Click on Blaw-Knox logo

Click on Blaw-Knox logo

click for much larger image

WFEA's original tower, a distinctive galvanized steel Blaw-Knox structure, is still in use. It was built in October, 1931 and is a 350 foot half-wave pyramid-shaped vertical radiator, topped with a 50-foot mast. A newspaper account said it was the third of its kind in the world.

For more information on Blaw-Knox towers see Jim Hawkins fine site.

The tower is grounded on a cement base sunk into the earth for 15 feet. At its lower extremity it measures just eight inches in diameter, but from there its four arms spread diamond-wise to a height of 165 feet, after which they taper to a point for the remaining 185 feet. A 50-foot steel mast within the tower itself may be raised or lowered for tuning purposes.

Strung out from the base of the tower in every direction are 64 radials of copper wire, buried 18 inches below the earth's surface, and extending out for 350 feet. These subterranean radials act as "grounds" and prevent any possible absorption of waves by the materials from which the building which houses the apparatus, or the apparatus itself, is constructed.

While equipped to produce 1000 watts of power, WFEA's original Western Electric transmitter was licensed for only 500 watts.

In the spring of 1934 WFEA was granted permission to move to 1340 kilocycles. In order to adequately protect the signal of WSPD in Toledo, Ohio, a directional radiator was built. It was made of wood timbers and was less than half the height of the Blaw Knox stick. The two towers were connected by rope from which the reflector was suspended.

There is still visible evidence of the wooden tower at the transmitter site (see illustration below). It was blown down during the 1938 hurricane.