> Headlines
o Night of Nights 2013 - Save the Date
o Welcome New Subscribers!
o Maintenance Reports
o The Geisel Chronicles, Part III
o MRHS Storage Area Takes Shape
o Operations Report
> Night of Nights 2013
It was a sad day. Denice was dressed in black as if for a funeral. Grizzled, hard-bitten radio veterans had tears in their eyes. It was 12 July 1999 and the event was the transmission of the last commercial Morse message in the US - or so it was thought. But on that date the MRHS was formed. One year and one minute later we returned KPH to the air, the first time a coast station that had been left for dead was returned to life.
Click HERE for the moving story of what it was like when that last message was sent.
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| Paul Zell at the Globe Wireless master station in Half Moon Bay from which the "last" message was sent on 12 July 1999. Note the video screen showing that remote receivers are tuned to the 12Mc and 16Mc ship calling frequencies. |
Every year since then we have picked up the thread and carried on with the tradition of maritime Morse communication as a way of honoring the culture, traditions and skills of the men and women who came before us and made the profession of radiotelegrapher one of honor and skill.
This year we will originate stations KPH, KFS and KSM from the Bolinas transmitter site. In past years stations WLO and KLB have joined us on the air. We hope they will do so again this year.
More details of Night of Nights 2013 will appear in following issues of the Newsletter. For now we want to remind you of the date - 12 July 2013 - so you can join us on the air or in person at the receive site at Point Reyes, CA. Doors open at 3:00pm local time. Ceremonial transmissions begin at 5:01pm local time (0001gmt 13 July).
The address is 17400 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Click HERE for a Google Map of the location.
> Welcome New Subscribers!
We get a periodic report of new Newsletter subscribers and have noted that quite a few True Believers have recently signed up. Thanks! Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Just send an e-gram to info@radiomarine.org.
> Maintenance Reports
by Bill Ruck
MRHS Maintenance Department
KPH MF Filter Relays -
[KPH/KSM use a Marconi T antenna for receiving. The downlead from this antenna goes to a box on a short pole under the antenna. The box contains a series of L/C filters for the various MF working frequencies. These are selected remotely from Position 1 by relays and are needed to filter out AM BCB interference. These relays have finally failed and the box they live in has just about dissolved in rust. Bill's been working on the rehabilition project for some time. - Ed.]
The relay sub-chassis is mechanically complete.
I've assembled it to check for fit. Needs more wiring to be complete. Since the reed relays can't be seen and they barely make a sound I added status LEDs for field troubleshooting.
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| MF filter panel - Yellow binding post is for incoming antenna lead. Five holes below (one occupied) are for tuning slugs for the filters. LEDs show which filter is engaged. Barrier strip accepts wires from control switches at operating position 1. |
Next I need to mount the static drain choke. Haven't figured out how to best mount the coil yet. Likely cut a piece of acrylic to fit and glue the coil to it.
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| Relay board with reed relays, LEDs and resistors |
Also need to get some stainless Uni-Strut. I can order that through Graybar. Looking for 18-8 M6 x 10 pan head Philips screws. Only found 12 mm long ones at my favorite hardware source. They're a little too long. I know where to buy a box of 100 but really don't need 90 extra screws because I don't do that much metric.
[On Saturday 1 June Transmitter Supervisor Steve Hawes was aboard SS RED OAK VICTORY/KYVM for Museum Ships Weekend so Bill spent the day at RS, the receive site - Ed.]
General RS Maintenance -
Today after doing some spring cleaning in the back shop because the receivers have moved to the new storage area I tackled the problem with sticking antenna select switches. [These are the switches that allow the operators at each position to select the various receiving antennas for each receiver - Ed.]
The switches at Position 5 were gummy. I removed each bank and gave them a WD-40 overhaul. Wiped up the brown grunge that the WD-40 loosened up and they worked reliably. Chief Operator Dillman then asked about one of the switches at Position 6.
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| Bill at work on the antenna selection switch panel from Position 6 |
This switch had buttons would not lock in. I removed the panel and the switch and tried the WD-40 overhaul. No success. Close investigation revealed that one of the buttons was going out a little too far and would cause the latch bar to hang up and the other switches to not latch. After some disassembly I didn't see anything that would cause this so I went into the shop and retrieved a switch assembly that was missing the wiring and Jones plug. When I disassembled that switch I saw a black flat washer on the end of the switch plunger that was missing on the bad switch plunger from Position 6.
So I disassembled that switch and replaced the plunger with one that had the flat washer from the donor switch. Then I realized that several other plungers were missing the washer but instead had a piece of solid copper wire wrapped around the plunger as a spacer. Welcome to KPH!!
The story as I see it is that the washer broke and instead of replacing the washer someone used bare wire to act as a spacer wrapped around the plunger so that the plunger stopped at the right point so that the latch bar would work. Reassembling the Position 6 switch assembly with washers from the donor switch it now works perfectly.
I brought one washer home for measurements. It is 0.325" OD, 0.200" ID, and 0.062" thick. It is black soft plastic. Capitol Switch has been closed since the 80's so that can't be a source for parts. Looking into alternatives, MSC has a Neoprene #12 washer that is slightly thicker (0.077") at $27.65/100. They have a nylon 6/6 #10 washer that is 0.034" thick so two could be used. Those cost $8.45/100. Keystone 3208 #10 fibre washer is 0.375" OD, 0.196" ID, and 0.062" thick. Digi-Key can get it from the factory at $5.85/100.
The washer has to absorb the impact of the switch position releasing. I'm leaning towards the fibre washer because those are tough. The neoprene washer is softer.
I also put in new lamps for Receivers 3 and 4 at Position 5. [These are the lamps behind the pushbuttons to show which one is selected - Ed.] Took home the bad lamps to see if I can fabricate an LED replacement. I've found LED replacements at a cost of over $10/each. With 6 switches x 3 switches per position x 6 positions that's a total of 108 replacements. At $10 each that's big money although they'd probably last a whole lot longer than the 24 PSB lamps. In that quantity we might get a slightly better price but, still...
[Bill is nothing if not a scrounger - which is exactly what you're looking for in a project like this. On Saturday he proudly displayed a box of vintage ladder line. - Ed.]
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| Bill proudly displays his newly acquired box of vintage ladder line |
This report and Bill's earlier reports in the Newsletter give an idea of what it takes to keep a coast station running. And these reports show how this type of maintenance is largely supported - by scrounging, out of pocket purchases and the cannibalization of parts.
But a big part of that support also comes from True Believers who would join us if they could, with their soldering irons at the ready. These folks - you know who you are - have helped The Cause with a financial contribution. Take a look at the article on our new storage room below. The shelving was paid for by contributions from fellow True Believers. If your budget permits, maybe you can join them by clicking on the donation button below.
Help us keep the flame alive. Support the MRHS!
> The Geisel Chronicles, Part III
by Ray Smith
[We've recently heard from Frank Geisel Jr. in response to Ray's stories. If Frank Jr. is able to provide more first hand stories for Frank Sr. we will of course include them here. -Ed.]
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| Frank Geisel, "Mr. KPH" |
As time progressed and the station then located in Marconi (Marshall), alongside the lovely shores of Tomales Bay, the station continued to grind out its daily ration of maritime traffic and forwarding it to the CRO (Central Radio Office) then located in the financial district of SFO.
This traffic was vitally important to the shipping moguls of that day and they relied on it for the smooth operation of commodity and other shipping information in the great city of San Francisco, and the interior of California. Ports such as Stockton, Sacramento and even little old Petaluma relied on this information to facilitate their shipping requirements and provide them with great profitability in such commerce.
It was not a hugely lucrative enterprise but revenues were great enough that companies such as RCA, Mackay Marine, Globe Wireless and United Fruit Co. were able to turn tidy profits from this "insider information".
Now it is at this juncture, that it must be explained t hat RMCA (Radiomarine Corporation of America) provided a complete wireless service for ships at sea. The Stanley Dollar Company was one such company who contracted with RCA for the complete "package" of services offered by RCA, to equip, maintain, and operate the wireless equipment on board their ships and at the same time provide an outlet or shore side stations to accept the traffic from such vessels under contract to RCA and its associated companies. With the understanding the the vessels would be required to use RCA stations in the course of their business.This included providing an operator or operators to man and maintain the equipment on board the vessels in question.
The Dollar Line as it was known had a large fleet of vessels all named after former US Presidents. ships such as SS President Hoover/WTJO which was affectionately known to us as "Water Tight Joe" and President Wilson WBYN, President Coolidge and so on throughout the entire list of President both living and dead. This company later became under the umbrella of the US Government, as "American President Lines" or APL and still under contract to RCA.
All these ties became somewhat loosened because of a bitter dispute between one J. O'Rourke who has become the Head of the ROU (Radio officers Union) in SFO, He had a grievance against RCA because in his words "He was treated like a slave" in that he was told to carry some rather heavy batteries from the RCA Offices to a ship on the waterfront about several blocks distant from the RMCA offices along Market St. When he was in a position to do so he tried and succeeded in a plot to undermine RCA's contracts with vessels by telling the operator he was about to assign to various vessels that "RCA would mess up your messages, don't use them at all use KTK or KFS whose operators or more competent and will undoubtedly handle your traffic more expeditiously"
So the operators on American Flag vessels began to boycott the station, Not knowing that O'Rourke grievance was largely "Bull". Fortunately for the station an exodus from American Flag vessels, and many good contacts were in hand from so called "Foreign flag and flag of convenience ships" as well as a strong contingent of ships of various nations, such as Greek, Norwegian, Swedish, as well as large fleets of ships flying flags of Liberia, Vanuatu and other too numerous to mention.
Into this milieu strode one Frank Geisel, always ready to take on the vessels with the "Adriatic Swing" and others of questionable but readable after got "used to them" The Greeks in particular had a method sending which we operators had to overcome to succeed
Next time KPH staff gears up for WW II installing and calibrating DF equipment for ships being built in the Bay Area.
> MRHS Storage Area Takes Shape
You know how it is when you buy a new refrigerator. The thing looks so big that you wonder if you'll ever fill it. And within a week there's no space to shove in even another stalk of celery. That how it's been with the new MRHS storage area. Some background:
We are most fortunate to have protective custody of many historic pieces of equipment. Some are indigenous to KPH. Some have returned to the station after resting quietly in personal collections. And still others have been purchased to represent equipment that once was at the station but now has been lost.
These heavyweight treasures have until now been stored in a former shop area. But through the kindness of Ms. Carola DeRooy a dedicated storage room has been made available so these items can be properly cared for.
The MRHS has purchased and installed shelving in the room and the shelves have been populated with some very historic items indeed. And of course we are already running out of space. The plan is to order two more sets of shelves for the opposite wall. But we thought you'd enjoy seeing what the storage area looks like now.
There's nothing new on these shelves. We've had these receivers for some time. Even so, seeing them displayed like this made a real impression. You just don't see this many rare birds together in one place that often. For example...
Two CRM-R6A receivers and an AR-8516 on the same shelf. And even better, the CRM-R6A on the left and the AR-8516 on the right were donated by the family of Ray Berge, the engineer who designed them! See our
Newsletter No. 27 for details on these receivers.
You say you want more? Okay, how about this?
Two Marconi Atlantas - and the one on the right is original to KPH, found at an undisclosed location after a long search. The other was purchased at great cost via eBay.
Still standing, eh? Right, check this out:
A National HRO-500, one of several we have that were used at KPH, the first solid state receivers at the station. Next to it a HRO-5A with coil set and power supply, as used at post war KPH.
Okay, you get the idea. And we've still got lots more to organize and get up on the shelves.
What? Earthquakes you say? Right, that's a real concern since we are on the Pacific tectonic plate and within sight of the San Andreas fault. So all the shelving is secured to the wall and bolted together. But that's not good enough since the lateral acceleration of a quake will cause these beautiful receivers to end up on the floor. So Mr. Dan Brown of the Point Reyes National Seashore fabricated slats for us (removed for the photos) that fit nicely in front of each shelf to keep the receivers on their shelves.
> Operations Report
by Richard Dillman
Operations Department
Station Particulars:
KSM transmits on 426, 500, 4350.5, 6474.0, 8438.3, 12993.0, 16914.0 and 22445.8kc CW,
6328.0, 8433.0 and 12631.0kc RTTY.
K6KPH guards 3550.0, 7050.0. 14050.0, 18097.5 and 21050.0kc
Station contact: Phone +1 415-669-9646 (answered only when station is on the air)
Email KSM@radiomarine.org
Hours of operation: 1000 to 1600 Pacific time Saturdays
1 June:
As previously noted Transmitter Supervisor Steve Hawes was aboard SS RED OAK VICTORY/KTVM for Museum Ships Weekend. That meant that the Morse press service had to be keyed from RS (the receive site) rather than BL (the transmit site) as is usually done. But is was no problem as SH provided the edited press the day before, timed as usual to end just at 1900Z.
I arrived at RS at 1530Z to make sure all was in readiness. Since SH was not at BL that meant no Services of the Church of the Continuous Wave would be held. As a result RK (Bill Ruck) arrived at 1710Z at RS with consequences that have been described above.
At 1700Z the Morse press service was started on all KSM HF channels as well as 426kc MF.
Conditions seemed pretty poor and as usual there was some sort of contest going on on the amateur bands. However OM Perry of W8AU gave us a buzz on 14Mc and it was a pleasure to work him.
At 1905Z SS AMERICAN VICTORY/KKUI popped up on 12Mc with a QSA4 signal - not bad given conditions. He was QRU.
At 1925Z sounds of cat stepping were heard on 500kc which were revealed to be the result of the KYVM transmitter tuning up. KSM was called and contact was made with the usual "UP 425/426 - " which is always a pleasure. KYVM was QTC2 which were dutifully copied and forwarded. Needless to say KYVM's MF signal was blistering the paint on the walls at KSM.
At 2100Z the KSM traffic list went out followed by the high seas weather at 2130Z. OM Dean at W8IM called at 2126Z but kindly stood by until I got the weather out. When I got back to him he was QTC2 with his usual excellent KSM signal report but also with a notification that W8IM will be CL for maybe a month due to a change of QTH. We look forward to the resumption of signals from W8IM.
While all this was going on RK was doing maintenance and also transporting heavyweight equipment to our new storage area as documented above.
At 2300Z the KSM closing message was sent on 500kc and HF and that was it for the day.
25 May
I was delayed getting to RS so Transmitter Supervisor Hawes kindly extended the KSM press to cover. We agreed to send some copy at the reduced speed of 18wmp to make it last longer that also to give listeners a chance to copy at a slower speed. This was duly noted by several True Believers who wrote to ask if something was wrong with our keyer!
I signed on the log at 2013Z and assumed control from BL at 2027Z with the wheel on all HF channels.
At 2049Z I was very gratified to hear SS JEREMIAH O'BRIEN/KXCH calling on 4Mc. R/O Don was a little put out because he said he had been calling us on other HF channels but it was only when he emitted on 4Mc that we answered. All I can say is that we only heard him at 2049Z but maybe I was in the Gentleman's Lounge on an errand of personal necessity when he called earlier. Perhaps Bill will have to put a speaker in the rest room to prevent such incidents in the future.
Be that as it may, the big story here is that OM Don has restored the KXCH HF transmitter of the Radiomarine radio console to operation and that very good news indeed.
The traffic list went out at 2100Z followed by high seas weather at 2130Z.
14Mc was the usual shambles but OM Dean of W8IM called at 2124Z. However I was QRL getting the weather out on KSM and he was QSA1 to boot so it just wasn't our day.
The KSM closing message was sent at 2300Z. Both stations were CL by 2315Z
> MRHS Merchandise
Support the MRHS and look cool at the same time. Such a deal! We've got hats, mugs, T shirts, belt buckles and bumper stickers, all with variations of the MRHS logo. Get a hat and mug for yourself and a put yourself in solid with the XYL by getting her a MRHS hoodie.
Just click on the images above to go to the MRHS True Believers store and browse our offerings. Thanks!
Until next time we wish you fair winds and following seas.
VY 73/88
MRHS
