HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1991-04-03, Page 7Dun annon mar. researches
the histo
While interviewing for
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0- `IS S'! r(1;j�9 f . c ario!'),i1. 7{c i
birditiay, au area man was
bitten by the research bug. KJ(
Dawe said during the year be
conducted interviews with older
people! little tidbits were dry
about radio and adcas ng
enough to peak his interest, Mr.
Dawson continued _ his . meat&
going back to the early 1920s when
radio was in its infancy.
Mr. Dawson saki there were very
few broadcasting stations at that
thne and he believes most of them
were in the United States. About
this time the Popntwr Mechanic
magazine published the
specifications, list of materials and
instructions for building your own
radio set.. Three gentlemen in the
area, James Johnston, Mel Culbert
and Doc Cruickshank, had one
thing in Amon - they were
tinkers and innovators.
Mr. Johnston, an Aub -.man,
was the owner and operator of a
hardware store and garage. He was
a previous resident of Dungannon
and had almost single handedly
built the old Goderich Telephone
System. Mr. Culbert was a local
carpenter and builder in the village
of Dungannon. Doc Cruickshank a
one time farmer,. later _became' a
resident of Wingham. He owned a
Model T. Ford and had acquired the
job of driving the local doctor
around in thecar as he mace his
house-to-house calls. This, -accor-
ding
ce-ding to Mr. Dawson, earned him
the nickname "Doc".
These three men all built their
own radios which eventually
worked, but were not entirely satis-
factory for they only hod one set of
earphones.
Mr. Johnston then decided his.
radio deserved a�peci1'a1 cabinet and
ortreikas hired tit build` t. the case
was made of dark coloured wood,
with inlays of light coloured wood
of radio
on both Vis, a
• :yi' hg
ed top for easy
hoot.Arn"
M
7i(.1
,..t t
sneer of quarter ? phi plate glpss,
meticulously drilling various SIBS
through the glass to take the shafts
of the many controls. Mr. Dawson
said it was a beautiful piece of
work and lovely to see at night
when the radio tubes lit up and
could be seen . through the, glass.
front.
The wiring harness connecting the
tubes and the . controls were of
square lead wire and also acted as a
fuse. The set was powered by a
series of 6 volt dry cell batteries as
were used in the old wall hung
magneto telephones. Later they
were powered with the rechargeable
wet battery.
Mr. Johnson later revised his
machine to take two sets of head-
phones and still later to power a big
horn ..speakei. The speakerwuuld sit
on top of the cabinet so now a
crowd could listen. This they did
every Saha-day - night in the
hardware store as they gathered to
listen to the old time bar dance.
As Mr. Dawson said, "Everyone
thought it was a wonderful inven-
tion.
When radio proved to be more
than a fad, Mr. Dawson said big
business -got i -the actanristatted
to mass produce; models such as
Earle, Atwater Kent, Motorola.
Marconi and Rogers Majestic.
Thew became, ntore sophisticated
and gave good service.
Popular Mechanics then gave
specifications for building a broad-
casting system, using the same lead
wire harness and 6 volt .power with
much stronger batteries. Remember
there was aro hydro power in thy.
days. ,
Mr. Johnston dropped out of the
picture, but both Mr. Culbert and
D. ckshank built: one and
went on the air about one or two
times a week, always at night and
wit* voluntary. local talent. ,
c-Pi*Iftt of selq94 4 tQ
p.
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violin rtditsIt blot Via,
Culbert used a player piano to filt.
in between numbers.
When the government inn sed a
tax on all radios and said that l
broadcasting . systems had to be
licensed, Mr. C!ullbert applied and
was,Abe
i i of '-1 1 P¢ Dom:
Cruickshank, applying a httle later
was denied because of the
proximity to Dungannon. Mr. Daw-
.son said that because the two Melt
were good friends, 'Mr. . Abort
would lend his license to Cruiel--'
shank to take to Wingham and so
those broadcasts were done out of
Wingham as 10BP not CKNX.
Mr. Culbert who was always
trying to get better coverage had
purchased an expensive unproved
radio tube: toads set. semi 'ag to
obtain more coverage, he -put on
more batteries.According to Mr.
Dawson, this :dried power caused a
melt down of the whole apparatus,
which reportedly took place in the
back of the.white;building' on main
street, 'Dungannon,:: now owned by
Eldon Austin.
Being in poor health,' Mr.. Culbert
deckled not to rebuild and Doc then
applied immediately for his own
license. Mr.- Dawson said the
license was granted and . given' the
co&. of Cn, which of course
still exists today.
During Mr. Dawstnp's search far
someone connected with 10BP he
found Margaret_Pritchard, • of
Goderich, who was a soloist; Mrs.
Len Crawford of Wingham and her.
late sister, Mrs. Earl Sherwood,
who sang duets and Olive Culbert,
(Mel's ' wife) :of Goderich. The late
Gertie 'Calling:was also a soloist.
This article is excerpted from a
speech given by Mr. Dawson to the
Rotary Club in Goderich, earlier
this year. .
Snowbirds will perform in Kincardine
By Helen Kaluzny
People will by watching the skies
over Kincardine June 5.
The town officially announced a
visit by the Canadian Forces' "Sno-
wbirds" aerobatic team this June, at
a recent press conference at Kincar-
dine Town and Township Airport.
Capt. Real Turgeon, one of two
coordinators of the Snowbirds, said
64 million spectators have watched
this team since it was fust formed
21 years age.
This year, 45 manoeuvres are
incorporated into the °• show,
inclg the "Maple Leaf Borrt” .a"
salute to the Canadian flag, he said.
Capt, Turgeon, who had landed
his CT -114 Tutor jet at the
Goderich airport, was flown to the
Kincardine press conference. He
was attended by Mayor Donna
Wilson• • and :tourism ' consultant
Gillian Clarkes
Ile did a flyover of the town
about 9:30 am. before landing in
Goderich.
The performance here June 5 will
be at 5:30 p.m. to allow pc ple'
time to get home from work before
the show starts. The half-hour. stow
includes narration set to untie,
which will be broadcast over a
public addres=ssystem at Station
Beach.
The show will be free, but there
will be a��charge forysparking, accor-
ding r -
ding to'ss Clarke. 6 taking w be
at the soccer fields; with a shuttle
bus carrying people to the beach,
she said.
Plan hatched last fall
The ,plan to bring the Snowbirds
to Kincardine was hatched by M.
Clarke last fall At the press con-
ference, she said she wrote to
everybody who would be able to
help,e to get the tem in tower forthetintshowAlly14.
Unfo r ' ly, that day was alb
ready booked; the Snowbirds will
be performing in Flin Flon,
Manitoba then.. But with a little
schedule juggling, the town was
able to get the team for June 5.
When she found out the team,
was able to fit Kir'dine in to its
busy schedule, Ms. Clarke said she
""couldn't think who.•to tell first."
A smiling Mayor Wilson said the
town of Kincardine was "really
delighted" to ,have the warn visit
"It's a real honourto have tit
Snowbirds come here," she added.
Will land in Goderkh
The aerial. 'team : will ':arrive it
Kincardine, via Goderich, June 4
The runway at Kincardine airport i
129 feet too short to' accommodate
the -15.4�` ui i etg tom team
flies, so it will fiat hex able to land
id town; it will' only•beAble to fly
overhead. Folbwing ° a press con-
ference at four o'clock at the Sutton
Park Inn, the town Os scheduled a
dinner for 300 / a m d David-
son Centre. A"!limited. dumber of
tickets for thio•' thirst will be
available to the public, and will go
• on sale shortly,. ,
The foliowingday, Vt he Snowbirds
will head back down- torich,
where their pl. s will be stored, to
prepare for the show.
•
Special squadron
The Snowbirds teain is a special
squadron of the Canadian Armed
Forces. Properly know as the 431
(AirDemonstration) Squadron, the
team consists of nine pilots, two
team co=ordinates, 10 techniicians',.
and an office staff • of threes said
Capt. Turgcon, who was tressed in
the tearnt's distinctive rd jumpsuit.
According to Capt. 'flagon,
recruitment for the program begins
each fall. In November, half tbeold
teams is reply by new mems..
Each person will be a member of
the squadron for two years. Recruits
are chosen from applicants from the
Canadian Anned Forces, who must
have a minimum 1300 hours flying
time.
°
New members are .chosen' by the
veterans remaining with the; tuna
that year. -Since the main
the squadron is public re for
the Canadian Forces, according. to.
Capt. Turgeon, the pilots orae. art
must ,be willing to get out and:do
P.R. work. Capt. Turgeon :also
dead !hat the pilot's peoli
is impa tant,. this is a job which'
you to spend six nointbs of
\1.yam®
Lwltuow S. en j e1
edne-
Rivir. Mumurattgionlows
w•n Sonii, g 1 I a
%Way School 0' 11:15 am
),Z,1',-- LSI:'' e�U .�ti a ;.,,r
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STAG ° DOE.
For
KEVINAUSTIN
Aioreivt.THom
April: 6.1991:
for more information
Oodetich
coil. 524.9005
991 PAge
LUCKNOW CHRISTA
iREFORMED CHURCH
'' r pp* ilths
-,n »� April 701 1 ,
to aims god 210 p`m;
Merry da temiernieg'
�,. Askl
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1
LVCKNOW UNITED CHURCH;
111,10r1'6hip Silty 11;00 AM
Sunday School a 1.1;00 AM
• - Murry IMM
GERALD itleFAR14E,
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tllRIO W a
Ct rtlmunity Centre.
SUNDAY APRIL 7/91
10004 )0 1Ninn
Nolda Kuhs *° Vin+g m
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risismiewipogionioNmeissimmegamii•
ILITCHUVI THU - .111,RE-
Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
I
.r k."y I".N V py4 aY.�odi•A.bRadidike OW, ,TLE �$ECnsa.asa�i
Saito yca,r ,ort ibe 4 t .
PPP, nice. the new squad . rhos n, y .
gOt he next
:g,101.1100.
es • on Oar early Nevem.
A�I: The -waning .,.sem std It
•
th tolane p
°thong.,POOL g�le Cir dijay,to
'
ef� j :ttont wird .ttie
practice fl a " frill two `!moms b
*fore' the first show. The shows
performed from Apertbiroi
:Obtobei , after which dire teatime
bets get .n one week holiday :bef0re4
the protess' begins again. v
Show is videotaped; ... ,'
Every .Practice and every show is g
.vi omped, and after the fbght, `the
.pilots watch the tape, he said. This
is so the show looks the best pos.'
siblee" Each 28 minute show means
a 45 minute flight, but accordingto ti
Capt. Turgcon, it is "the mental and .
physical equivalent of about eight
hour of work per day."
This ear marks the .annivete.
*spry of the squadron. For the fest
seven years of its existence, the
tears operated on a year-to-year
basiss In 1978, , it was finally es.
tablishcd as a mimed squadron,
bas•ed' in Moose Yaw, Saskatchewan.
gvery yew, the show 'is slightly
modified. According to Capt. Tut -
'
page*
•
PLAYING FROM
FRIDAY TO
THURSDAY,
APRIL 5th to 11th
• SHOWTIMES:
FRIDAYAND-
�SATuDAY4f
1.M.;` UHDAY
0RSDAY
'AT 8: SPA.
EACH EVENING
} w a •.) \ta y� • a•
Www P a o 1.4 PARI TAL
vTHEGU A,AH E
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