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Happy birthday WSPD!

A place to go for those of you who wish to discuss happenings in OH, IN, IL, WI, and Ontario. OSU sucks, by the way.
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BASProShop
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:10 am

Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by BASProShop »

I heard Fred Lefebvre talk about it this morning. Apparently the experimental station that eventually became 1370 WSPD had its first broadcast on April 15, 1921, marking 100 years. Congrats!
Deleted User 15062

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Deleted User 15062 »

Hmmmm. I thought WTAL-AM was on a bit later than that.
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BASProShop
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:10 am

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by BASProShop »

It was licensed as WTAL in 1923, but there apparently was an experimental station that preceded that. So, it's either 100 or 97, depending on what you choose to accept.
Deleted User 15062

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Deleted User 15062 »

BASProShop wrote: Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:03 pm It was licensed as WTAL in 1923, but there apparently was an experimental station that preceded that. So, it's either 100 or 97, depending on what you choose to accept.
Well WSPD, as call letters started about 1928. So the call letters are 93 years old.
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WOHO
Posts: 821
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:05 am
Location: 2965 Pickle Rd.

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by WOHO »

When their lobby came in off of S. Superior Street, they used to have two 'letters' framed on the wall in the lobby, IIRC, one had an April date on it for the first transmissions, but I was thinking that was still with the WTAL call letters, but I can't recall the exact year anymore.
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Ben Zonia
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Location: Honor

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Ben Zonia »

There are many, many stations which operated experimentally before being commercially licensed. In the last few years, a lot of these stations, particularly those who were started in college Physics and Engineering Departments, have started using that date as the date of their licensing. WWJ was originally 8MK, and has long maintained that they began in 1920, rather than the commercial licensing date. However, experimental licensing dates have been used inconsistently. All should use a consistent definition.

Here is a list of the 100 oldest commercially licensed radio stations in the US. Changes have occurred, particularly with call letters, and one station recently turned in it's license.

https://www.oldradio.com/archives/gener ... ldest.html

Until recently, the records of experimental station licenses were difficult to find, but more and more stations are claiming this as their official sign on date as these records are found.
"I had a job for a while as an announcer at WWV but I finally quit, because I couldn't stand the hours."

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WOHO
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Location: 2965 Pickle Rd.

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by WOHO »

Ben Zonia, don't see WTAL on the hot 100 list from April 1922; what's up with that?
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Ben Zonia
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Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Ben Zonia »

WOHO wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:07 pm Ben Zonia, don't see WTAL on the hot 100 list from April 1922; what's up with that?
Trying to get the WSPD History Card to load. It's taking forever.

https://www.oldradio.com/archives/gener ... ldest.html

Puzzling. History shows a Bureau of Navigation Record. Maybe this was the class of station it was before 1923, before it was a commercial license.

WCAZ 990 Carthage, IL was deleted a few years ago.
"I had a job for a while as an announcer at WWV but I finally quit, because I couldn't stand the hours."

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Deleted User 15502

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Deleted User 15502 »

Love your picture WOHO!
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Myron Falwell
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Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 12:06 pm

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Myron Falwell »

I’d love to dig up the early history of WTAL-WSPD and how the Storer family got into broadcasting in the first place. If only the Toledo Blade archives were easier to navigate on Google Newspapers...
I have no need for Boring McGraphics, tyvm
Deleted User 15062

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by Deleted User 15062 »

Myron Falwell wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:00 pm I’d love to dig up the early history of WTAL-WSPD and how the Storer family got into broadcasting in the first place. If only the Toledo Blade archives were easier to navigate on Google Newspapers...
Toiletto Pubic Library (well known for their restrooms, so not a typo) should have allot on microfilm. Go to the History Dept
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WOHO
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Location: 2965 Pickle Rd.

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by WOHO »

Pre-remodel a couple years ago, when they still had a lot of real books, Main Library used to have local history on the 3rd floor. Maps of Toledo before the expressway systems added, even printed books that had the locations of where you could find 1920's immigration paperwork on mircofilm. Then you could get the microfilm and pay to get a couple of pages copied.
CurlyHoward
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Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2019 12:50 pm

Re: Happy birthday WSPD!

Unread post by CurlyHoward »

Nevermind any of that, the greatest era for both WSPD and the holy city of Toledo was when we were treated to the humanitarian work and journalistic integrity of Brian and Cassie Wilson
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