WWT was a radio broadcasting station in Buffalo, New York, licensed to McCarthy Brothers & Ford from March 25, 1922 until its deletion on October 2, 1922.
History
Although most early radio transmissions were in Morse code, Buffalo was the site of some early audio experiments, including a broadcast of election results by Charles C. Kilnek Jr. on November 2, 1920."'News' Wireless Service on Election Wins Praise", Buffalo Evening News, November 4, 1920, page 2.
Effective December 1, 1921, the Department of Commerce, which regulated U.S. radio at this time, adopted regulations formally defining "broadcasting stations". The wavelength of 360 meters (833 kHz) was designated for entertainment broadcasts, while 485 meters (619 kHz) was reserved for broadcasting official weather and other government reports."Miscellaneous: Amendments to Regulations", Radio Service Bulletin, January 3, 1922, page 10.
The Buffalo Courier and Enquirer was issued a temporary authorization for 360 meters, with the call sign WPU, for a January 22, 1922 broadcast."Jazz by Wireless Concert Feature", Buffalo Courier, January 21, 1922, page 8. Although this account states that the station's call sign was "WPN", it was actually "WPU" according to the Department of Commerce records. (WPN had already been assigned to a ship named Pioneer according to the annual station lists, while WPU was still unused and available for assignment.) Employing apparatus "furnished by the Federal Telephone & Telegraph Co.", the WPU transmission originated from McCarthy Brothers & Ford, and after a successful broadcast, company officials were quoted that "The concert is a proof of the practical success of the wireless telephone.""Wireless Phone Success Proven", Buffalo Courier, January 23, 1922, page 7.
On March 25, 1922, McCarthy Brothers & Ford was issued its own license, for Buffalo's second non-temporary broadcasting station, with the randomly assigned call letters WWT, transmitting on 360 meters."New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, April 1, 1922, page 2. Limited Commercial license, serial #555, issued March 25, 1922, for a three month period to the McCarthy Brothers & Ford in Buffalo, New York, for 360 meters. The station made its debut broadcast starting at 3:00 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922."Buffalo Station Announces Opening", Buffalo Evening News, April 10, 1922, page 6.
In early July, the station was reported to have suspended operations for the summer."Questions and Answers", Buffalo Evening News, July 6, 1922, page 22. WWT was deleted on October 2, 1922."Alterations and corrections: Strike out all particulars", Radio Service Bulletin, November 1, 1922, page 8. (Entry's call sign is mislabelled as "WMT")
See also List of initial AM-band station grants in the United States
Notes
References