The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Here's the WCAU Model AA Ford Remote Truck along the East River Drive (now Kelly Drive) broadcasting the scull races along the Schuykill River in the 1930's.

Technician Ray Stahl is seen operating the remote amplifier sitting on the running board. Note the name on the side of the truck is WCAU Broadcasting & Amplifying Company. Ray came to WCAU from the Bell Telephone Company. He started in February of 1930, and retired in November of 1962. He passed away in April of 1970.

Broadcast Pioneers member Charlie Higgins said, "During my tenure there Ray was the Audio Maintenance Supervisor. He had been in the Air Corp in WWI but I do not know in what capacity he served."

We have no idea the time frame of this shot, but we do know that it was in the thirties. So for lack of a better date, we'll call it 1935 (right in the middle). Can anyone date it better? Does anyone know when they stopped calling it WCAU Broadcasting & Amplifying Company?

Broadcast Pioneers member and former long-time tech at WCAU, Charlie Higgins writes...

An e-mail from Ray Stahl, the technician's son, said: I just came on your photo of the old WCAU Blue Truck. I remember the truck being parked in our back yard...in North Hills, PA. I believe that Dad was going with it to the Sleepy Hollow Ranch in Milford Township for a remote broadcast.... I remember many photo's that my mother kept in scrapbooks for Dad.... There were quite a number of photos of the F.D.R. Innaguration in Washington D.C. I remember many happy days visiting with my Dad at 1622 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.