New Tower

Radio Record, 1 April 1938, Page 23

New Tower

1ZB IMPROVEMENT CROWDS © streamed out lo Waterview, six miles distant from the city, last Wednesday morning fo witness the hoisting of the new 225ft. aerial tower for 1ZB. The Controller of the NCBS, Mr. ©. G. Scrimgeour, made a special trip from Wellington with Mr. R. E. Grainger, chief engineer of the service, and Mr. C, W, O. Turner, designing engineer vf the Public Works Department at head office, who designed the tower. Eyerything went off without a hitch. The tall, steel structure was raised hy complicated tackle and hoisted bodily trom the ground by a stewn winch inte its vertical position, The whole procedure oceupied only forty minutes, Mr. Scrimgeour officiating by tightening the Jast bolt holding it in position. Designed, as stated, by the Public Works Department, the tower was fabricated at the Government Railway Workshops, Otahuhu, then assembled und welded at Waterview. The tower xtands on its own, having no guy wires. It is a new type of mast in New Zealand for the mast itself is the zerial, there being no wire attachments. The tower was ecnstructed directly to the ground at the base, power being supplied by an underground concentric cable. The tower is illuminated by a 1500 candle-power merenry yapour light of binish colour mounted on the pinnacle. It is painted in colours of orange and blue, and makes a pleasing addition to the landscape, The tower stands out from the background and even from 4 distance of several miles the bright colours can be picked out. It has been built to withstand a wind yelocity of 150 miles per hour; it weighs 20 tons, Transmission tests are being carried out this week with the new aerial tower, By the end of the month, the station will be transmitting its full programmes from Waterview.