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9 -
In
1935 we received our first really worthwhile "break" -
we pensioned off the Delco, Batteries and Motor Generator Set in
favour of city power rectified by a separate and special Marconi
Rectifier unit shipped in to us. None too soon, either! The Delco
power plant and associated gear had done its fair share of work
for 12 long years, and to keep it going much longer would have taxed
our ingenuity and swindling sanity to the utmost.
Of
course the new Rectifier had to arrive much the worse for wear and
tear in transit, minus several vital parts broken or displaced in
shipment. But we eventually tot it to work OK, and the day we switched
over to rectified city power was indeed the "dawn of a new
day" as far as we were concerned and the signal for a bit of
a celebration to usher in the new and, as it turned out, more efficient
era to follow; that was the start of many improvements, and the
introduction of new and up to date equipment.
1936
was notable for our second experience with flood conditions. By
June 9th water surrounded the station and barely covered the floors
of the rear rooms which were 10" lower than the operating room.
No equipment was moved out this time; we merely piled everything
movable on the tables and counter, and also raised all wiring and
leads as high as possible without disconnecting anything. No skeds
were missed, and no serious inconvenience resulted this time, although
we were forced to wade around in knee rubbers to get to and from
the screen housing our thermometers, and had to resort to a boat
or canoe for travel further afield.
We
bid farewell to Sgt. Plunkett on June 20th, who remained for a few
days to coach L/Cpl. Reid in his numerous and varied duties after
Reid arrived in Dawson June 12th.
1937
brought us something really radical in the way of new equipment.
We got our first glimpse and experience of and with the Marconi
2 cabinet or section 1 K.W. transmitter, new Marconi receivers and
dozens of new type valves. No sooner was this imposing and awe inspiring
apparatus set up - and the old SITD.500 , with its Marconi rectifier,
shipped elsewhere - than we received and set up the wonder of wonders
we'd been waiting for: the Marconi PT.200, 200 watt, cabinet type,
S/W, crystal controlled phone and C.W. job.
We'd
heard and read of such things; and crystals; and band-passes; intermediate
frequencies; modulator power amplifiers; drive circuits, etc etc.,
but never laid eyes on such things until NOW.
Getting
this new gear into the station, by the way, was a problem in itself.
We had to take off three doors and door frames to start with, and
one door opening had to be widened at least two inches by means
of a saw; a special saw, that ripped through nails and spikes as
well as the wood of the door frame. Then after the equipment was
safely inside the room in which it was to be erected, we had to
re-hang the doors, and make a new one for the enlarged frame.