This is the KFBK History section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by: Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
last update: 7/10/05

KFBK

KFBK is the 50 kW flamethrower on 1530 in Sacramento, California.  The station traces its history from the McClatchy family media companies. 

The First Broadcast License was issued: February 2, 1922 (or 2/22/22) (FCC microfiche: August 16, 1922)

KFBK seems to derive from KVQ, which under the sensibilities of 1922, shut down after listener complaints about interference. The gear seems to have been sold to the Kimball-Upson Music Store and the Sacramento Union Newspaper.  Later the Kimball Upson sold out to the Sacramento Bee (McClatchy). Oddly enough, there is another report in 1925 that KFBK shut down again after listener complaints....

KFBK is the only station "officially" (according to the FCC) using the Franklin style antenna - two 180 degree towers stacked vertically. (Other stations have similar towers of height close to 180 degrees stacked, etc, but only KFBK has the FCC "stamp" as a Franklin)

My sincere thanks to Ross du Clair for sharing his time and knowledge of the KFBK site.