Nelson Calling

While television was taking its first faltering steps in other bigger centres, radio in New Zealand celebrated its first quarter-century-of commercial broadcasting. We felt that this milestone should be recorded some way, so, with the cooperation of Station 2XN we captured on film the inside story of broadcasting today. The history of broadcasting in Nelson, however, commenced in 1923, when Wilkins and Field had a licence to broadcast. Their call sign, incidentally, was 2YA. The station, however, lasted only as long as its power and with no electricity in those days, this was as long as power from the 300 torch batteries soldered together lasted. There was then a long gap before the Nelson Radio Club broadcast under the call sign 2YN This station was eventually taken over by the Government which continued to operate it as 2YN until 1949 when the Broadcasting Service changed the call sign to 2XN.

To most of today's listeners, a knowledge of broadcasting extends no further than the sound of the announcers' voices, In this series of pictures, you will find, as we did, that there is much more to radio broadcasting than just a voice through the atmosphere.

The 175ft antenna at Stoke from which the actual transmissions are made

Historic equipmentt: the actual transmitter used by Messrs D. L. Field (right) and G. M. Smart in 1923

Compare the above transmitter, with this huge equipment rack (only a portion of which is shown here) at the 2XN studio. Making an adjustment is Laurie Merrick, senior technician.

A view from the main control room through the studio, announcer's room and auxiliary control room.

Programmes are not haphazard arrangements and are planned weeks ahead. This is job of programme organiser, Vic Burman.

His assistants are Bert Martin and John St. George (plus Eddie Burt who was on leave).

Programe typists Loraine Crooks and Doreen Smith

Robert Browne, transcription officer, has to make sure recordings get to the right place at the right time.

The copy room, where Bernice Schuster, Betty Fennemor, Derek Presto, Len Hall and Kay Blumsky change the written into the spoken word.

Advertising salesman, Mac McArtney - happy 25 years Mac

At the main control desk, Nev Pankhupst sets awhirling this giant disk upon which is recorded, in serial form, somebody or other's matrimonial troubles.

In the studio we found Ken Keenan and Mary Burman recording a vocal duet with Shirley Paterson as accompanist.

In the auxiliary control room are housed big tape recorders, upon which John Blumsky and technician Brian Walker are working.

Ken Prithcard, senior announcer

Hylda Bamber throws herself into her work, seen here on shopping session describing a "beautiful giant delphinium".

And here is Sylvia Monk on "Women's Hour"

Kerry Stevens at the mike

Alan Paterson, not a member of the staff, is well-known for sports and request session

The inimitable Johnny Shearer

Receptionist Mrs Marjory Wilson

Kiddies at Miss Betsy Walter's children's session

Station manager, Mr R. M. Harris

On this boat on April 28, 1923, it is believed the first sports broadcast was made, on it was Mr Field's transmitter from which was broadcast the sculping race between A. Felton (Australia) and Paddy Hanan (New Zealand) at Nelson.

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The Nelson Photo News

No 14 : December 9, 1961

Nelson Calling