Recollections of William Hope, W2EWT (SK)

Above: SS City of Detroit III ( WNCN) docking at Detroit, MI (1933) –
This was a paddle boat that sailed between Buffalo NY and Detroit MI.

All photos by Bill Hope and supplied through
the courtesy of his son Bob Hope

Bill Hope using a bug in the SS Greater Detroit radio room

Bill Hope W8EWT at the key in the SS Greater Detroit (WSBI) Radio Room (1933)
The receiver is an RCA IP501-A

In the mid-1930s Lake freighters all used spark transmitters but passenger boats were not allowed to do so and used modulated transmitters.

The pilot house portion of the radio direction finder on the SS Greater Detroit

Direction Finder in the SS Greater Detroit (WSBI) Pilot House

Big open rack with two large meters at the top and a number of knife switches and other gear below

“SS Greater Detroit” – Relay rack battery charging panel for emergency-
power batteries. Motor generator shown below - (1933)

The 3 ft. high spark transmitter at the rear has two large meters at the top and assorted controls below. The KDWA callsign is painted on the wall.

Str. Standard Portland Cement Radio Room. Has “Wireless Specialty”
quenched-spark transmitter. Note double row of quenched spark-gaps
on front panel at lower end. Gaps could be cranked in or out to
change power. Was a very late model. A sleeping bunk for the
operator was just to the left. (1935)

Only the operator is visible through the radio room doorway.

“SS Western States” leaving Chicago - Radio room was very small - just room
to get inside to operate - Svend Gormsen - Senior Operator (1933)

Two radio operators on deck with the bottom of one of the ship's stacks in the background.

Old-timer Senior Ship Operator on City of Detroit III (WNCN)
radio ham Charles Leonhardt “8QD” is on the left.
Bill Hope, W8EWT is on the right. (1933)

Three radio operators on deck with the bottom of one of the ship's stacks in the background.

Three Wireless Operators on “D & C line”
Taken on the top deck in 1933. Upper left - Unknown,
Upper right - Bill Hope, Lower right - Svend Gormsen(?)

A 4 ft. high black box with two meters and assorted controls showing.

WNCN “City of Detroit III” – Front view of RCA
Transmitter (4 50 watt tubes in parallel) –
For 410 Kc, 415 Kc & 425 Kc - (1933)

Side view on the transmitter. Hard to make out the details.

WNCN “City of Detroit III” – Side view of
RCA Transmitter (1933)

WSBI “Greater Detroit” – Chief Operator Peterson.
“Pete” was a genuine midget at 4’-4” (1933)

W2EWT - SHIP SERVICE RECORD AS A GREAT LAKES SHIP RADIO OPERATOR
Name of Ship	Callsign	Time Period
Greater Detroit	WSBI	July 1, 1933	Aug. 2, 1933
City of Detroit III	WNCN	Aug. 3, 1933	Sept 20, 1933
George H Ingalls	KFTO	Sept 26, 1933	Nov. 15, 1933
George F Rand	KFCT	May 4, 1934	Sept 17, 1934
George H Ingalls	KFTO	Sept 27, 1934	Oct. 5, 1934
Theodore H Wickwire	KDZC	June l8, 1935	July 12, 1935
Standard Portland Cement	KDWA	July 12, 1935	July 25, 1935
John J Boland	KDWB	July 25, 1935	Sept 18, 1935
Thunder Bay Quarries	KDUL	Apr. 13. 1938	Dec. 2, 1938
Consumers Power	KDUB	May 8, 1939	May 14, 1939
U S Gypsum	KDUL	May l4, 1939	Dec. 8, 1939
J F Schoellkopf Jr.	KFCJ	Apr. 12, 1940	Dec. 3, 1940

Front of Bill Hope's FCC Second Class Radio Telegraph License.

Back of Bill Hope's FCC Second Class Radio Telegraph License.

Here's Bill Hope at his ham rig in early 2006. He is in fair health (for 94), and is on the air almost everyday (mostly on 2 meters) from his home in Buffalo. However, see p.s. below.

William Hope, W2EWT
March 2006

E-Mail to William's son Bob
Reconstruct the E-Mail address: bob-at-rbhope-dot-ca

p.s. Bob Hope recently reported (01/2007) that William Hope passed away on 12/25/2006.

Back to the Radio Officers Page