Nigel Allen <Nigel.Allen@f438.n250.z1.fidonet.org> (06/11/91)
If you have an interest in the history of military telecommunications, you qmay want to visit the Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum (formerly the Royal Canadian Signals Museum) at the Vimy Barracks in Kingston, Ontario. Summer hours are 10 am - 4 pm daily; during the rest of the year the hours are 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. The phone number is 613-541-5395, and the mailing address is: Canadian Forces Communicatons and Electronics Museum Vimy Barracks CFB Kingston Kingston, Ontario Canada K7K 5L0 The following information is taken from a museum brochure. I haven't visited the museum yet, and I have no affiliation with the Canadian military. The Royal Canadian Signals Museum was founded in December, 1961 as an archive for history of signalling. In November, 1976 the name was changed to The Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum. Today the Museum has a mandate to display the history of the Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Branch and all aspects of military communications. Displays range from satellites and modern technology to primitive early radios and momentos recording the many trials and accomplishments of those who wear the "Jimmy" (the Corps of Signals badge, which depicts the Greek god Mercury). This museum is maintained by military personnel of the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics and by many friends of the Museum, both civilian and miliary. The displays will be of interest to all who visit Kingston and would like to take a pleasant strol through history. Perchance a photo will show the face of a friend or relative. While in Kingston be sure to visit the Museum and any of the fifteen museums and galleries open to the public. Brochures and additional information are available on request. (description of rooms within the museum) Air Force Room. Records the contribution of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Items from Clinton, radar statons and airfields. Burtt Room. Line displays in Line Training Building B-15. World War I Room. Items depicting the efforts of the Signalmen of 1914-18. Items include a switchboard dugout and the original model for the Vimy Ridge Memorial. The Corps Room. Momentos of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, including Ermintrude, the Corps' Mascot of the 19330's. Early Classroom. Visit an early classroom which depicts lige in 1920's Camp Borden, the original home of the Signal Corps. Between the Wars. See the early efforts in mobile radio detachments and the "Alberta" radio station. World War II Room. Pictures and items tell the story of the war. See the suitcase radio and intercept equipment used by the "Intrepid" men, 1945 German surrender documents and equipment used right up to 1970. Museum Kit Shop. Also the Curator's office. Many Branch and gift items available. Telecommunications. Items range from one of the best telephone colections in the world to cable layers and radioteletype. Main Entrance. Display cases show equipment used and special items of Major Bruce Carruthers, a founder of the Canadian Signal Corps. Uniform Room. Many orders of dress. Pictures of early Signal Corps basic training troops and Apprentice soldiers. Satellites. The Canadian involvement. Northwest Territories and Yukon Room. Canada's original communications in the north provided by the military. An account of the "Mad Trapper of Rat River" by one who was present and many station logs. Supplementary Radio System. The military communications research effort since the 1930's. German Room. Items captured in two wars. See the flags that flew on England's doorstep for four years. UN and NATO. Canada's efforts to promote world peace and to fight aggression. Items from the Congo, Egypt, Korea, Cyprus, Vietnam and Iran. US Signal Corps. Items that were presented by our colleagues to the south. Technology Hall. Demonstrating milestones in military communication this display area is always in a state of change. The Book of Remembrance. Located at the Main Entrance to the Building. Also radar antennas, in McNaughton Barracks these Pinetree - Cadin Line items are adjacent to the proposed new site for the Museum. Directions: Follow Highway 2 east for one mile from Kingston to the Vimy Gate. Turn right at the gate and follow the signs to the rear of the Forde Building.
bill@baldric.eedsp.gatech.edu (06/12/91)
The U.S. Army Signal Corps operates a very respectable museum at their
Signal Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Fort Gordon is on the
outskirts of Augusta, home of the Masters (golf) Tournament.
I checked the museum out when I was at Fort Gordon, going to school
for the Navy. That was back in 1982 and it was a big hit back then.
I'll have to drop by there again, next time I make it to that part of
the state.
Civilians are allowed (even encouraged) onto the base and the Signal
Corps Museum. Just ask at the gate. It should make for an hour or
two of fun!
Bill Berbenich, School of EE, DSP Lab | Telephone: +1-404-894-3134
Georgia Tech, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 |
uucp: ...!{backbones}!gatech!eedsp!bill | Group 3 fax: +1-404-894-8363
Internet: bill@eedsp.gatech.edu | or: +1-404-853-9171gaarder@anarres.ithaca.ny.us (06/13/91)
Nigel.Allen@f438.n250.z1.fidonet.org (Nigel Allen) writes: > If you have an interest in the history of military telecommunications, > you may want to visit the Canadian Forces Communications and > Electronics Museum (formerly the Royal Canadian Signals Museum) at the > Vimy Barracks in Kingston, Ontario. I went there last summer; it's small and low-budget but worth a visit if you're in the area. While "one of the best telephone collections in the world" may be an exaggeration, they do have some interesting ones, including a set with an 11-hole dial (separate holes for 0 and operator, even though both send 10 pulses). Thye also have a British phone booth, complete with A and B button phone. (But without any of the information and instruction cards, unfortunately). Steve Gaarder gaarder@theory.tc.cornell.edu gaarder@anarres.ithaca.ny.us
Dave Leibold <Dave.Leibold@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP> (06/15/91)
bill@eedsp.gatech.edu sez.... > The U.S. Army Signal Corps operates a very respectable museum at their > Signal Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Fort Gordon is on the > outskirts of Augusta, home of the Masters (golf) Tournament. Plus Nigel Allen's previous mention of a Canadian military museum with communications goodies... There has also been a telephone museum in downtown Edmonton run by Alberta Government Telephones (AGT, changing its corporate name to Telus) called "Vista 33", named after the floor in the AGT Tower where the museum/exhibits are located. Last I checked there was an admission charge to go up there. I don't have the specific address of the AGT Tower offhand; Vista 33 is usually mentioned in Alberta phone books, or it can be determined from Alberta Government Telephones' listings in Edmonton. While at the AGT Tower, AGT's library is on the 23rd floor, and contains some interesting telecom books and that. You could call it "Vista 23", assuming they haven't changed floors in recent months. dleibold@attmail.com Dave Leibold - via IMEx node 89:681/1 Dave.Leibold@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP