fyi..., brings tears to my eyes...Laurence (ex BT International!)
BT has dismantled and delivered a unique piece of engineering history to its
final resting place in Wiltshire - an example of 'one BT' in action.
A BT Global Service team of six engineers - led by Rugby radio station
manager Stan Francis - undertook the task of dismantling the giant tuning
coil at BT's Rugby radio station.
It was then moved from Rugby to the Science Museum Wroughton, Wiltshire -
arranged by Phil Buch of Supply Chain Partners - and made possible by BT's
internal logistics distribution network. "The sheer size and awkwardness of
the coil made this an interesting logistical move," Phil said.
The dismantling and transfer to the Science Museum was co-ordinated by BT
archives as part of the company's heritage <http://www.bt.com/archives>
strategy - BT's commitment to safeguarding its heritage on behalf of the
nation.
The spectacular wooden and copper structure - measuring eight metres long
and 11 metres high - used to fulfil a key role in radio communications. The
structure resembles an enormous spider's web and comprises six copper coils
measuring five metres each in diameter - and each weighing 350 kilograms.
The coil was part of the tuning circuit used to tune the antenna to the
right operational wavelength - and carried up to 1,000 amps of radio
frequency current, before being decommissioned in March 2003.
The original tuning coil was destroyed during a fire in 1943 but was
replaced because of its vital importance to the war effort. It is this
replacement coil that is being donated to the Science Museum - one of BT's
partners in its Connected Earth <http://www.connected-earth.com> heritage
initiative.
BT's head of corporate memory David Hay said: "It played a significant
'behind the scenes' role during the second world war when it enabled
communications with the Royal Navy and other shipping interests - and with
the French Resistance. This vital role continued during and following the
Cold War - when encrypted data was transmitted to ships and submarines."
Head of global corporate social responsibility Janet Blake said: "We are
delighted to donate such an important part of telecomms history to the
science museum. It will enable future generations to understand the
equipment used in the early days of radio technology, to appreciate the
speed of change in this technology to where we are today and start to
imagine what the telecomms technology of the 21st century will become. The
coil is a key part of world history."
More information and pictures can be found on the 24 Hour Museum website
<http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART25484.html>.
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