sunshiners Children’s Club” saw
hundreds of youngsters at the Burnie theatre each week from 1945-1958, and featured
‘Peters Pals’ and ‘Ovalteenies’ sponsorships. Shipping movements were broadcast daily to
advise waterside workers where to report. Banned advertising on Sundays. Increased
power to 500 watts in 1950 (2,000in 1966). Their “Buy and Sell Corner” was their top
rating program in the 1950s. Now has a relay transmitter at Smithton.
7HT Hobart 19-04-1937 Phone No. 5083. Used two wooden masts 120’ high with 250 watts (500 watts in 1938,
and 1,000 in the 1950s). The transmitter hut included a bedroom for the technician. The
bedroom also had a turntable and microphone for emergencies. Made their own turntables
in the 1940s, due to WW2 supply restrictions. Owned a record shop downstairs. Listeners
won a record from the shop if correct in identifying a song on a program called “Name
That Tune”. Member of the Major (2UE) network. Known as “The Heart of Hobart” in
the 1960s, with manager Richard Vertigan, who used to be a script writer for Bob Dyer.
Increased power to 5,000 watts in September 1969. Played “High Noon” by Frankie Laine
continuously for 24 hours in 1983, when bought by TNT-9 TV and 7EX. Sold to the
T.A.B. and 2NX as a sports station in July 1991. Wholly owned by the T.A.B. from
December 1992. Relayed to 7EX from 8-1-1993. Moved to F.M. on 25-5-1998. Now
known as “Heart 107.3”.
7QT Queenstown 29-05-1937 Also started with three people. Phone No. 124. Owned and operated by Stromberg
Carlson (radio manufacturers), and the Findlay family/Wills and Co. (radio retailers).
Their first studio was in the Paragon theatre. On air seven hours per day in three sessions.
Often broadcast live from Wills and Co. promoting Stromberg Carlson radios. Eventually
moved into a small demountable building. One announcer was fired for only playing
hillbilly music, and another was fired for always singing along with the records. Bought
by 2XL in 1982. Became 7X$S on 1-10-1988.
7EX Launceston 05-02-1938 Established by Denis Cousins in Charles Street and opened by the Prime Minister Joe
Lyons. “On Top in Tasmania”. Owned by the Examiner newspaper. Phone No. 1777.
Raised enough money to buy a Spitfire fighter plane for the war effort during WW2. Also
organised volunteers to make camouflage nets for the war effort. Member of the Major
(2UE) network. Their annual Children’s Christmas Fair raised thousands of pounds for
crippled children. Moved to purpose built studios within the TNT-9 TV building in the
early 1960s. Known as “The Good Guys Station” in the 1970s. Published a ‘Carols by
Candlelight’ book and a cookery book. Bought 7HT in 1983. Launched a “Classic Hits”
format in 1985. Sold to the T.A.B. and 2NX in July 1991 as 7TAB. Wholly owned by
the T.A.B. from December 1992. All the staff were sacked on 8-1-1993, with the station
going on relay from 7TAB in Hobart. Later bought by TNT-9 TV, and moved into their
new TV building in May 1993. Moved to F.M. in 2007.
7DY Derby 26-02-1938 Owned by Doug Charlton (see 8DN) and the Findlay family on 100 watts. Officially
opened by the Premier, A.G. Ogilvie. Broadcast from studios in a farmhouse on a hill
between Derby and Winnaleah. Moved to Scottsdale as 78D on 26-7-1954 due to a bad
local economy and falling population caused by closure of mines. A representation of the
original studio and equipment are on display at the Derby Tin Mine Museum. See 7SD
Scottsdale 26-7-1954.
7ZR Hobart 22-06-1938 A.B.C. Originally planned to operate as 7HN (Hobart National). On air 12 hours per
day. Used wind-up clockwork portable tape recorders in 1958 for recording outside
interviews. Moved into a new, purpose built building on the site of the first Hobart railway
station in October 1997, which was shared with 7ZL.
7AD Devonport 09-03-1940 Phone No. 437. Originally 7UV Ulverstone (6-8-1932). Officially opened by the
Premier, Robert Cosgrove, with programming by local artists. Owned by the “Advocate™
newspaper. Later bought by the Findlay family. Shipping movements were broadcast
daily to advise waterside workers where to report. Banned advertising on Sundays.
Increased power to 2,000 watts in 1946. Their “Sunday Hymns and Choruses” request
program remained popular for 33 years from 1947. Broadcast live from “The Warehouse”
nightclub each Saturday night during the 1950s. Their slogan was “Better Music, and
More of It”.
7SD Scottsdale 26-07-1954 See 7DY Derby 6-2-1938. Phone No. 32. Owned by the Findlay family. Officially
opened by the Premier, with entertainment by local artists. Often heard in the Northern
Territory and Hawaii. An application to move to Launceston was rejected, however, they
did open an office there in 1984. Broadcast ‘potato delivery’ instructions to potato farmers
daily. Banned advertising on Sundays. Increased power to 2,000 watts in 1962 with a
directional antenna, then 5,000 watts in 1975 (then the strongest transmitter in Tasmania).
Published a recipe book in 1972.
7QN Queenstown -09-1954 A.B.C. Relay of 7NT. Moved to F.M. in 1991.
7FG Fingal -01-1977 AB.C. Relay of 7NT.
7SH St. Helens -06-1977 A.B.C. Relay of 7NT.
7RPH Hobart 26-06-1982 Radio for the Print Handicapped. First of the network of R.P.H. stations. Moved to the
old 7HO frequency (846 KHz.) in 1991 after they moved to F.M.
7XS Queenstown 01-10-1988 Sce 7QT 29-5-1937. Now has relay transmitters at Rosebery and Strahan.
7PB Hobart -08-1994 A.B.C. Parliamentary Broadcasters. When Parliament is not sitting, this station becomes
a news service known as “News Radio”.

The above compilation is copyright to Bruce Carty, C/O Radio Yesteryear Inc., 1 Woodley Close, Kariong, NSW, 2250.
All care has been taken to ensure accuracy, however, no responsibility is accepted for any errors. Additional information and
corrections are always welcome.

NOTE: Most publications recognise radio 2SB (13-11-1923) as the first licensed broadcast station in Australia. This is not
correct. The first licensed broadcast station in Australia was 2CM Sydney in 1921, owned by Charles McLurcan. The license
(number one) was even signed by the Prime Minister, Billy Hughes. The biggest advertiser on 2CM was Charles himself,
advertising his own McLurcan radio receivers. Callsign 2CM is listed by the Federal Government as “Never to be reissued”, in
recognition of the pioneering achievements of Charles McLurcan. Numerous amateur operators were then issued
experimental broadcast licenses. Several of these stations, which broadcast advertisements, including 2SB, were later
granted commercial license status. In addition, several licensed broadcast amateurs became the Chief Engineers of the early
commercial and A.B.C. licenses. In order to recognise the valuable pioneer broadcasting efforts of these licensed broadcast
amateurs, we acknowledge them in this listing. However, as this listing is of broadcast licenses, amateurs must have met the
following criteria to be included:

1) Must have held an experimental broadcast license.
2) Must have broadcast on longwave and/or medium wave (not just shortwave).
3) Must have broadcast speech and music (not just morse code).

For the best in nostalgia broadcasting (1930s-1960s), listen to www.radioyesteryear.org.au

REFERENCES:

National Film and Sound Archives (N.F.S.A.) in Sydney and Canberra. www.nfsa.gov.au
Numerous Oral History recordings from the N.F.S.A.
Ron Churcher VK7RN.
Sound Preservation Association of Tasmania.
Dr. Adrian Peterson from Adventist World Radio.
Various local Historical Societies.
“The Magic Spark” by R.R. Walker (recommended reading by Radio Yesteryear, covering 1920s-1970s).
Rex MacLean (7LA) and other numerous ex radio station employees and their descendents.
“Wonderful Wireless” by Nancye Bridges.
“Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama” by Richard Lane.
“When Radio was the Cats Whisker” by Bernard Harte (recommended reading by Radio Yesteryear, covering 1920s-1980s).
“W.1.A. Handbook” by Bruce Barthols (VK3UV).
Historical Radio Society of Australia.
Australian Broadcasting Authority Library, Sydney.
Some radio stations.
Several Editions of “Wireless Weekly”.
Radio Heritage Foundation (New Zealand).
Radio Info.
“Early Radio” by P.R. Jensen.
Mitchell and State libraries, Sydney.
Broadcast Year Books 1934 - 1939 - 1946 by C.C. Faulkner.
Gosford and Kariong Council libraries.
“Don’t Touch that Dial” by Wayne Mac (recommended reading by Radio Yesteryear, covering 1950s-1990s).
Several editions of “Broadcast Business”.
“Examiner” newspaper.
Launceston Community Library.
“Australian Broadcasting Company Year Book: 1930”.
“This is the A.B.C.” by Ken Inglis.
“Broadcast Business Year Book 1936”.
Tasmanian State Library, Hobart and Launceston.
Wikipedia.
Devonport community library.
A.B.C. Local Radio.

“Ifbroadcasting stations are going to cater for religious bodies, punters, indifferent cooks, people who can’t read, weather prophets, and
other uninteresting subjects, they will all put us to sleep”. - Letter to the Editor, 9-9-1927.