Matthew Halton CBC HUW acetate record equipment???

[Rob Fast]

I don't know if this has been hashed out before on previous threads? What kind of recording instrument did Halton use out of his HUP/HUW? A Presto cutting unit? Phil, can you help me out here? Cheers Rob

http://www.televar.com/grshome/Presto2.html

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Rob

Yes CBC, ABC, and even BBC used some Presto equipment, look at my web page which has some information and links to other sources http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/CBCandBBC.html and http://canadianmilitarypattern.com/CBCandBBCinWWII.html. Now if your question is which model Presto thats going to take some researching.

I'm collecting information on Presto equipment of 1940's and 1950's. Presto was one of the big manufuactures of recording equipment. The US Navy equiped ships with disk recording equipment to record messages both Allied and Axis.

I'm also collecting Presto equipment which would have been in my truck. Recently I came across equipment list from BBC during WWII that listed them as having bought Presto Equipment. On the basis of this information I am willing to bet that my HUP would have been equiped with Presto gear.

Cheers Phil

[Rob Fast]

keep us up to date on Presto models that might have been in your truck. Someone here in Manitoba gave me a call and said he had a complete unit that was passed down from his father. . I have yet to see it, but I will be in touch. Cheers Rob

[Rob Fast]

This Presto unit and pieces never panned out. I would love to see a pic of Haltons HUP interior in Italy. Has anyone here ever talked to his son David, a big time CBC news reporter, now retired I believe? Cheers Rob

[David Dunlop]

Hello Rob.

When Peter Ford was still alive and working with CBC, he had been tempted to pick up the old HUW that used to be pretty complete out in Sprague, MB. It was the same model as was used by the CBC overseas. Apparently the CBC studio in Winnipeg had a very nice 'accumulation' as he put it, of the equipment that was used in these vehicles during the war, that was just sitting in the bowels of the building gathering dust. He mentionned wire recorders and a bunch of other equipment that was all Greek to me at the time. He had approached the CBC Winnipeg crew with an idea that he could restore the HUW as a clone of one of the original units used overseas, if CBC Winnipeg would make the equipment they had available to kit the thing out.

Sadly, someone tipped the HUW over and stripped off the running gear before he could finalize the project. CBC may still have the equipment.

David

[Phil Waterman]

Hi David and Rob

I have been continuing to search for information on both the CBC, BBC, and ABC mobile recording equipment and their us of CMPs. Nothing major to report though I do need to update my web page with some bits a pieces of information that has come up.

As to your question about a picture of the inside of the Mobil Unit No 4 which is the one that Halton used on many occasions. No I have not found a picture yet, but I have hope that with the constant increase of photo and film archives that can be search on line I hope that it if it exists I'll find it.

There is some information about the fate of the CBC HUPs and equipment that turn up in the "The Sounds of War, Memoirs of a CBC Correspondent" by Peter Stursberg, I will try to get that posted soon.

I am attempting to contact David Halton's, Matthew Halton's son through a mutual friend to explore what information he might have and what information we might have to share with him.

Concerning my HUP, after 30+ years of driving my BBC HUP it is head into to the shop this winter for a down to the frame restoration and repaint. The engine on this truck has never been apart and though I hate to take it apart because it still runs so nice its oil consumption and oil leakage is getting to the point that it must be done. I'll put the time lapse camera on when I start the project and post the picture link.

Cheers Phil