This is the KFBK History section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by: Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
last update: 6/10/06

A Pictorial Tour of KFBK

KFBK history

Here are some images and recollections from the folks who worked at KFBK, the 50 kW flamethrower in Sacramento.

KFBK traces its history from the McClatchy family media companies. 

 When the first thing that greets you in the lobby of the station is a facsimile of the center insulators of the towers, you know you are dealing with people who love radio.

Approximately  25 miles north of Sacramento, in the middle of a farming area, you can find the only two towers licensed in the USA as true "Franklin" antennas - KFBK

By stacking two half-wave antennas, KFBK has, perhaps, the highest RMS field of any station in the country - over 3500 mV/m at one kilometer - resuilting in nearly 100 kW of Effective Radiated Power (ERP) from a 50 kW transmitter.

Halfway up the tower is the insulated section.

On the left, notice the feedline comimg up the side. The RF is split and fed to each section.  There is a tuning network located here. 

At one time, regular trips were required by the station engineers to adjust the network.

This is an insulator, such as used between the sections of the tower. It was removed in 19xx, when the East Tower was rebuilt after a pilot flew into it. The remains of the original 1948 tower still lay in the field.

 

The actual feed to the tower is still accomplished with an open wire system

The feedline goes through a "screen" area, referred to as a bazooka, to match the line to the tower..

Here, Chief Engineer Ross du Clair is shown at the base of tower 1. The RF is sent up to the center point of the tower, and split there. 

Back at the transmitter building

KFBK - and McClatchy engineers - have always been in the forefront of technology. Much of KFBK's plant was originally designed and built by the McClatchy team. Some of their innovations helped shape the industry.

KFBK uses a DX-50, serial number 1, as their main transmitter since its installation in 1989.  It has proven itself a solid performer for many years.

The phasor was built by McClatchy engineers.
Of course, in the old days, there was a complete workshop, with machinery to do everything from bend and shape metal to building the parts that kept the station on the air.

The Auxiliary transmitter is an RCA-BTA50-H1S

McClatchy engineers developed the "ampliphase" transmission system from a French design. It appears they built the first working example at KFBK, and sold the concept to RCA.
Before heading out to the studio, there is one more memento that needs to be appreciated.
This logo ... of the "Bee" ... the flagship newspaper of the McClatchy company, was drawn by Walt Disney.  Ross du Clair says it was one of the few times Disney did not continue to own the image. And although it is just a memory, the "MickeyPhone" has an honored place at the transmitter site.

 

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

 

Want to know more about Oldradio.com?  

Or, just need to get BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE?

Thanks for visiting ... I hope you find the site interesting!

Copyright 1993-2006, 2007  by Barry Mishkind. This material on this site should not be reproduced or reposted in whole or part without express approval.

It would be a kindness if you'd take a moment and let me know who you are and what interests you have. If you can share some information, or even a picture, that would be great! Just use the address below. Thanks. (Please note: Due to the huge amount of spam on the internet, it would be extremely helpful if you would use something like [Oldradio] in your subject line, so the filters don't get in the way.)

An important note about this resource:

We have used many sources, including FCC files, university lecturers, historical publications and more, and have tried to be as accurate as possible, not repeating many of the myths of the industry (such as the Uncle Don Story) nor histories "manufactured" by promotion departments. However, I am not perfect, and may well have overlooked something. If you do see an error or omission, please let me know.

The accuracy and expansion of this resource depend upon our SHARING our efforts.

  • If you can help, please share your materials or information.
  • Due to the huge amount of spam on the internet, please use something like [Oldradio] in your subject line. 

  • Thanks a megaWatt!
  • snailmail:

    Barry Mishkind
    2033 S. Augusta Place
    Tucson, Arizona 85710