1951
“Receiving you loud and clear.” Stewart Troy at Kaingaroa (northeast tip of Chatham Island) answers the 8 o’clock call from ZLC in 1951. Courtesy David Smith
Map: Chatham Islands Council
1954
A QSL card from Chatham Islands Radio ZLC confirming communication on 20 June 1954 with ZLEC, ZLEG, ZLBE, ZMW? and ZLDD. It is signed by station superintendent PJ (Pat) Columb. From the collection of Brian Webb who drew these cards, then sent them to various radio stations for validation.
1956
In December, radio operator Irwin Smith departed and Clyde Williams arrived from Wellington Radio ZLW.
[Read Clyde’s account of life in the Chatham Islands]
1957
Chatham Islands Radio ZLC in 1957
Chatham Islands Radio transmitters in 1957. At left are two 250W NZPO 351 AM/CW units made by RCA, and the dark unit in the centre appears to be a Collier & Beale 277 75-watt CW transmitter, then a lighter-coloured Collier & Beale 4225 ‘trawler set’ transmitter/receiver for MF.
At Chatham Islands Radio in 1957, adults L-R: Pat Columb (Supt), Doug Condell, Clyde Williams, Nancy Columb and Bill Riley. Photo courtesy Clyde Williams
1958
Radio operator Dave Smith at Chatham Islands Radio ZLC in 1958
In April, radio operator Clyde Williams left ZLC and returned to Wellington Radio ZLW.
1965
A telephone terminal with privacy system was installed.
Telephone terminal of the type installed by Don Nicol at Chatham Islands Radio in 1965. Now at the Ferrymead museum. Photo 2016 Alex Glennie
Until 1965, maintenance and repairs at Chatham Islands Radio were carried out by the Christchurch Radio Depot or, in emergencies, by the resident Superintendent of the station.
My appointment to the Chathams as the first resident Radio Technician in 1965 was instigated mainly by Norman Kirk MP (later Prime Minister) who had promised Chatham Islanders that they would be able to ring up New Zealand and overseas from their home phones. Previously such calls could only be made from Waitangi Post Office or the radio station, a couple of kilometres distant.
On arrival, I installed a new single-sideband transmitter and terminal equipment, which involved major reconstruction at the radio station.
Any call destined for New Zealand was transferred from the Telephone Exchange at Waitangi to this terminal at the radio station, and connected to the appropriate transmitter at the station.
The initial setting up of the daily service to New Zealand was carried out at the terminal before connecting up the telephone operator and the local person making the call.
This terminal equipment had a 5-band privacy system which enabled privacy on all calls. With earlier equipment, residents were able to listen to phone calls on their short-wave radios.
To my knowledge, this equipment was also installed in the Stout Street Exchange in Wellington, and may have been supplied to other island circuits such as Rarotonga.
The last time I saw the equipment in a similar position was at the Waikanae Post Office, which had been transformed into a Post Office technical museum, but I do not know if it still exists.
– Don Nicol
Part of the documentation with the telephone terminal at Ferrymead museum. Given that ‘Chatham Islands’ is not on the list, this unit may have come from there.
Photo 2016 Alex Glennie
1968
John Brennan operating radiotelegraph at Chatham Islands Radio ZLC in 1968. The faithful Imperial typewriter is close at hand. John joined ZLC in June 1966. Photo: Allan Burgess
In the photo above you can see the radphones console, 121.5MHz air radio, RT to the telephone techs Rover, ITO morse receivers, with John Brennan in the hotseat. Behind John is the telephone exchange switchboard and further to the right the 2182 kHz console. It could get ‘interesting’ in that hotseat I can tell you!
– Allan Burgess (Feb 2019)
Great to read Don. Fond memories from 1968 when I relieved you for a few weeks. Hope more historical info comes forward