|
Bob Cotton worked at ITA's Lichfield (Hints) Transmitter as a Post Office engineer from 1956 to 1968, maintaining the Post Office radio link to and from Birmingham.
There was also a radio link from London which went via Turners Hill direct to GPO Birmingham.
This site contains film and photos of the:-
Construction of the new mast. Dismantling the old tower. Inside the station & 405 switch off. The Transmitter itself. An Open Day with a visit from Noele Gordon. Pye Green GPO Tower. Test Card Record tracks.
|
||
|
Construction of new mast The old tower Inside the station & 405 switch off The Transmitter An Open Day
Pye Green Tower Test Card Records contacts and links
|
||
|
The construction of the new mast 1961 |
||
|
(right) Mr. N. G. Payne E.I.C. Laying the ball bearing
a still from film
See him again 24 years later switching off 405 |
 |
|
|
Film of laying the ball bearing and the first section of the mast c.1961
click on the screen if you prefer to view it on the 'You Tube' site where you have more options e.g. full screen
|
||
|
|
These pictures were taken by Garth Lawley (ITA) from the construction cradle, where you can see the old mast from the new
please click on each picture to enlarge and then "back" on your browser to return
|
|
|
|
(left) A shot through the new mast showing the ladder (another of Garth's) (right) A shot up the new mast, top of the old mast can be seen right and the cradle to the left.
|
|
|
(right) a view of the masts showing the cradle |
|
When the new mast came into service the old one was rebuilt at Fremont Point on Jersey.
|
|
When the new mast was built there was only one dish for the radio link Bob says "One day after a night of high winds, I noticed that there was no signal from Birmingham but thought it was because they were not sending anything, I checked with them and they were, "the problem is at your end "they said, "Lunch Box" was about to be broadcast by ATV, The station went into turmoil, an engineer climbed the mast and confirmed the dish had moved 3 inches out of line, the PO riggers were sent for but couldn't come until the afternoon, a film was set up to show instead, but then as the station was about to open the dish was blown back into position and the link re-established just in time, the programme went ahead with no problems, panic over! but as soon as the programme finished the wind blew the dish out of position again! The riggers came after and re-fixed the dish".
|
Link: taken from high up the mast by engineers |
|
|
Construction of new mast The old tower Inside the station & 405 switch off The Transmitter An Open Day
Pye Green Tower Test Card Records contacts and links
|
||
