Tjimandi & Tjililin

Zendstations

&

Rantja-Ekek

Ontvangstation

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Again, this particular photo-album was also donated by late Bob Grevenstuk

This album most likely originate from the late 1920s and very early 1930s

On the back of some of the photos on the "Kantelbeam" (tilting beams) is hand-written that it shows the state of affairs of 1929. Consequently, some photos must originate from an earlier date.

Note of the editor: This album also show strong signs that Klaas Dijkstra took most of the photos, or was at least heavily involved in creating this photographic series.

First text:

Radiostations op de Bandoengsche Hoogvlakte

Radio Station Tjimindi met kantelbeams

In bedryf stellen van koelwaterbron en zender

Starting up of the cooling-water-source (fountain)

The shadows at the corners originate from the fact that some photos could not be detached of the album page-sheet.

Maybe a bit fuzzy, but due to this picture is getting some tension

This photo shows at the right-hand site some error, but it, nevertheless, still is of some interest

It actually shows the transmitter operated for the transmitter link ANK

Kantelbeam

On its back, like some other photos too, mentions 1929.

The tilting beam more in detail.

Shown the tilting beam more in details

Please, compare the persons in front in respect to the tallness of the antenna-mast.

Its purpose is to chose the optimal angle of radiation towards actual propagation path. Please notice, that stations in Indonesia had to maintain very long-distance communications. Like the Holland but also Tokyo or to the US.

Typically Klaas Dijkstra, taking many pictures of equal situation

Kantelbeam met werkplaats

Maybe providing the best impression how the antenna site did look like

Personeel

According the Dutch caption this was the employed personnel.

In my perception, such a station hardly was ran and controlled by locals only; so far, it is the first time that local Indonesians were shown. In those days there existed a huge gap between European and Indonesian personnel. Sad, but that was how society was (acted).

Unbelievable, there were Europeans who never eat Indonesian food! All their food stuff came by mail-boat or later even aircraft from Europe.

De automatische zender A.N.K. 1930

Shown is the transmitter dedicated to the wireless link designated: ANK

Zendstation Tjililin

The typical colonial stile building

Viewing the same building, but now noticing more its environment

Machinepark

In those days HT was often delivered by means of generators than by transformers and accompanied rectifiers, as motor generators can be more easily controlled by simple means.

Radiostudio of Intel

The caption does not provide its exact purpose, though, Intel may point to "Indische Telefoon" or that like. Nowadays, to what I have seen up to the 1990s, one find "Prumtel".

One photo is missing, but might be found somewhere in Klaas Dijkstra's book Radio Malabar volume 2.

Spreekkamer met draaibare microfoon

The latter may underline my perception. This room was used for telephone calls to Holland or other long distance countries. In contrast to a regular telephone a group of people, like a family, could take part in the telephone conversation. I guess, that what came from abroad, was heard from a loudspeaker. Therefore, the microphone was mounted rotatable, so that it could be pointed at the one who was currently talking.

Maybe not well visible, during the preparation of this current page, I discovered that the wall was having 'sound damping' provisions, as to prevent for: sonic echoes inside the room.

Verkeerspost

My guess, this console was to interconnect to an outside line.

Technische post met klokje voor gesprekken tellen

Technical console with "phone call counter". Whether it was counting the actual call duration or the connection numbers is not clear to me. I believe that time (duration) does make more sense then the latter.

New section

Radio-ontvangstation Rantja-Ekek

Viewing the receiving station Rantja-Ekek

Rantja is old colonial spelling the combination of 'tj' nowadays in 'Bahasah Indonesia' is written 'c'. Hence, Ranca-Ekek in modern days.

Rantja-Ekek met antenne maquette

Station

The receiving station building

Rantja-Ekek antenna maquette

Some of the antennae in the middle of sawahs

A view which you can find elsewhere in the Preanger province, even nowadays. In my perception, the Preanger is one of the most beautiful areas on earth!

Seemingly, the surrounding is flat, which might have been somewhere not too far from old Bandung (Bandoeng)

I can remember having seen near the Bandung (Bandoeng) airport Anjir these kinds of tall antennae masts. However, it is not certain that these were actually there, or that these similar constructions were erected elsewhere. Because, Anjir is in a flat area

For this occasion, I have left the photo like it is found in the album, as it is expressing a tropical day with heavy rain-clouds.

This photo, however, might give the impression that the antennae where build in a not flat environment

Einde antennepark

The text could suggest that the antenna site is closing down, but it also might mean viewing the border of the 'antenna park' Bearing in mind what I have seen in the many times being in Indonesia, viewing the bamboo rod construction, I get the strong impression that the 'tani' are fishing; which is a welcome substitute to their daily food.

Inwendige van ontvanger (begin 1930)

Viewing a receiver console from the rear site, state of affairs early 1930

Telephonie ontvanger met klok, 6 in één

A wooden cabinet fit with 6 telephony receivers.

4 telefonie ontvangers

4 separate telephony receivers.

Bewakingstafel

Controlling console. Please notice the typical way the wall-panels were made from (Rotan)

Ontvanger

Some receivers, whether meant for telephony or telegraphy is not mentioned.

Telefonieontvanger

Telephony receiver. Please notice the fine way this wooden cabinet has been polished! Even the white suit of the person next to it is visible.

It is evident, the 'Europeans' were the controlling the station. In those days, locals particularly were engaged in craftsmanship, or that like; they hardly reached a management function.

Werkplaats

Although, the caption states: workshop, we may assume, that it constitute the station power control centre. Like was done for the transmitter systems, the receiver low and high tension (100 - 200 V?) was not provide by a battery but was derived from a motor-generator. Maybe the filaments were fed from a battery centre. And the individual 'grid negative' was supplied from individual batteries, as grid currents are very low, we can think of a few µA per receiver; it only had to provided a fixed grid bias. A battery has a extremely low noise content.

Please consider the foregoing text

By Arthur O. Bauer

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