Here's a batch of letterhead I found in the attic at KODL The Dalles during the time I worked there (1974-1986). Some of them are really amazing.
KALE
KBKR-KLBM-KSRV
KBND\
KEX - Westinghouse
KFXD
KGW-KEX The Oregonian
KLBM
KOIN
KOMO
KOOS
KOOS-KVAN-KLBM
KOPR
KPQ
KRPL
KUJ-KRLC

These are really fun to see and read. Never knew the slogan for KBKR until now: The Oregon Trail Station. Thanks!

I've had a problem viewing a few letters which have been moved it says? They are:

KEX
KFXD
KOMO
KOOS-KVAN-KLBM
KUJ-KRLC

My neighbor has a KEX zWestinghouse matchbook!!! more stuff to collect!!!!

Oops! Probably shouldn't have tried to do so many at once. Let's try them a couple at a time:

KEX
KFXD

Oops! Probably shouldn't have tried to do so many at once. Let's try them a couple at a time:

KEX
KFXD

Dang! Sorry about the double post.
KOMO
KOOS-KVAN -KLBM

And these:
KUJ-KRLC
KBKR-KLBM-KSRV

Those are some pretty neat old letterheads and messages....thanks for posting!

These were a hoot to read. Thanks for posting them.

Yes that did the trick, we can see them now. I've sent links to Ron Kramer. The KOMO is really Super with the tower!

If your wondering what a Magnecorder is?

Here the Wikipedia entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_recording

Another great web site
http://www.recording-history.org/index.php

Re the Maggie, $550 in 1950 = about $5000 today.

The PT-6 series:
overview: http://www.vidipax.com/museum/msm15.html
technical: http://www.qx13.net/Magnecorder/index.htm
advert: http://reel2reeltexas.com/vinAd51Mag01.jpg

(The site I use for its CPI calculator is down at the moment; not surprising for the wee hours on a weekend. My bookmark is http://minneapolisfed.org/Research/data/us/calc)

The batwing antennas depicted on the tower are a puzzler for the date. Perhaps there was a KOMO-FM (which isn't noted in the letterhead) or maybe it was shown in anticipation of post-freeze TV (I notice they were already in the 4th Ave studios, which I think were built for TV).

I enjoyed the scans. While the letters resemble emails of today in purpose and tone, remember someone took them down from dictation to type. Only two had isolated strikeovers aside than the personal letter, and I didn't spot any erasures. Half an hour or longer went into the preparation of each one; such was the formality and cost of routine biz communications back in the day.

These were certainly reminders of a "Jurassic era" in just about everything in the 1940s. Just imagine a world where you have to use snail mail and typewriters with no spell check ! Or grammar check for that matter, in the case of one of those letters ! And just think, a station manager taking the time our of his day and the time for his secretary to type a memo over aquiring a $15.50 dollar phone line switching and bridging charge collected from a sponsor.

Quite interesting ...

The Magnecorders work the workhorse of the industry in the 1950s. They were easy to thread and worked well for running recorded commercials on small reels. While simple and basic, they didn't have a great frequency response.

The stations with lots of money went for Ampex.

I relied on three "Maggies" in the rack in the KTW control room in Seattle up until I left for college in 1970. Great machines, very reliable. They must have been in production for a very long time.

BTW the view out the 15th floor of the Northern Life Tower building (now the Seattle Tower) at 3rd and University included the KXA dipole strung between two black stubby towers on the roof of what I think was the old Rhode's Department Store.

KXA's wire antenna baffled me when I spotted it in 1983 from up in the Rainier Bank Tower. I first thought it must have been an old coastal harbor (marine-band) antenna due to its proximity to Elliott Bay and looking about the right length for 2mHz.

When I discovered there was a radio station in what was then called the Arcade Building, meaning the wire was probably still in use for broadcasting, I was amazed. It must have been 50+ years old then, and probably remained standing until the block was redeveloped after I left Seattle.

In the mid-80s KXA tried, among other things, an all-new wave format.

Thanks to all, and to Brooks, thanks for the KXA mention, because that segues into what I was going to post next. I ended up with some vintage items following a trip to the station circa late 70s, early 80s, when the company I worked for in The Dalles had a connection.
Some of these have no date on them so I'm guessing age by style, starting with the oldest.

KXA 1940s?
KXA 1953
KXA 1959 rate card outside
KXA 1959 rate card inside
KXA 1960s?
KXA 1971 comparison
KXA 1977
KXA 1978?

A couple of other KXA tidbits. On that trip to Seattle, I had a chance to visit the transmitter site, which i remember as on the top of a building. There was one area where old equipment was stored, and I saw my first and only wire recorder. Wish I had talked them out of the old thing just for it's coolness quotient.

Also I recall that KXA of the era was union, so that every time an announcer recorded a commercial, he got $5 or so. I remember thinking how much dough I would be rolling in if KODL had been a union station at the time...

Seguedad
In January 1978 you QSL'd KODL for me and also sent along a nice bunch of letterheads (I lived in Astoria then). I don't recall if I thanked you then, but I'm thanking you now. I still have and enjoy them.

Their trek to the west side and back (mid-50s to mid-60s) is intriguing. Same xmtr site downtown thru those years?

(Oops, just checked a map, it was W of Seattle Center, not West Seattle. So perhaps they had a transmitter operator downtown?)

Shipwreck, you are more than welcome. Part of the joy in having been in radio is sharing freely when someone else shows an interest.

Jeffreykopp, I'm sorry i can't remember for sure whether to visit the transmitter we simply went upstairs or whether we went to another building. Scary to think that visit is pushing 30 years ago now.

What a fascinating look at vintage logos and practices by our broadcast elders. Thanks for posting Segue-dadio!

I recall the KXA-AM 770 towers and transmitter on top of the Rhodes building in downtown Seattle between 1st & 2nd avenue, Union & University streets (now the Seattle Art museum). In mid-1984, we programmed it with a standards format and I remember wanting to get over to the transmitter to take pictures and assess the history. It had a great 1,000 watt (?) signal with the long wire strung horizontally between two towers. The writing was on the wall, that it wouldn't be there much longer. Regrettably, I never got a chance to see it again and with the ownership changes, etc... I don't think C.E. Dwight Small got to salvage much of that precious history before it all fell to the wrecking ball.

The KXA studio address changes according to the psrba site:

1928 Bigelow Building, Suite 218.
1936 Bigelow Building, Suite 312.
1952 320 Second Ave. W.
1975 1307 Second Ave.
1982 1305 Third Ave.
1984 4020 Madison Ave. E., Suite 200.
1986 22222 Marine View Drive, Tacoma.
1990 15375 S.E. 30th Place, Bellevue.
_______________________________________________________________

The Rhodes building has a long radio history.

The Rhodes Department Store transmitter site atop the building dates back to the Rhodes station KDZE in 1922. In 1925 stations KDZE & KFOA merged as KFOA. Then in 1928 KFOA became KOL. KOL moved off the Rhodes building in 1934. In 1936 KIRO moved its transmitter to the Rhodes building and stayed until 1941. KXA then moved to the site later 1941 and it became KRPM in 1986. KRPM moved off the Rhodes building in 1990.

Information from the psrba site.

Seguedad: You mentioned the union. The AFTRA union was in place at many Seattle stations well into the 80's. Not sure about Portland.

I remember working at KIXI-FM in 1982-84, and yes, any spot that had our voice on it and ran OUTSIDE our shift, we would get paid extra for.
Those were the days!

Hmm, wonder why the union fizzled. Perhaps deregulation had something to do with that.

Would you believe I'm still scanning and uploading letterhead?

Here's a smattering of Eugene:

KBDF Hot Air 1975 Side A
KBDF Hot Air 1975 Side B
KUGN-KBZY-KUMA 1970
KUGN Obie
KPNW 1976

I think I've been spoiled after seeing your stationery collection from the 40's & 50's.

Darn! Missed one more. This from a KEED road rally that I actually took part in. It was a tricky navigational rally. I've unfortunately lost the driving route sheet, but I remember one of the clues was "Turn left on street named for second assassinated president." Some drivers missed the "second" and turned on Lincoln instead of Garfield. Much fun, and it ended at a tavern were vast quantities of beer were consumed amid the bragging. This was during the era when the late Gordon Scott, Jeff Murray and Doc - was it Rivers? were some of the jocks.

KEED instruction sheet
KEED rally plaque

Thanks for the compliment, Craig. I'll add a few more tonight and get back to scanning. Every once in a while, being a packrat, lugging this big box around for years, actually pays off.

More Portland stuff
KLIQ
KLSC 1976
KWJJ 1967
KXL 1982

>>Doc - was it Rivers?

Doc Holiday, later known in Portland as Tom Moore, Tom Franklin... I guess I need to post this on the Personalities AKA thread.

Thank you for posting the Eugene material.

Thanks, Craig. I just wasn't coming up with that name. Sorry it took me a week to get back here.

Here's some fresh old stuff. Items below include letterhead with text, plain letterhead, playlists, copy paper, etc. but with station logos.

Washington stations:

KALE 1975
KAPS
KAYO
KBFW
KENE 1972
KGA
KGAR 1978
KGAR 1979
KIRO 1958
KOMW
KQIN
KREW 1973
KTAC 1980
KTOY Christmas poem
KUEZ
KUGR 1980
KYAC

I wonder how the KIRO CONELRAD test went on December 29, 1958 and if KXA participated at 1:05am.

There seems to be a problem viewing the KOMW link.

Hi, Craig. Typo in that URL, see http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b75/Hometownboy/KOMW.jpg

KIRO's street address on that 1957 letter is the (FM/TV) transmitter.

Seguedad, since I'm a lifelong Gresham boy, do you have any old KRDR, either from their early "popular" format era ("Radio 1-2-3" in the '50s to early '60s) or when they were country in the '70s and '80s? I've never been able to get my head around them being Spanish...

I believe KRDR was Country for its entire run, starting around the mid-60s but went to Top 40 at night for a few years.

Card Radio, KRDR began on June 6, 1963. Before that it was KGRO and played "Good Music".

I thought it was 1963 but didn't want to commit.

KRDR ran Top 40 from 7pm to 4am in the late 60s. Dan MacDonald started it off doing evenings, and eventually evolved into Chris Marx taking over 7-Midnight, and the late Mike Roberts Mid-4am. Probably a few I'm missing out that also played on "Radio 1-2-3"... The station remained country in the daytime hours.

For a while, Radio 1-2-3 was the only Top 40 competitor to KISN, aside from daytimer KGAR 1550.
I was an avid listener in SE Portland...

Oh, and before I forget...those examples of vintage radio stationery really bring back some memories...thanks for sharing!

Mark: Here's more of the "KRDR Bad Guys" Todd Dennis, Dick Jenkins & Stoner as Junior Rockaway.

Thanks for the clarification on the dates...I'm remembering a source from 1956 (Gresham Yellow Pages) that had a picture of a "Beatnik"-looking DJ wearing sunglasses promoting "Radio 1-2-3", but might be wrong on that. No format mention, but certainly not country. I wasn't aware of the call letter change. I"m going to chase down that phone book and check...

at 5:58 pm Porter Waggoner & Ferlin Huskey were on the turn tables...at 6pm...Jimi Hendrix and Led Zep were replacing them among all the top hits of the day thrown in. They were the BAD GUYS!

Edselehr: You must mean 1966 (Gresham Yellow Pages). In 1956 KGRO's slogan was "Sparkling Music".

Radioboy25: KRDR's Country side the DJ's were known as "The Card Country Gentlemen".

Thanks Craig...I checked the '56 Yellow pages I have, it's not there. Somewhere I have a '64 edition of the Outlook, and that is likely what I'm thinking of. (Wonder who the DJ was pictured in the ad?)

Edselehr, I wasn't sure I had anything, but I burrowed through the box and came up with this KRDR sticker.

While I was at it, I did a quick sort through the box for Oregon and Washington items, and lord, there are a bunch - letterhead, envelopes, rate cards, coverage maps, hit lists, bingo cards, presentation folders, other ephemera and loads of business cards.

There are good samplings from Idaho and California, as well and smatterings from the rest of the country, Canada and Australia.

It's going to take me a long, long time to scan the Northwest stuff and get it up for viewing, but that is definitely a long-term goal.

If anyone needs a high-resolution scan of any of the items, just let me know (email is footydad55@yahoo.com).

I truly am enjoying this board; wish I'd discovered it earlier.

And Markandrews, you are most welcome.

Whoa! Visual Flashback! Might be some old '73 Ford pickups around with a faded sticker like that on the tailgate.

Heck of a collection you have there - that ephemera is an important part of broadcast history.

Hey, just for fun I Googled "1230 KRDR" and got this interesting hit. They were actually a Top "50" station! (except I don't see the last ten...)

That seems reasonable since KISN had the Fabulous 50, later, Super Hit Survey and still later, KISN Goodguy 50, dropped to 30 in the early 70s.

OK, got some more - pretty much 70s and 80s stuff from the Eugene market this time.
Eugene combo coverage map
KASH all-news business card
KASH card front
KASH card back with secret price code
KBDF buck front
KBDF buck back
KBDF envelope
KEED 1450 business card A
KEED 1450 business card B
KEED 1600 Ems schedule 1985
KEED 1600 sticker
KNND business card
KPNW business card
KUGN business card
KUGN envelope
KWAX sticker
KWAX trifold outside
KWAX trifold inside

The KWAX trifold pamphlet is just one of the many interesting things here. This must have been a year or two before KWAX expanded to Bend with KWBX on 105.7.

I awakened in the middle of the night, realizing I said "Fabulous 50" when I meant to say "Fabulous 50 Hit Parade"!

New strategy. Rather than starting lots of separate threads, I'll just keep loading these scans here as a reference.

How about some Oregon coast radio?
KAST letterhead 1974
KBCH presentation folder cover
KBCH folder inside view
KBCH profile front
KBCH profile back
KBCH rate card 1965 front
KBCH rate card back
KBCH/KNPT 1976 rate card outside
KBCH/KNPT rate card inside

KNPT envelope
KNPT letterhead
KNPT business card
KOOS biz card/rate card 1974 outside
KOOS biz card/rate card inside
KTIL letterhead
KTIL sticker
KTDO business card
KWRO 1976 rate card front
KWRO rate card back
KVAS envelope

I was particularly taken with the KOOS business card that unfolded to reveal a mini rate card. I don't think I've run into it since. Anyone else seen anything similar?

The "KBCH rate card 1965 front" link didn't work, but after a little experimentation this one does:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b75/Hometownboy/KBCH1965ratecardfront.jpg

Thank you again for all your postings.

Thanks Randy. Rodger another interesting mix.

The "KBCH Profile Front" shows "Ken's Den" with Ken Lomax. Ken also worked at KYXI on air and I believe has worked for "The Oregon Historical Society" for at least the last 15 years.

The "KOOS Biz Card" features the old "ABC Radio" logo before the Network spit up into 4 services 1968.

My thanks as well, Randy. Most likely it's a cut-and-paste error on my part.

There will be plenty more to come, and i did run across a whole different notebook crammed with stickers, which will all eventually get there. Sheesh!

Finally got some time and went through the new notebook crammed with stickers and pulled out the Oregon ones. My strategy had been generally geographic, going through the regions in Oregon, then Washington and beyond. But this latest notebook contained mostly material from markets already covered, so here they are:
K97 is KPAM
KARadio 1480
KASH 16 red and white
KASH top banana
KBDF overlapping letters
KBDF red on yellow circle
KBZY cloud
KEED 1450 America we love you
KEED lower case
KFLY mini-sticker
KGAR guitar
KGON jagged font
KGW makes you feel good
KINK script font
KISN lips
KUGN 59 circle
KWJJ big country radio
The KYTE kite
KZEL artful letter fragments

An interesting bunch. I thought I'd seen all the K-Pam stickers. "The K97 is KPAM" combines two of their logos on one sticker. How often has any station used two logos on one sticker? I'm guessing very few, if any.

"KBDF overlapping letters" link has a problem.

OK, let's see if we can fix that:

KBDF overlapping letters

Also this bit of ephemera posted over in the Jim Bosley thread. In going through the album of stickers, this tape label from KUPL for some PSAs promoting the Open Heart Open showed The Boz in some pretty good company.
Boz, Der Bingle, et al

A lot of talent on that Reel box cover.

Here's the KRNS Burns logo:

http://userdoc.ancestry.com/userdocstore/download.ashx?fileid=0000f0ad-1001-0000 -0000-000000000000&mac=8CA6CAB2A11E80000000mNZhAMN6qk=.boards

Reading the KALE letter, I'm reminded how much I enjoy the way people used to speak and write. This was way, way before my time, but I think I would have fit in well. I often want to speak or write that formally, but it's so far removed from the way people communicate these days that I figure I should stick with more pedestrian language so that the formality doesn't stand out and cloud what I'm trying to communicate.

HERE is the KRNS Logo:

http://www.mediafire.com/?19ngyeiv9iv

Interesting style on the KRNS logo. I'm assuming that it's more recent than all of my stuff, which is, at a minimum, 22 years old.

The KRNS Logo will be 30 years old later this year

That might be true but KRNS signed on the air September 27, 1957.

The KRNS logo I posted was put into use in the fall of 1978. The GM contacted a local artist to come up with something, and this is what she delivered. We had tape box covers, press passes, t-shirts, etc made with this logo, and it was used for almost 4 years, until late 1982.

Oh, oh! Here he comes again, with some more scans.
Here are some from Southern Oregon:
KCMX envelope
KLAD biz card/bookmark
KMED AM/TV KTMT FM memo
KMED biz card
KMED Hot 'n Juicy Run certificate
KMED letterhead
KMED Rogue Valley As front
KMED Rogue Valley As back
KQIK letterhead
KRNR sticker
KRSB sticker
KYJC biz card
KYJC rate card outside
KYJC rate card inside

Seguedad: I sent your links to Ron Kramer in Ashland. He should get a kick out of them.

More excellent stuff...nice Jerry Allen KYJC biz card.

And now, some Eastern Oregon stations:
Inland Radio - KBKR/KSRV/KLBM
KBND One and Only sticker
KBND license plate sticker
KBND Christmas Club pitch
KFMT rate card
KPRB ad
KPRB biz card
KPRB envelope
KRCO envelope front
KRCO envelope back
KRNS envelope
KSJJ/KPRB sticker
KTIX white biz card folded
KTIX white biz card open
KTIX brown biz card folded
KTIX brown biz card open
KTIX vacation guide
KUMA letterhead
KUMA Mariners sticker
KWRC letterhead 1947

Another great bunch! My favorite is the license plate sticker: "I'm A Central Oregonian - KBND 11." That must have been a popular sticker I'm guessing.

Thanks, Craig.
I also ran into another batch of cards and a few stickers from various parts of the state:

KAGI biz card
KAGO biz card
KEX biz card
KGAR biz card closed
KGAR biz card unfolded
KGW biz card
KKEY biz card
KLIQ biz card
KOOS FM biz card
KPAM-KLSC biz card
KPDQ-KPDQ FM biz card
KQEN biz card
KSHA biz card
KTIL biz card
KXL biz card
KYTE biz card closed
KYTE biz card unfolded
KB101-KLLB sticker
KISN 15 year sticker
KWIP sticker

One interesting thing: several of the cards — KQEN, the KPAM half of the KPAM-KLSC card and KTIL — did not have any frequency listed. Wonder if that was an oversight or subtle bragging, as in "Everybody knows where to find US so we don't need to put our frequency on our card." Any thoughts?

This has been a trip! Where do I begin?

Greg Reed's KEX card is a highlight of the collection. I wonder if Gene Autry ever had a Golden West Broadcasters card made. MAN! That be fun to own.

The other card which was a real eye-opener for me is the KGAR foldout with the address of the studio & transmitter site. I've been trying to find that since I put together the KGAR history back in 2005. It was never listed in Vancouver phonebooks. The site 11550 N.E. 41st St. was where KGAR became full-time on December 24, 1976. This site was also later referred to as 1550 KVAN Way. I can now see how they got 1550 out of the original address, just take the first 1 away. The site is now part of SEH America, Inc. which has an entirely different address.

It was fun to see Brad Eaton's KKEY card with the classic Key logo.

The KQEN card has a crown on the "K". Does anyone think the idea of using a crown came from King Broadcasting?

It looks like KQEN was imaging as "Queen" which explains the crown.

Thanks for all of the great scans, Rodger!

Here's some vintage KQIV stationery

Wow! Nice set showing the evolution of KQIV designs. Way too many of us remember only too well when quad sound was the Next Big Thing. Thanks for sharing.

And, Craig, I appreciate all your comments, and happy to fill in a piece of the KGAR puzzle for you.

Wouldn't everybody like to have a Gene Autry Golden West card? And while you're at it, how about KJR cards for Frank Sinatra and Danny Kaye. Cards of celebrity owners would be a tough collection, but a very cool one.

Kq4: I never knew "Soul 107" also used "KQ4" as a slogan, interesting.

It's been a while, but I've been scanning some Washington stations. Let's start with some stickers:
KAPY Port Angeles
KPUG Bellingham
KING, Seattle
KHIT Walla Walla
KENE Toppenish
KZUN Opportunity
KXLE Ellensburg
KXA Seattle
KWWW Wenatchee
KVI Seattle

I suppose everyone already knows that the original owner of KQEN also owned KYNG in Coos Bay.

That's funny! "Sweet Sticky Thing, 63Z, Honey Radio."

Or how about these:

"Don't Tease The Bees, 63Z, Honey Radio."

"Sweet Sticky Fingers, 63Z, Honey Radio."

Man that KING sticker sure looks familiar.

Doesn't it though? I had one on the back of my '68 Ford Wagon, along with KJR and KTAC.

And some Washington business cards:

KBRC Mt. Vernon
KCKO Spokane
KCLX Colfax
KENE Toppenish
KEXI Walla Walla
KGA Spokane
KISM Bellingham
KITI Centralia-Chehalis
KONA Pasco
KOTY Kennewick

Take Two:

KEXI Walla Walla
KONA Pasco

As always, thank you for the postings.

Another batch
KOZI Lake Chelan
KTAC/KBRD Tacoma
KUEN Wenatchee
KUEZ Yakima
KVGM Yakima
KWWW Wenatchee version B
KWWW Wenatchee version A
KXA Seattle
KXLE Ellensburg
KXXR Spokane
KYYX Seattle

Thanks, Randy. Somehow, when I have a large list I'm cutting-and-pasting to, I manage to goober a couple of them. Your tech assist is most welcome.

Lots more to come, including a batch showing radio in the gorge.

Roger: Another great bunch! The Pat O'Day with O'Day Broadcasting of Washington (KYYX), I'd say would be very collectable if not now, later.

That particular card, I'm proud to say, I collected from the man himself at the NAB in Las Vegas in 1981. He was involved in the automation program package we were using at the time, and was very gracious in person.

And some Washington letterhead

KAPS Mt. Vernon
KBFW Bellingham
KGA Spokane
KOMW Okanagan
KPLU Tacoma
KREW Sunnyside
KTAC Tacoma
KTOY Tacoma
KUGR Pullman
KVI Seattle

The 1973 KREW letter is interesting. I wonder how much FCC trouble they were in.

And some Washington potpourri:

KALE Tri Cities playlist
KAYO Seattle copy paper
KENE Toppenish pitch sheet
KEZE Spokane profile
KING Seattle rate card front
KING Seattle rate card back
KUTI Yakima rate card
KUEZ Yakima coverage map
KUUU Seattle print ad
KWSU Pullman promo copy
KWWW Wenatchee pitch sheet
KYAC Seattle playlist

KYMN QSL 1964:

http://marscan.com/qslkymn.jpg

KSLM QSL 1964:

http://marscan.com/qslkslm.jpg

Hey Seguedad, where did you come up with a Dan King KITI biz card?? Dan was one of our first sales guys when we put the station on the air in 1977. That card was the original design that Derek Shannon came up with. He sketched it on the back of a napkin.

Sorry I can't give you where or when I picked up that card. All this stuff was picked up between 1974 and 1986 when I was at KODL. I was, however, slightly obsessed, and bugged everyone I knew in the business so send me stuff — their own and everybody else's they had lying around. I also hit up everybody at every sales seminar, saved all the sample stickers that came in the mail, etc.

I even had a few DXers who were kind enough to share with me from their collections.

It's possible that I met him at a sales seminar sometime, but more likely that it arrived through a third party. My boss used to run KENE in Toppenish pre-74 and it may have come through him.

Thanks for the detail on the design - an original Derek Shannon design! If only it were autographed...