Matthew Halton CBC HUW acetate record equipment???

[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

[Bruce MacMillan]

Lt-Col. (retd) Doug Gayton was OIC of the Canadian Army broadcast service for the CAOF. He has put together some interesting info and some great equipment shots of the studios in occupied Europe. I think the CBC used similar stuff. He mentions having a couple of 8cwts. I've compiled a pdf of the info and can email it to anyone who's interested. It's about 3.6Mb in size.

[David Dunlop]

Just another quick thought re CBC Winnipeg, Rob.

Maybe touch base with Lorne E. His Dad worked there the same time Peter was with the Saskatoon branch and they might still know some contacts to check with on the old equipment.

Now I must nap!!!

Cheers,

David

[Rob Fast]

a Hup/Huw???

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Rob Fast

a Hup/Huw???

Hi Rob

I believe that all of the small mobile CBC units where HUP(s) though they also had a Pattern 11 Ford 30 or 60 "Big Betsy" which was the first truck they shipped over seas. The also used various commercial vehicles until they settled on the HUP as being the most practical.

The photo is believed to be Recording Unit -4 which seems to be the most photogenic of the trucks.

Rob and any body else that is interested in the CBC radio correspondents and their equipment the best book is Powley, A.E., Broadcast From the Front: Canadian Radio Overseas in the Second World War (Toronto: Hakkert, 1975). (Which appears on e-bay and other book dealers.)

Cheers Phil