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When Telecom unearthed its files on early private radio stations in Otago, it came up with more than dust and cobwebs. Radio New Zealand historian JIM SULLIVAN recounts the “fascinating stories” of the province’s radio station in the 1930s.

DUNEDIN was New Zealand’s “radio capital” in the early 1930s as it boasted more radio stations than any other city. Public radio was administered by the Broadcasting Board in Wellington and it had two Dunedin stations 4YA and 4YO.

RADIO – In the “Good Old Days”.

From “The N.Z. Radio Times” dated Wednesday, June 10, 1936.

Station 2AQ, Taihape, owned and operated by Morton W. Coutts, first came on the air in 1922, and in the following article Mr. W. T. Chappen tells of the thrills he experienced while using an old-time receiver during the years that 2AQ was transmitting.

With a view to suitably illustrating this article we delved deeply into dusty relics of bygone days and finally managed to unearth these sets, although we are still uncertain whether they were used in the stone age or for communication between Britain and Rome in the time of Julius Caesar.

The following are Frank’s cards courtesy of his son Bruce of Taieri Mouth near Dunedin.

Here are some tips on “Report Writing” from the March 1938 issue of “The N.Z. Radio Times.

The author is a very well known past NZRDXL member in the name of Merv Branks. Merv at this times was a very senior and well respected member of the “NZ DX Club”. For those that are unaware, Merv used the pseudonym “The Southlander” when writing to the newspapers and magazines of the day.

Report Hints by Mrev branks

Frank as well as belonging to the “NZ DX Club” was also a member “NZ DX RA”.

This is his actual “NZ DX RA” badge which is now in the possession of his son Bruce.

After his station 4ZO was closed by the Government, he took up occupation with the “New Zealand Broadcasting Service. The top of the photos below, shows Frank operating the NZBS mobile recording unit’s cutting lathe in 1948. He was the main technician involved in touring in this ex army truck “mobile recording unit” around Otago and Southland to interview some of the remaining pioneers about their lives on the goldfields and such. Son Bruce remembers it being parked at their place in Alison Crescent, Dunedin on the odd occasion. The vehicle had jacks at each corner to level it to enable the cutting lathe to operate.

The attached list is my attempt at trying to assemble a membership list for the NZ DX Club. It is only a partial list based on my limited access to copies of “The N.Z. Radio Times”.

I would like to extend this list for historical prosperity, so if any members have other copies of the “The N.Z. Radio Times” I would like to have a lend of them. They will be very well looked after and returned safely.

Bill Marsh – wmarsh@xtra.co.nz

DX Club Membership

An item from “The N.Z Radio Times” dated Tuesday, August 4, 1936.

This is an account of the winner of “The DX Challange Cup” a very sort after cup by members of the “NZ DX Club” in that time period. Note the receiver used and the tally of verifications. This was a period of record low sunspot activity when MW ruled supreme.

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