I will send this in two parts - it is long.
Additional comments and corrections are welcome.
What are your memories of the transmitter?
Those of you who moved out into the greater universe of radio and/or
television broadcasting -
please lend your thoughts as you encountered the world away from our
cozy little 'planet' on Horn's Hill.

I am still hoping to get input from everyone who had a part in the
history of the station.

The WGSF transmitter - Part 1


Most people never see the apparatus that constitutes the final link
between the television production system and the receiving audience. The
broadcast transmitter is usually housed in that mystical realm seen only
by the eyes of broadcast engineers and technicians, located in some
almost inaccessible back room, or on a remote hilltop.
The WGSF television station was therefore most unique, in that the
transmitter was essentially the heart and soul of the entire operation.
The production control room sat in front of the transmitter, sharing
controls in the same console. The announcer could look out from the
audio production booth and gaze upon the glowing electronic tubes in
that expansive box that occupied most of one wall of the control room.
One entry door into the studio took you right past the entire length of
the transmitter. The station office shared space with the maze of
plumbing behind the transmitter that connected it to the antenna located
410 feet above. Even the rest rooms were just a few steps from the
center of operations.
I dare say that no person in television broadcasting other than Leland
Hubbell has had the experience of leaving the hosts chair in the studio
in the middle of a live broadcast, replacing a failed audio final
transmitting tube, then returning to the studio to finish the broadcast.
Only at WGSF!
Built by the General Electric Company, the transmitter was designed in
the early days of UHF television broadcasting. The WGSF equipment
consisted of three cabinets. The larger, central portion contained the
main control circuitry, and generated both the picture (visual) and
sound (aural) elements of the broadcast signal. The visual circuitry,
the more complex part, was located on the left side of the cabinet, and
the aural to the right, viewed from the control position in front of the
transmitter. The low powered signals then went into a final amplifier
cabinet where they were boosted to licensed broadcast strength, one on
either side of the central unit. The plumbing behind the transmitter was
called a Filtrexer, a combination of filter and multiplexer, which
means that it combined the output of the two transmitters onto one
pipe that went up to the antenna.
Parts of the system, like the Filtrexer, were essentially overkill, as
they were designed for a much more powerful transmitter than that used
at WGSF. Most stations used transmitters that required as much as ten
times or more the ratings that we needed, but again, WGSF used whatever
was available.
Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations required that a
person with a First Class Radiotelephone broadcast license be in control
of the transmitter. Passing the required FCC exams, then posting the
crucial license at the transmitter is indeed a proud moment for all who
seek such status. Getting the box on the air, and keeping it there were
two different ball games, however.

Wanted to wish everyone a Merry CHRISTmas.

Greg, Jean and Gabrielle DeChant

----- Original Message -----

From: Leland & Dorothy Hubbell

To: WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 5:14 PM

Subject: Re: [WGSF_TV] Re: Pop Quiz

VERY GOOD! Greg.
Go to the head of the class.
It is amazing what information is available on the web - if you know how to phrase the question.

Mr H

Greg DeChant wrote:

W31AA OH NEWARK USA Licensee: OHIO EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK COMMISSION
Service Designation: TA NTSC (analog) television allotment
Channel: 31 572 - 578 MHz File No.: --- Facility ID number: 50131
CDBS Application ID No.: 303688
40° 03' 35.00" N Latitude Site in Canadian Border Zone 82° 24' 15.00" W Longitude (NAD 27) Greg
--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, Leland & Dorothy Hubbell <lhhubbell@...> wrote:

Let's see how good you folks are at research
What are the current call letters or station identification of the channel 34 to channel 31 translator on Horn's Hill?
By the Way - we use WGSF-TV here on Yahoo Groups, but that was 

never the 

legal station identification.
It was simply WGSF That's what the license showed:
No AM, no FM no TV
And we once were cited by the FCC for using that WGSF-TV 

identification, 

with slides made up with that ID.
I still have some of those old slides (I think) in 

the "Collection" - 

Plus a lot of other slides we used when the station shut down.
Maybe I can copy some of them and post them on the web site here.
Mr H

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1179 - Release Date: 12/9/2007 11:06 AM

W31AA OH NEWARK USA Licensee: OHIO EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK COMMISSION
Service Designation: TA NTSC (analog) television allotment
Channel: 31 572 - 578 MHz File No.: --- Facility ID number: 50131
CDBS Application ID No.: 303688
40° 03' 35.00" N Latitude Site in Canadian Border Zone 82° 24' 15.00" W Longitude (NAD 27) Greg
--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, Leland & Dorothy Hubbell <lhhubbell@...> wrote:

Let's see how good you folks are at research
What are the current call letters or station identification of the channel 34 to channel 31 translator on Horn's Hill?
By the Way - we use WGSF-TV here on Yahoo Groups, but that was 

never the 

legal station identification.
It was simply WGSF That's what the license showed:
No AM, no FM no TV
And we once were cited by the FCC for using that WGSF-TV 

identification, 

with slides made up with that ID.
I still have some of those old slides (I think) in 

the "Collection" - 

Plus a lot of other slides we used when the station shut down.
Maybe I can copy some of them and post them on the web site here.
Mr H

W31AA         OH NEWARK                    USA

   Licensee: OHIO EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK COMMISSION
   Service Designation: TA   NTSC (analog) television allotment

   Channel: 31     572 - 578 MHz
   File No.:       ---     Facility ID number: 50131
   CDBS Application ID No.: 303688

    40° 03' 35.00" N Latitude                 Site in Canadian Border
Zone   82° 24' 15.00" W Longitude (NAD 27)


Greg


--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, Leland & Dorothy Hubbell
<lhhubbell@...> wrote:
>
> Let's see how good you folks are at research
>
> What are the current call letters or station identification of the
> channel 34 to channel 31 translator on Horn's Hill?
>
>
> By the Way - we use WGSF-TV here on Yahoo Groups, but that was
never the
> legal station identification.
>
> It was simply WGSF      That's what the license showed:
>
> No AM, no FM  no TV
>
> And we once were cited by the FCC for using that WGSF-TV
identification,
> with slides made up with that ID.
>
> I still have some of those old slides  (I think) in
the "Collection"  -
> Plus a lot of other slides we used when the station shut down.
>
> Maybe I can copy some of them and post them on the web site here.
>
> Mr H
>

It is amazing what you can find by 'Googling'!

http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/march_18.html

      Scroll all the way to the bottom . . . .
Mr H

March 18 Events in History - March 18 Birthdays - March 18 Deaths

March 18, 1967 Beatles' "Penny Lane," single goes #1
March 18, 1967 Oil tanker Torrey Canyon hits a rock and spills oil
March 18, 1966 "Pousse Cafe" opens at 46th St. Theater New York City for 3
performances
March 18, 1966 General Suharto forms government in Indonesia
March 18, 1966 Scott Paper begins selling paper dresses for $1
March 18, 1965 "Do I Hear a Waltz?" opens at 46th St. Theater New York City for
220
performances
March 18, 1965 Rolling Stones fined 5 pounds each for public urination
March 18, 1965 U.S.S.R. launches Voshkod 2; Alexei Leonov makes 1st spacewalk
(20
mins)
March 18, 1963 "Tovarich" opens at Broadway Theater New York City for 264
performances
March 18, 1963 France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker Algeria
March 18, 1963 Supreme Court's Miranda Decision; defendants must have lawyers
March 18, 1963 WGSF TV channel 28 in Newark, OH (PBS) begins broadcasting
March 18, 1962 Algerian War ends after 7 years (250,000 die), Ben Bella flees

Its been too short a time, so I won't answer.
Surely some others know.

Daniel

--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, Leland & Dorothy Hubbell
<lhhubbell@...> wrote:
>
> Let's see how good you folks are at research
>
> What are the current call letters or station identification of the
> channel 34 to channel 31 translator on Horn's Hill?
>
>
> By the Way - we use WGSF-TV here on Yahoo Groups, but that was never
the
> legal station identification.
>
> It was simply WGSF      That's what the license showed:
>
> No AM, no FM  no TV
>
> And we once were cited by the FCC for using that WGSF-TV
identification,
> with slides made up with that ID.
>
> I still have some of those old slides  (I think) in the "Collection"  -
> Plus a lot of other slides we used when the station shut down.
>
> Maybe I can copy some of them and post them on the web site here.
>
> Mr H
>

If  OEB doesn't make the investment to digitize the translator, they
may put in a digital receiver and an analog modulator and continue to
run analog for a few years. That is an option for low-powers and
translators. It would make sense since many people will not have
replaced all their TVs with digital sets come Feb. 2009. We've gotten
digital low power assignments in Gillette WY. and Scottsbluff, NE; but
at this point our plan is to keep our analog low-powers in those towns
operating for a while.

I'm surprised the school system hasn't already been approached by one
of the tower leasing outfits. That site would be great for wireless
Internet coverage and various other commercial uses that would give
them an income.

Otherwise, I assume the city would consider buying the building and
tower for their comm needs and perhaps shorten the tower since they
don't need all 400 feet. That would minimize their maintenance costs.
Under 200 feet they wouldn't have to have lights on it anymore and
painting it would cost a lot less. Rapid City has a 350 foot tower at
their most southern fire station that they never completed above 200
feet to avoid the expense of lighting.
If it came to that, remember to go after the beacon. I'd love to end
up with it since my name is scratched on it.

Daniel


--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, Leland & Dorothy Hubbell
<lhhubbell@...> wrote:
>
> Dan - or anybody -
>
> I have been wondering what will happen with the Horn's Hill location
> when the big change-over from 'regular' to digital broadcasting takes
> place in 2009.
> The last contact that I had with the state network people sounded like
> they would like to abandon the operation there.
> Certainly the current equipment will be obsolete.
>
> The last that I knew, the City of Newark owns the land, the Newark City
> schools owns the building and tower under a renewal lease agreement,
but
> sub lease it to the state. The state has been maintaining the building
> and tower.
>
> Mr H
>

Let's see how good you folks are at research

What are the current call letters or station identification of the
channel 34 to channel 31 translator on Horn's Hill?


By the Way - we use WGSF-TV here on Yahoo Groups, but that was never the
legal station identification.

It was simply WGSF      That's what the license showed:

No AM, no FM  no TV

And we once were cited by the FCC for using that WGSF-TV identification,
with slides made up with that ID.

I still have some of those old slides  (I think) in the "Collection"  -
Plus a lot of other slides we used when the station shut down.

Maybe I can copy some of them and post them on the web site here.

Mr H

For the truly curious:

http://www.etech.ohio.gov/affiliates/tv/

Dan - or anybody -

I have been wondering what will happen with the Horn's Hill location
when the big change-over from 'regular' to digital broadcasting takes
place in 2009.
The last contact that I had with the state network people sounded like
they would like to abandon the operation there.
Certainly the current equipment will be obsolete.

The last that I knew, the City of Newark owns the land, the Newark City
schools owns the building and tower under a renewal lease agreement, but
sub lease it to the state. The state has been maintaining the building
and tower.

Mr H

Just a few more ham (amateur) radio related topics before we move on . . .

The first Chief Engineer at WGSF was a ham operator, Bob Brooks, as was
his successor, Leland Hubbell. Bob was responsible for the construction
phase of the station, and was initially the only person on the WGSF
staff. Later, after the station began broadcasting on March 18, 1963, a
General Manager and a secretary were hired.
Bob installed a small six meter antenna part way up the tower, and would
sometimes get on the air with a small transceiver. Six meters (AM) was
popular with the technician class license in the 1960's, and the
location is the reason that so many different radio systems are located
on the hill.
Bob Brooks resigned in the summer of 1964.  Leland Hubbell was hired as
Chief Engineer, and Wayne Gehres as broadcast engineer in September.
The Newark Amateur Radio Club maintains a two-meter repeater system on
Horn's Hill, dating back to the 1970's, at least. A 'Repeater is a
system that gives a boost to mobile/portable stations by picking up
signals from a transmitting station on one frequency, and retransmitting
it on a different frequency, but at a much higher power. In that regard,
it is similar to the current 'translator' which picks up the signal of
WOSU-TV on channel 34, and re-transmits it on WGSF's old channel 31.
  The difference is that ham operators take turns transmitting on a
frequency of 146.28 MHz, and everybody listens on 146.88 MHz, using
frequency modulation (FM)
The Police, fire and county government do much the same thing on their
own allocated frequencies. During the active WGSF-TV operation, that
equipment was located in a small room in the SW corner of the building.
The ham equipment was contained in a weatherproof box located on the
wall outside the office, near the tower. They were given permission to
move the ham equipment inside the building when WGSF ceased operation,
and occupy what was once the WGSF audio/announce booth.
All of the services have a relationship (permission) with the city or
state to house equipment in or on the building, and to mount antenna
equipment on the tower.
The current 'translator' is located in the former office space. It uses
an antenna about half way up the tower to pick up WOSUT-V signal on
channel 34, and retransmits it on channel 31, using the old WGSF
feedline (the big copper pipe) and antenna. The translator power is the
same as that used by WGSF, by the way.
The Horn's Hill property, including the park, is owned by the city of
Newark. The Newark City School District received a long-term renewable
lease to build the building and tower. The city, in turn, was granted
space in the building for their 2-way radio equipment, and antenna space
on the tower. When WGSF ceased operation the Ohio State Television
Network Commission was given a sub-lease to install and maintain the
translator, plus responsibility for maintenance of the tower and building.
Many of the records outlining permission and responsibility have
apparently been tossed over the years, as personnel changes occurred.
Questions arise from time to time as to whether the ham operators have
permission to be there. Many of the early records pertaining
particularly to WGSF are in the possession of Leland Hubbell. Other
records that were in force at the time of his retirement in 1995 were
left in the files at the TV Center at the high school. It is probable
that they no longer exist.

Several attempts were made to sell the WGSF transmitter equipment. It
sat idle for several years, until the Newark School's supervisor
responsible for the Television services gave the Newark Amateur Radio
club permission to dismantle the transmitter and remove it from the
building. The city was given the area not utilized by the hams to use as
they desired. Additional 2-way radio equipment was installed in the
space once occupied by the WGSF transmitter and control room. The studio
area was filled with the city's Christmas decorations, at least in the
1980-'90's.
The city of Newark will undoubtedly continue to occupy the building and
the associated tower. All analog television broadcasting is to cease in
February, 2009. Most stations have already established digital
broadcasting systems. The current operations on channel 34/31 will come
to an end, as will all other familiar channels, ending a television
broadcast legacy that sprouted in the early 20th century, and came into
to full flower at the end of W.W.II.

All the more reason to preserve what we can of a rich heritage, of which
WGSF-TV played a part:

As the staff used to say: WGSF - the world's only operational television
museum!

Daniel Black wrote:

>Much to Mr. H's chagrin I have never been a ham.
>
>
>
Can't say that I didn't try!

I had a few successes - more after operations moved to the high school.
Somehow Fred Rose (Ind. arts teacher) set up an amateur radio station in
'H' building, with Drake equipment and a tri-band beam. He never got his
license.
I used to go over with a box lunch and work the world in the early 90's,
as did a few others.
Talked to a guy in Africa one day, told him I was in Newark, Ohio.
  "Hey!" Sez he: "I've been there." At Newark High, no less.
Small World!
I was working a VHF contest a few years back, got a call as the time ran
out. Turns out it was Jeff.

I have not had any luck contacting him on email, though I have had his
address. I think he has the filters clamped pretty tight.
Might want to tell him to look for us, Dan.

I've got to do some rebuilding of antennas at the present. Only thing
still up and working is a 2 meter ringo.
Worked through the satellites for a time, until the Easy-sats died, and
they have gone to higher bands.
They have ham radio on the space shuttles, and the ISS. I've heard them,
never worked them.

Morse code is no longer a requirement, for those who cite that as a
barrier.

Leland Hubbell
K8MZH  (since 1958; ex KN4LHB, K5MSX)

Much to Mr. H's chagrin I have never been a ham.

One transmitter at Sheridan is a two-year old Harris solid-state
digital transmitter. The other is a 1982 Harris 35kW. We are hoping
the tubes we have will last another 12 months as the price has gotten
a bit higher than the good old days. The finals are running us over
$7000 apiece.

Daniel

----- Original Message -----

From: Daniel Black

To: WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 10:23 PM

Subject: [WGSF_TV] Re: Hello to Everyone

Greg,
Believe or not your name has come up in conversation occasionally over
the years. Gone over the speed limit in a Corvette recently?

Actually it is Jeff who is in the harsh climate. While things here in
Rapid are a bit odd, the month to month average temperature is within
one degree of Central Ohio's. Of course the transmitter site in
Sheridan is at over 7000 ft, 3000 ft higher than either Rapid or
Sheridan, so you would expect a little difference.

Jeff Campbell <n8wxs@...> should get you in touch.

Daniel

--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, "Greg DeChant" <gcdechant@...> wrote:
>
> After all these years it's great to know this fine group of
> broadcasting pioneers is still around. Funny how Dan Black and Jeff
> Campbell wound up working together, especially in a climate that is in
> my humble opinion worse than Ohio. Case in point, 3 inches of snow on a
> mountain in October. :=)
>
> BTW-Dan do you have Jeffs e-mail address? I would appreciate having it,
> if that's ok with him.
>
> Mr. H: It's good to see you are doing well. Some time when Jeannie, my
> wife, and I are down to Johnstown, we will stop and see both of you.
>
> Greg
>

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.15/1173 - Release Date: 12/5/2007 9:29 PM

I believe a lot of TK30s and TK31s had the ports in the sides with
screen over them. I have seen it on a number of them.
The camera that was used for the flip stand when AVCO used the old WLW
truck at their Ohio State Fair pavilion had doors like that if I
remember correctly.

And no one needs to comment as to why on earth anyone would have noted
or remembered such a thing. I also remember the TK60 that was used for
the flip stand at either WGTE or WCET. They said since they were color
they didn't have any other use for it. Seemed incredibly wasteful when
we were still using the TK30s.

Well, we did a show on a maple sugar camp at a farm down in Perry
County. I don't remember who all was there, though John was. It was a
nice day, the drive was pleasant, not withstanding having to downshift
to about second gear on every hill.
When we got to the farm, the camp was about a quarter mile across a
plowed field. It looked pretty straightforward, the roads had been dry
driving down and the field looked pretty dry,too. But the farmer said
the field was pretty wet and maybe he should just tow us with his tractor.
I said let's try to save some effort and see how far we can get.
We got about 20 feet into the field and the truck sank in almost to
the axles. The farmer got his tractor and took us the rest of the way
and back again.
We laughed about it pretty hard as we were being towed across.

Greg,
Believe or not your name has come up in conversation occasionally over
the years. Gone over the speed limit in a Corvette recently?

Actually it is Jeff who is in the harsh climate. While things here in
Rapid are a bit odd, the month to month average temperature is within
one degree of Central Ohio's. Of course the transmitter site in
Sheridan is at over 7000 ft, 3000 ft higher than either Rapid or
Sheridan, so you would expect a little difference.

Jeff Campbell <n8wxs@...> should get you in touch.

Daniel



--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, "Greg DeChant" <gcdechant@...> wrote:
>
> After all these years it's great to know this fine group of
> broadcasting pioneers is still around. Funny how Dan Black and Jeff
> Campbell wound up working together, especially in a climate that is in
> my humble opinion worse than Ohio. Case in point, 3 inches of snow on a
> mountain in October. :=)
>
> BTW-Dan do you have Jeffs e-mail address? I would appreciate having it,
> if that's ok with him.
>
> Mr. H: It's good to see you are doing well. Some time when Jeannie, my
> wife, and I are down to Johnstown, we will stop and see both of you.
>
> Greg
>

There was some question last year about Jimmy Allen's address.
We got the usual early card this year. Also, I saw him this summer, and
they haven't moved.

Mr H

Jim & Doris Allen
9955 New Hope Road
Norwich  OH  43767-9740

Dorothy and I spent the week after Thanksgiving in Charlotte, NC,
volunteering for Operation Christmas Child.
Our group of 107 people (2 bus loads) went to tour the Billy Graham
Library. Much of the library is devoted to his broadcast ministry, with
recreation of various radio and television settings. In one room,
sitting on an old, large studio pedestal, was a much modified RCA
TK-10/30 IO camera, with 4 lense turret. It had a series of round air
vent holes in the side doors, along the bottom and top, covered with
screen wire. There were some additional control knobs, also. I checked
the doors covering the controls at the back, and they were sealed shut.
Lots of other control and recording equipment there. They had a mike
like the RCA 'ear of corn' favored by Kermit the Frog, but it had an
Olsen name tag on it.
For Dorothy and I - and a few farm folk - the setting is also a dairy
farm, with a talking cow, milk cans,  and stuff that we have also worked
with. Really a nice tour. I hadn't expected so much emphasis on
broadcasting, but Billy did a lot of it.

Mr. H

By the way - take some time to explore the other parts of the early TV
museum pages. See if you recognize some of the old TV receivers, and
such. Remember the old "ike' chain'? See if you can find it - it's there!
http://www.earlytelevision.org/

lhh

Unless there was another maple sugar camp taping I wasn't around for,
that was the infamous blue truck that got stuck after going about 1
and 1/2 truck lengths into the field.
The blue truck was a Godsend also. Just like any Biblical plague.
Daniel
--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, "Greg Roadrunner" <gcdechant@...> wrote:

If I remember correctly that mobile truck was a God send for the

station, even with it's idiosyncrasies'. It's great to see it is being
restored and preserved. Do you remember the time you went to record a
segment on Maple Syrup production and it got stuck in the mud?

Greg

WGSF Television, Newark, Ohio - 1963 to 1976 Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
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I was very sorry to hear about Phil.
I ran into him several times while he was at the Dispatch and for
those of you who remember him, he had definitely changed from his days
at WGSF.

The toy gun the staff bought to 'assassinate' him at the end of his
last news show still works, but it looks like it will never be needed
again.

Daniel


--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, Leland & Dorothy Hubbell
<lhhubbell@...> wrote:
>
> Obituary and an article for Phil Porter, worked at WGSF - Columbus
> Dispatch, Dec 3, 2007
> He was 56, had cancer
>
>
http://www.legacy.com/Dispatch/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=98985993
>
> Article about his career appears, also. Mentions WGSF
>
>
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/12/03/PORTEROBIT.AR\
T_ART_12-03-07_B7_FB8LIKL.html?sid=101
>
> Mr. H
>

Unless there was another maple sugar camp taping I wasn't around for,
that was the infamous blue truck that got stuck after going about 1
and 1/2 truck lengths into the field.
The blue truck was a Godsend also. Just like any Biblical plague.

Daniel




--- In WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com, "Greg Roadrunner" <gcdechant@...> wrote:
>
> If I remember correctly that mobile truck was a God send for the
station, even with it's idiosyncrasies'. It's great to see it is being
restored and preserved. Do you remember the time you went to record a
segment on Maple Syrup production and it got stuck in the mud?
>
> Greg
>

----- Original Message -----

From: Leland & Dorothy Hubbell

To: WGSF_TV@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:18 PM

Subject: [WGSF_TV] TV truck trivia

Some of the more interesting moments that I spent in the WGSF mobile
production van did not involve a production.

My wife, Dorothy, and I flew to Salt Lake City to pick up the TV truck.
I can't now recall many of the details about the station itself, then
KCPX, because we were more focused on getting the truck, and hitting the
road.
Somehow, the thought of driving a 1948 Chevy truck from Utah to Ohio
gave no cause for concern. It was the newest equipment we had! No
matter that it was older than the students back in Newark . . .
It was interesting to pull into a food or fuel stop, and see the
rubber-necking as people wondered what a TV 'Network' was doing in town.
It got a lot of attention, raised a few questions, all along the way.
It didn't take too long to learn a few idiosyncrasies about the truck:
At about 35 MPH, the metal floor plates would vibrate. Somewhere just
over 50 MPH, the outside driver's side mirror would vibrate. These
vibrations came in handy when the speedometer went out somewhere along
the interstate. No problem! Just go for the vibration, back off a
little, and stay safely within the speed limit.
We finally did find a repair garage, complete with a veteran mechanic,
and had the speedometer cable replaced. The mechanic was like someone
who had found a long, lost love - A '48 Chevy!
He told us that if we kept the speed under 55, and took care of the
engine, it would run forever.

There must be something mystical about this particular truck,
considering the history, and the possibility that it will be around for
a long, long time.
There have been a few close calls, like when the brakes went out while
going down Horn's Hill. There has to be guardian angels, if not for
trucks, at least for students.
Procedure was to shift into 'creeper' gear at the bottom of the hill,
and growl the way to the top. Slow, but steady.
There has to be some untold stories, as well, like why it wouldn't start
one morning on a remote at the Hartford Fair.
We kept the truck in the Newark School District school bus garage most
of the time. That was a definite plus in the winter, especially when the
hill was too icy even to walk.
It served us well, that '48 Chevy truck, with a Boyertown TV production
body.
Now may it serve as a reminder of the 'State of the Art' - circa 1948,
and the way things were - circa 1970's at WGSF television, in Newark, Ohio.

Leland Hubbell
Chief Engineer/General Manager, WGSF Television

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After all these years it's great to know this fine group of
broadcasting pioneers is still around. Funny how Dan Black and Jeff
Campbell wound up working together, especially in a climate that is in
my humble opinion worse than Ohio. Case in point, 3 inches of snow on a
mountain in October. :=)

BTW-Dan do you have Jeffs e-mail address? I would appreciate having it,
if that's ok with him.

Mr. H: It's good to see you are doing well. Some time when Jeannie, my
wife, and I are down to Johnstown, we will stop and see both of you.

Greg

Some of the more interesting moments that I spent in the WGSF mobile
production van did not involve a production.

My wife, Dorothy, and I flew to Salt Lake City to pick up the TV truck.
I can't now recall many of the details about the station itself, then
KCPX, because we were more focused on getting the truck, and hitting the
road.
Somehow, the thought of driving a 1948 Chevy truck from Utah to Ohio
gave no cause for concern. It was the newest equipment we had!  No
matter that it was older than the students back in Newark . . .
It was interesting to pull into a food or fuel stop, and see the
rubber-necking as people wondered what a TV 'Network' was doing in town.
It got a lot of attention, raised a few questions, all along the way.
It didn't take too long to learn a few idiosyncrasies about the truck:
At about 35 MPH, the metal floor plates would vibrate. Somewhere just
over 50 MPH, the outside driver's side mirror would vibrate. These
vibrations came in handy when the speedometer went out somewhere along
the interstate. No problem! Just go for the vibration, back off a
little, and stay safely within the speed limit.
We finally did find a repair garage, complete with a veteran mechanic,
and had the speedometer cable replaced. The mechanic was like someone
who had found a long, lost love - A '48 Chevy!
He told us that if we kept the speed under 55, and took care of the
engine, it would run forever.

There must be something mystical about this particular truck,
considering the history, and the possibility that it will be around for
a long, long time.
There have been a few close calls, like when the brakes went out while
going down Horn's Hill. There has to be guardian angels, if not for
trucks, at least for students.
Procedure was to shift into 'creeper' gear at the bottom of the hill,
and growl the way to the top. Slow, but steady.
There has to be some untold stories, as well, like why it wouldn't start
one morning on a remote at the Hartford Fair.
We kept the truck in the Newark School District school bus garage most
of the time. That was a definite plus in the winter, especially when the
hill was too icy even to walk.
It served us well, that '48 Chevy truck, with a Boyertown TV production
body.
Now may it serve as a reminder of the 'State of the Art' - circa 1948,
and the way things were - circa 1970's at WGSF television, in Newark, Ohio.

Leland Hubbell
Chief Engineer/General Manager, WGSF Television

Obituary and an article for Phil Porter, worked at WGSF - Columbus
Dispatch, Dec 3, 2007
He was 56, had cancer

http://www.legacy.com/Dispatch/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=98985993

Article about his career appears, also. Mentions WGSF

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/12/03/PORTEROBIT.AR\
T_ART_12-03-07_B7_FB8LIKL.html?sid=101

Mr. H

Really enjoying the info on the mobile unit. Someday I'll start through boxes of
"stuff" to
see what I find.

Leland and Dorothy, I hope you are doing well.

Bill Clifford

http://www.earlytelevision.org/wgsf_van.html