WBCN, Channel-13, and the old Hancock tower

[A Joseph Ross]

Why would there have been a Boston end of a WMTW-TV microwave link? That 
was channel 8 in Poland Springs, Maine.

On 11/24/2021 2:55 PM, Dave wrote:
> On 11/24/21 12:00 PM, 
> boston-radio-interest-request@lists.BostonRadio.org wrote:
>
> >From: A Joseph Ross <joe@attorneyross.com>
> >Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2021 23:44:19 -0500
> >Subject: Re: RIP Al Perry - former GM of WBCN
> >
> >I wonder if anyone is left who ran the original WBCN and
> >the Concert Network.  I wonder how many people are left,
> >besides me, who were listeners in those days.
>
> Ahhh.  WBCN.
>
> Long time lurker, I'm going to finally crawl out from under this rock.
>
> My father, Jim Bonney was the titular Chief Engineer for WBCN in the 
> 50's/60's.  And once, while he was on vacation, I made $ subbing in 
> for him doing the weekly transmitter checks and log signing on the 
> 27th/28th upper equipment floor of the old Hancock tower.  Does that 
> qualify me as 'working' for WBCN?
>
> As a kid I would frequently accompany him on his rounds when he did 
> his weekly station visits.  He built and was full-time Chief Engineer 
> for WBUR but also, over the years, had 'Chief Operator' responsibility 
> for WBCN, WERS, WPAW/WXTR, the Boston end of the WMTW-TV microwave 
> link, a radio-page company, and other stations/facilities too numerous 
> and/or lost in my memory to remember right now.
>
> Once at WBCN I even got to stand on top of the Hancock weather beacon 
> when the tower monkey's were servicing the antenna.  Going up the 
> stairs inside the flashing blue beacon was a memory-maker.
>
> Which brings me around to a Question I've had for years:
>
> On the upper equipment floor of the old Hancock tower, colocated with 
> the WBCN transmitter was another, non-operating transmitter. Which may 
> have been a television transmitter.  I have seen an old reference to a 
> Boston Channel-13.  Could this have been it?  And can anyone provide 
> confirmation?  Was it ever licensed/operational?
>
> Thanx,
>
> Dave
>
>

-- 
A. Joseph Ross, J.D. · 1340 Centre Street, Suite 103 · Newton, MA 02459
617.367.0468 · http://www.attorneyross.com