[CW] Don Wallace, W6AM (b. 1898- d. 1985)

[Chris R. NW6V]

I lived, literally, across the street from Don's antenna farm for a couple
of years.


On Sun, Jul 21, 2024 at 12:53 PM D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:

> 40 years ago Don Wallace, W6AM (b. 1898- d. 1985), was interviewed in 1984
> by Wayne Overbeck, N6NB, for the PBS series, "Radio Collector." The
> interview takes place at Radio Ranch in Palos Verdes, CA, and shows Don's
> shack and antenna farm. The property is likely a condo farm today. The
> California Historical Radio Society, CHRS, is presenting this uncut
> interview. Don had 6 beams for Australia alone! He switches them with the
> switch that controls relay switching. On the air since 1910 until his
> death. Don had 14 rhombic antennas. 61 telephone poles supported his
> antennas, scattered around 120 acres. Another 110 poles carried the
> feedlines to the antennas. https://www.qsl.net/ne6i/w6am/
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5iVb-3MHEY His QSL card shows the
> rhombic layout.
> Press Wireless, an overseas radio communications company, bought 100 acres
> in the 1920s and set up a receiving station. The gently sloping hilltop,
> without a house in sight, was considered ideal for the station because of
> its 1,200-foot elevation.
> Don C. Wallace helped the company choose the site and in 1945 bought the
> property from Press Wireless, along with an additional 20 acres. It already
> was dominated by the company’s commercial transmission poles, but Wallace
> brought in a large crane and reset all of them. “At one time,” said his
> son, “there were 45 miles of wire in the air.” [image: w6am-00631-sk7.jpg]
> [image: w6am1.jpg]
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> =30=
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