AmateurRadio.com

Take a step back in time to November 26, 1928, and take a look at what was then described as the biggest and costliest Coast Guard vessel of its era. The photograph shows the state of the art radio room aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Chelan. At the time this photo was taken, she was the newest cutter in the service, proudly anchored at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C.

Coast Guard Cutter Chelan

Constructed at a staggering cost of approximately $1,000,000 (1928 Dollars), the Chelan proved her incredible value right out of the gate. On her maiden trip, she picked up a desperate SOS signal and successfully towed a disabled schooner 1,500 miles to safety. This remarkable feat stood as a record tow for the service.

Chelan was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts, on 14 November 1927 and launched on 19 May 1928. She was commissioned into U.S. Coast Guard service as USCGC Chelan on 5 November 1928.

Turbo-electric cutter, Lake-class (250-footers), built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, MA, at cost of $900,000 (hull & machinery), launched 19 May 1928, commissioned 5 September 1928, 2,075 tons displacement, 250ft long x 42ft beam x 12ft 11in draft, 17.5kts, armed with 1-5in/1-3in/2-6pdr (1929), 97 crew (1940).

The USCGC Chelan (WPG-45) was a 250-foot Lake-class cutter belonging to the United States Coast Guard, launched in 1928. Best known for its extensive operations in Alaska and a dramatic 1937 North Atlantic rescue, the ship was transferred to Great Britain during World War II.

Sitting at the operator station is Ensign Leslie B. Tollaksen. Tollaksen would go on to have a highly decorated military career, eventually serving as a Lieutenant Commander in World War II where he commanded a naval frigate, the USS Moberly, that helped sink a German submarine in the final days of the Atlantic naval war.

We see Tollacksen in the photo above as a fresh ensign aboard USCGC Chelan. From a genealogy page:

Tollaksen “attended the University of Washington for two years before going and graduating from the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. He graduated from The USCG Academy in the Class of 1927, a year early to man the ships chasing down rum runners.

As a young Lieutenant, he was assigned to the US Coast Guard HQ in Washington, DC. He helped establish “Radio Washington” the telegraph station on Telegraph Road in Washington, DC, and also served as Aid to the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. (At that time, his sister worked in the typing pool for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s White House).

Leslie Bliss Tollaksen (1903 – 1973), Also nown as,”Tolley”
Birthdate: April 13, 1903, Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington, United States. Death:1973 (69-70), Fort Lauderdale, Broward, Florida, United States

Leslie, about 1937 was the first US Coast Guard Officer selected for Post Graduate School at MIT.

Leslie, during WWII, and in command of the USS Moberly, sank the LAST German U-Boat U-853. U-8533 was a Type IXC/40 U-Boat, and lays on the bottom off Block Island…”

For history and technology buffs, the equipment in this radio room is absolutely fascinating. In 1928, maritime communication was undergoing a major technological revolution. Global maritime operations were beginning to phase out the older, notoriously noisy spark gap transmitters. Instead, the Chelan was outfitted with modern continuous wave vacuum tube technology. This room housed three powerful transmitters and three highly sensitive receiving sets.

If you look closely at the right side of the image, you can see the large glass vacuum tubes safely housed behind protective metal mesh doors. These power tubes allowed operators to transmit signals on specific, sharply tuned frequencies, reaching much further out to sea without causing interference for other ships. The tall black panels are also loaded with large rheostat dials for tuning, as well as precise ammeters and voltmeters to monitor the high voltages running through the system.

Meanwhile, Ensign Tollaksen has his hand positioned near a traditional straight telegraph key to send out Morse code. The receiver units he operated likely utilized regenerative or early superheterodyne circuits, giving operators the incredible sensitivity needed to hear faint SOS calls through heavy atmospheric static. It was exactly this kind of cutting edge machinery that allowed the crew to hear the distress call that led to their record breaking rescue!

USCGC Chelan was a Lake-class cutter belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 19 May 1928 and commissioned on 5 September 1928. After 13 years of service to the Coast Guard, she was transferred to the Royal Navy as part of the Lend-Lease Act, and named HMS Lulworth (Y60). During the war Lulworth served in a convoy Escort Group for Western Approaches Command. She returned to the U.S. Coast Guard after World War II.

USCGC Chelan was a Lake-class cutter belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 19 May 1928 and commissioned on 5 September 1928. After 13 years of service to the Coast Guard, she was transferred to the Royal Navy as part of the Lend-Lease Act, and named HMS Lulworth (Y60). During the war Lulworth served in a convoy Escort Group for Western Approaches Command. She returned to the U.S. Coast Guard after World War II.

Read more about this vessel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Chelan.

In the classic educational film titled “Electronics at Work,” produced by Westinghouse in 1943, viewers are introduced to the fascinating world of vacuum tubes. This film highlights the crucial role these devices played in both military and commercial sectors, including radio telecommunications, radar, and various industrial applications. The narrative suggests that vacuum tubes provided the United States with a significant advantage during World War II, particularly in enhancing communication and technology.

The Continuing Relevance of Vacuum Tubes

Despite advances in technology, vacuum tubes remain in use today for several applications, including:

– Transmitting radios
– Medical devices
– Audio amplification systems
– High-frequency applications

Understanding Vacuum Tubes

The film outlines the six basic functions of electronic tubes and illustrates how each type is employed in different industrial and military contexts.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ6rN7WEjbc[/embedyt]

Structure of a Vacuum Tube

A vacuum tube typically consists of two or more electrodes housed within a vacuum inside an airtight enclosure. Key features include:

– Electrode Types: Most vacuum tubes have glass envelopes, although some utilize ceramic or metal casings with insulating bases.

– Leads and Sockets: The electrodes connect to leads that pass through the envelope via an airtight seal. These leads often take the form of pins, allowing for easy replacement in a tube socket, as tubes were a common point of failure in electronic devices.

– Capacitive Design: Some tubes feature a top cap on the electrode to minimize interelectrode capacitance, enhancing high-frequency performance and maintaining safety by separating high voltages.

The Evolution of Vacuum Tubes

The earliest vacuum tubes emerged from incandescent light bulbs, which contained a heated filament sealed in an evacuated glass envelope. When heated, the filament releases electrons into the vacuum through a process known as thermionic emission.

– Electrode Functionality: A second electrode, known as the anode or plate, attracts these electrons if it holds a more positive voltage. This mechanism results in a flow of electrons from the filament (cathode) to the plate, creating an electric field due to the potential difference between them.

– Diode Function: A vacuum tube with two electrodes is termed a diode, which functions as a rectifier. Diodes allow current to flow in only one direction, converting alternating current (AC) into pulsating direct current (DC). This technology is widely used in DC power supplies and in demodulating amplitude-modulated (AM) radio signals.

Film Availability and Production Details

This film is available in the public domain under Creative Commons, and it can be accessed through the Library of Congress Prelinger Archives. The film has been edited and converted to HD quality for better viewing. Introductory and closing music is provided by Nero 10, with commercial use rights granted.

This film not only serves as an educational tool but also highlights the enduring legacy of vacuum tube technology in the realm of electronics, illustrating its significant contributions to both past and present technological advancements.

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