A Note From J. T. Anderton VP/Managing Director of Duncan's American Radio In addition to a lifelong interest in AM tower sites and coverage, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to do more than two years of research in the internal technical file room of the FCC, to gather technical data for my series of coverage map atlases, published by Duncan's American Radio. In addition, I visited more than 2,500 stations in all parts of the country during an 11-year stint as a regional manager for the NAB. I have also photographed more than 1,000 tower sites over the past 20 years. I have talked with radio people and engineers in all parts of the country, and also have had the chance to cross-check the heresay and folklore at the FCC. Given that these towers are so unique, I'm fairly confident that if there are more, I would have come across them by now.



I didn't go into this detail to brag, just to establish that I might be a reasonably reliable source.



Here are the Blaw-Knox diamond cantilever towers still standing (to the best of my knowledge), along with their electrical radiating length (each would be a few feet higher above ground, allowing for base insulators, aiviation beacons, etc.): WSM, Nashville (650) 800' WLW, Cincinnati (700) 739' WBT, Charlotte, NC (1110) 3 in directional array, 428' each WFEA, Manchester, NH (1370) Taller of two towers in directional array, 350'(second tower is 199') WBNS, Columbus (1460) WHO in Des Moines had one until the late 1940's, when it was replaced at the same site by the existing uniform cross-section tower. The bottom two-thirds of the old WHO tower was moved to the rear of an Iowa State Police station in Des Moines for use as a communications tower.



These towers are a special part of radio history. I have visited all of them, and they do make quite a visual impression. Most uniform cross-section towers all but disappear visually against many skyscapes, but not these. Their mass stands out against any color of sky, often resulting in strong visual images. The WLW tower, with the call letters lighted in white at the mid-way point, makes a strong visual impression, especially at twilight.



All five of the 50-kw transmitters ever used by WLW are still in place at Mason. All five are licensed and capable of full-power operation, including the original water-cooled 1927 Western Electric. This unit was the first 50-kw transmitter to be licensed in the United States. In the 1980's, the engineering staff of then-owner Jacor Communications restored this transmitter to it original operating condition, using parts left on hand by the engineers of longtime owner Crosley Broadcasting.



Randy has a strong sense of the importance of the WLW Mason site in radio history.



I hasten to add that WLW is no relic. It is a living, breathing, 100% local, full-service, ratings and revenue dominant AM radio station (a rarity in this era). According to our Duncan revenue estimates, it is the highest billing radio station outside of the largest markets.



J T Anderton

Duncan's American Radio