The Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa was formed in
2002 to preserve and archive the programmes etc. of SprIngbok Radio. The
society is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and probably has the biggest
collection of material archived. Through an established network comprising
donations within South Africa, the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom
and Australia, the archive can preserve and archive this truly South African
heritage.
Most of the material within this archive is still on analogue reel to reel
tape(15, 7½ , 3¾ , 1 7/8 & 15/16 ips), audio cassettes (C-60, C-90, C-120),
8 Track Stereo Tape (40/60), studio transcription discs (16, 10, 7 inch) &
commercial record (45, 33 1/3, 78rpm).
As many collectors and archives will know it is difficult to find decent reel to
reel recorders in today’s modern times, especially finding them in South
Africa. We were very fortunate to have received donations in this regard and
we can say a big thanks to John Gregg of Radio Today 1485am for donating a
very rare Philips recorder that can play the old 15/16 format. A word of thanks
to Ernie Westbrook of Westfords Cine Equipment in Johannesburg that
serviced and repaired it at no charge. We also have 2 x Studer Revox B77
machines and a Sony T-166. One of the Revox machines was donated by a
retired Springbok Radio Sound Engineer who asked to remain anonymous.
Decent turntables also have become a rare item, we use 1 x BSF, 1 x Gerard
and a Lenco turntable to do our transfers from analogue to digital. The Gerard
in particular is a gem because it enables us to transfer the big 16 inch
transcription discs. A special word of thanks to John Ferreira of Radio Today
1485am who donated the Swiss made Lenco turntable.
Cassette recorders, all though still available, are not of the same quality as a
couple of years ago. We use 1 x Eiki 5090, 1 x Pioneer C66 and a Sanyo
M4430 to do our transfers.
We use 2 audio restoration computer software programmes. One
programme was specifically designed for sound archiving in Germany. We
also found that the Magix Audio Cleaning Lab to be a very good programme
especially when restoring tape hiss and crackles. Thanks to MaryAnne from
Pumamouse for the Magix Cleaning Lab.
Once transferred the restored material is distributed as follows:
1 x Copy of the unrestored & 1 Copy of restored programme and the original
source material is kept within the archive of the Springbok Radio
Preservation Society of South Africa.
1 x Copy of the restored programme is sent to a reserve archive within the
United States.
1 x Copy of the restored programme is sent to the SABC Sound Archive in
Johannesburg.
At this stage no material can be made available to the general public from
this society. Copyright of all broadcast Springbok Radio material is under
control of the SABC. All queries regarding obtaining material for private use
or rebroadcasting should be forwarded to the SABC in Johannesburg. Any
material issued from this society must be cleared by the SABC first.
Great care is taken in handling the original source material, especially the
reel to reel tapes and transcription discs from the 1950’s. Many of the reels
from that era was kindly donated by the family of the late Ken Hoskin. Ken
was a part time presenter on Springbok Radio during the 1950’s and was
also a producer during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Programmes included on
these reels included a very rare Eric Egan Breakfast session segment and a
special Springbok Radio “Much Binding in The Marsh” programme, done by
the BBC for the opening of Springbok Radio in 1950. A copy of this rare
treasure will be donated to the BBC Sound Archive. There are many of the
Ken Hoskin reels that have still to be catalogued. What makes these reels so
special is that they all date from the 1950’s. The oldest surviving Springbok
Radio programme that has been archived dates from 3 May 1950 and is a
complete episode of “Grandpa Says / Oupa Vertel”, another rare recording
from 4 May 1950 is a commercial for “Voko Parafin” in both Afrikaans &
English. So far known that is the earliest South African radio commercial
which has survived.
A question that many people has asked is, what has happened to almost 300
000 programme episodes broadcast over Springbok Radio between 1950 to
1985. The answer is a sad and complicated one. Our research shows that 99
percent of the material broadcast was either dumped or in the era when reel
to reel tape was used these tapes were re used by the private production
houses. Reel to reel tape was expensive and like many other international
radio stations these tapes were re used on a rotating system. Once
broadcast the tape was sent back to the production house who then
rerecorded a new programme over the old and so on. Only one production
house saved some of it’s material. The Olympia Recording Studio in Durban,
under the control of Henry Diffenthal did save mostly episodes of “High
Adventure”, “Playhouse 90” and “Lux Radio Theatre”. The material saved by
Olympia was donated to both the SABC Sound Archives and the SprIngbok
Radio Preservation Society Archives.
Many transcription discs were unceremoniously dumped by the SABC
Archives back in 1975 just prior to the move from old Broadcast House in
Commissioner Street to the new building in Auckland Park. The reason for
this was that it was not deemed important enough to preserve commercial
radio. However our research shows that storage space was a major problem
in the decision made by the SABC. The old sound archive was housed in the
basement of old Broadcast House with lots of space. The new premises did
not have the desired space, so the sad decision was made.
2002 to preserve and archive the programmes etc. of SprIngbok Radio. The
society is based in Johannesburg, South Africa and probably has the biggest
collection of material archived. Through an established network comprising
donations within South Africa, the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom
and Australia, the archive can preserve and archive this truly South African
heritage.
Most of the material within this archive is still on analogue reel to reel
tape(15, 7½ , 3¾ , 1 7/8 & 15/16 ips), audio cassettes (C-60, C-90, C-120),
8 Track Stereo Tape (40/60), studio transcription discs (16, 10, 7 inch) &
commercial record (45, 33 1/3, 78rpm).
As many collectors and archives will know it is difficult to find decent reel to
reel recorders in today’s modern times, especially finding them in South
Africa. We were very fortunate to have received donations in this regard and
we can say a big thanks to John Gregg of Radio Today 1485am for donating a
very rare Philips recorder that can play the old 15/16 format. A word of thanks
to Ernie Westbrook of Westfords Cine Equipment in Johannesburg that
serviced and repaired it at no charge. We also have 2 x Studer Revox B77
machines and a Sony T-166. One of the Revox machines was donated by a
retired Springbok Radio Sound Engineer who asked to remain anonymous.
Decent turntables also have become a rare item, we use 1 x BSF, 1 x Gerard
and a Lenco turntable to do our transfers from analogue to digital. The Gerard
in particular is a gem because it enables us to transfer the big 16 inch
transcription discs. A special word of thanks to John Ferreira of Radio Today
1485am who donated the Swiss made Lenco turntable.
Cassette recorders, all though still available, are not of the same quality as a
couple of years ago. We use 1 x Eiki 5090, 1 x Pioneer C66 and a Sanyo
M4430 to do our transfers.
We use 2 audio restoration computer software programmes. One
programme was specifically designed for sound archiving in Germany. We
also found that the Magix Audio Cleaning Lab to be a very good programme
especially when restoring tape hiss and crackles. Thanks to MaryAnne from
Pumamouse for the Magix Cleaning Lab.
Once transferred the restored material is distributed as follows:
1 x Copy of the unrestored & 1 Copy of restored programme and the original
source material is kept within the archive of the Springbok Radio
Preservation Society of South Africa.
1 x Copy of the restored programme is sent to a reserve archive within the
United States.
1 x Copy of the restored programme is sent to the SABC Sound Archive in
Johannesburg.
At this stage no material can be made available to the general public from
this society. Copyright of all broadcast Springbok Radio material is under
control of the SABC. All queries regarding obtaining material for private use
or rebroadcasting should be forwarded to the SABC in Johannesburg. Any
material issued from this society must be cleared by the SABC first.
Great care is taken in handling the original source material, especially the
reel to reel tapes and transcription discs from the 1950’s. Many of the reels
from that era was kindly donated by the family of the late Ken Hoskin. Ken
was a part time presenter on Springbok Radio during the 1950’s and was
also a producer during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Programmes included on
these reels included a very rare Eric Egan Breakfast session segment and a
special Springbok Radio “Much Binding in The Marsh” programme, done by
the BBC for the opening of Springbok Radio in 1950. A copy of this rare
treasure will be donated to the BBC Sound Archive. There are many of the
Ken Hoskin reels that have still to be catalogued. What makes these reels so
special is that they all date from the 1950’s. The oldest surviving Springbok
Radio programme that has been archived dates from 3 May 1950 and is a
complete episode of “Grandpa Says / Oupa Vertel”, another rare recording
from 4 May 1950 is a commercial for “Voko Parafin” in both Afrikaans &
English. So far known that is the earliest South African radio commercial
which has survived.
A question that many people has asked is, what has happened to almost 300
000 programme episodes broadcast over Springbok Radio between 1950 to
1985. The answer is a sad and complicated one. Our research shows that 99
percent of the material broadcast was either dumped or in the era when reel
to reel tape was used these tapes were re used by the private production
houses. Reel to reel tape was expensive and like many other international
radio stations these tapes were re used on a rotating system. Once
broadcast the tape was sent back to the production house who then
rerecorded a new programme over the old and so on. Only one production
house saved some of it’s material. The Olympia Recording Studio in Durban,
under the control of Henry Diffenthal did save mostly episodes of “High
Adventure”, “Playhouse 90” and “Lux Radio Theatre”. The material saved by
Olympia was donated to both the SABC Sound Archives and the SprIngbok
Radio Preservation Society Archives.
Many transcription discs were unceremoniously dumped by the SABC
Archives back in 1975 just prior to the move from old Broadcast House in
Commissioner Street to the new building in Auckland Park. The reason for
this was that it was not deemed important enough to preserve commercial
radio. However our research shows that storage space was a major problem
in the decision made by the SABC. The old sound archive was housed in the
basement of old Broadcast House with lots of space. The new premises did
not have the desired space, so the sad decision was made.
'N AFRIKAANSE WEERGAWE VAN BOGENOEMDE SAL VOLG
AN APPEAL BY THIS SOCIETY TO THE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT
MIGHT STILL HAVE TAPES, REELS, LITERATURE ETC OF
SPRINGBOK RADIO & WHO WOULD LIKE TO DONATE IT TO THE
SOCIETY FOR PRESERVATION. PLEASE MAKE CONTACT WITH
US. HOWEVER SMALL YOU MIGHT THINK YOUR CONTRIBUTION
CAN BE, IT ALL HELPS. YOUR 10 MINUTE RECORDING MIGHT BE
THE ONLY KNOWN SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF A SPECIFIC
PROGRAMME. SHOULD YOU WISH TO KEEP YOUR MATERIAL,
MAY WE KINDLY ASK FOR A COPY. WE CAN ALSO TRANSFER
YOUR RECORDING TO DISC AT NO CHARGE, JUST IN ORDER TO
OBTAIN A COPY.
MIGHT STILL HAVE TAPES, REELS, LITERATURE ETC OF
SPRINGBOK RADIO & WHO WOULD LIKE TO DONATE IT TO THE
SOCIETY FOR PRESERVATION. PLEASE MAKE CONTACT WITH
US. HOWEVER SMALL YOU MIGHT THINK YOUR CONTRIBUTION
CAN BE, IT ALL HELPS. YOUR 10 MINUTE RECORDING MIGHT BE
THE ONLY KNOWN SURVIVING EXAMPLE OF A SPECIFIC
PROGRAMME. SHOULD YOU WISH TO KEEP YOUR MATERIAL,
MAY WE KINDLY ASK FOR A COPY. WE CAN ALSO TRANSFER
YOUR RECORDING TO DISC AT NO CHARGE, JUST IN ORDER TO
OBTAIN A COPY.
IF YOU CAN ASSIST OUR E-MAIL IS:
ONS MAAK 'N BEROEP AAN ONS BESOEKERS DAAR BUITE WAT
DALK ENIGE OPNAMES, LITERATUUR ENS. VAN
SPRINGBOKRADIO HET & DIT GRAAG WIL SKENK AAN DIE
VERENIGING VIR BEWARING OM KONTAK MET ONS TE MAAK.
HOE KLEIN U DINK DIT MAG WEES, DAARDIE OPNAME MAG
DALK DIE ENIGSTE VOORBEELD VAN 'N PROGRAM WEES. INDIEN
U SOU VERKIES OM U MATERIAAL TE HOU, MAG ONS DAN VRA
VIR 'N MOONTLIKE KOPIE DAARVAN. ONS KAN U OPNAME
OORDRA NA CD GRATIS, NET SOLANK ONS 'N KOPIE DAARVAN
MAG HOU & BEWAAR.
DALK ENIGE OPNAMES, LITERATUUR ENS. VAN
SPRINGBOKRADIO HET & DIT GRAAG WIL SKENK AAN DIE
VERENIGING VIR BEWARING OM KONTAK MET ONS TE MAAK.
HOE KLEIN U DINK DIT MAG WEES, DAARDIE OPNAME MAG
DALK DIE ENIGSTE VOORBEELD VAN 'N PROGRAM WEES. INDIEN
U SOU VERKIES OM U MATERIAAL TE HOU, MAG ONS DAN VRA
VIR 'N MOONTLIKE KOPIE DAARVAN. ONS KAN U OPNAME
OORDRA NA CD GRATIS, NET SOLANK ONS 'N KOPIE DAARVAN
MAG HOU & BEWAAR.
INDIEN U KAN HELP, ONS E-POS IS:
AN ORIGINAL COMMECIALS DISC USED
BY SPRINGBOK RADIO IN 1967. THIS
ONE WAS FOR THE NBS BUILDING
SOCIETY.
'N OORSPRONKLIKE ADVERTENSIE
PLAAT GEBRUIK DEUR
SPRINGBOKRADIO IN 1967. HIERDIE
EEN WAS DIE ADVERTENSIES VIR DIE
NBS BOUVERENIGING.
BY SPRINGBOK RADIO IN 1967. THIS
ONE WAS FOR THE NBS BUILDING
SOCIETY.
'N OORSPRONKLIKE ADVERTENSIE
PLAAT GEBRUIK DEUR
SPRINGBOKRADIO IN 1967. HIERDIE
EEN WAS DIE ADVERTENSIES VIR DIE
NBS BOUVERENIGING.
THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIALS DISC FOR
BOURNE GLEEME, USED ON
SPRINGBOK RADIO IN 1966.
DIE OORSPRONKLIKE ADVERTENSIE
PLAAT VIR "BOURNE GLEEME" SOOS
UITGESAAI OP SPRINGBOKRADIO IN
1966.
BOURNE GLEEME, USED ON
SPRINGBOK RADIO IN 1966.
DIE OORSPRONKLIKE ADVERTENSIE
PLAAT VIR "BOURNE GLEEME" SOOS
UITGESAAI OP SPRINGBOKRADIO IN
1966.
TWO ORIGINAL SABC RADIO TRANSCRIPTION DISCS FROM 1944 & 1945. THESE DISCS
PREDATES SPRINGBOK RADIO BY 5 YEARS. HOWEVER THE SAME LABELS WERE
USED DURING THE 1950'S ON ALL THE SPRINGBOK RADIO DISCS.
TWEE OORSPRONKLIKE SAUK RADIO TRANSKRIPSIE PLATE VAN 1944 & 1945.
HIERDIE PLATE HET 5 JAAR VOOR SPRINGBOKRADIO SE BEGIN ONTSTAAN, MAAR
DIE ETIKETE IS PRESIES DIESELFDE WAT OP ALLE SPRINGBOKRADIO TRANSKRIPSIE
PLATE GEBRUIK WAS IN DIE 1950'S.
PREDATES SPRINGBOK RADIO BY 5 YEARS. HOWEVER THE SAME LABELS WERE
USED DURING THE 1950'S ON ALL THE SPRINGBOK RADIO DISCS.
TWEE OORSPRONKLIKE SAUK RADIO TRANSKRIPSIE PLATE VAN 1944 & 1945.
HIERDIE PLATE HET 5 JAAR VOOR SPRINGBOKRADIO SE BEGIN ONTSTAAN, MAAR
DIE ETIKETE IS PRESIES DIESELFDE WAT OP ALLE SPRINGBOKRADIO TRANSKRIPSIE
PLATE GEBRUIK WAS IN DIE 1950'S.
MANY OF THESE SPRINGBOK RADIO STUDIO MASTER TAPES ARE IN OUR
POSSESSION THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO SAVED THEM
FROM BEING DESTROYED.
BAIE VAN HIERDIE OORSPRONKLIKE SPRINGBOKRADIO MEESTERBANDE IS IN ONS
BESIT TE DANKE AAN DIE MOEITE WAT DEUR BAIE PERSONE GEMAAK WAS OM
HULLE TE RED VAN VERNIETIGING.
POSSESSION THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO SAVED THEM
FROM BEING DESTROYED.
BAIE VAN HIERDIE OORSPRONKLIKE SPRINGBOKRADIO MEESTERBANDE IS IN ONS
BESIT TE DANKE AAN DIE MOEITE WAT DEUR BAIE PERSONE GEMAAK WAS OM
HULLE TE RED VAN VERNIETIGING.
MORE IMAGES OF SOME OF THE MASTER TAPES IN HOLDING WITH THE SPRINGBOK
RADIO PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA. THESE TWO IMAGES ARE
EXAMPLES OF TAPES SAVED FROM THE MANLEY VAN NIEKERK STUDIOS IN
JOHANNESBURG.
NOG VOORBEELDE VAN MEESTERBANDE IN DIE BESIT VAN DIE SPRINGBOKRADIO
BEWARINGSVERENIGING VAN SUID-AFRIKA. HIERDIE TWEE VOORBEELDE IS BANDE
WAT GESPAAR WAS WAT OORSPROONKLIK AFKOMSTIG WAS VAN DIE MANLEY VAN
NIEKERK ATELJEES IN JOHANNESBURG.
RADIO PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA. THESE TWO IMAGES ARE
EXAMPLES OF TAPES SAVED FROM THE MANLEY VAN NIEKERK STUDIOS IN
JOHANNESBURG.
NOG VOORBEELDE VAN MEESTERBANDE IN DIE BESIT VAN DIE SPRINGBOKRADIO
BEWARINGSVERENIGING VAN SUID-AFRIKA. HIERDIE TWEE VOORBEELDE IS BANDE
WAT GESPAAR WAS WAT OORSPROONKLIK AFKOMSTIG WAS VAN DIE MANLEY VAN
NIEKERK ATELJEES IN JOHANNESBURG.
AN EXAMPLE OF A PRIVATE RECORDED TAPE
CONTAINING EPISODES OF "THE CREAKING DOOR",
"HIGH ADVENTURE", "HITCHCOCK HALF HOUR" & "THE
FINGER OF FATE".
'N VOORBEELD VAN 'N PRIVAAT OPGENEEMDE BAND
WAT EPISODES BEVAT VAN "THE CREAKING DOOR"
"HIGH ADVENTURE", "HITCHCOCK HALF HOUR" & "THE
FINGER OF FATE".
CONTAINING EPISODES OF "THE CREAKING DOOR",
"HIGH ADVENTURE", "HITCHCOCK HALF HOUR" & "THE
FINGER OF FATE".
'N VOORBEELD VAN 'N PRIVAAT OPGENEEMDE BAND
WAT EPISODES BEVAT VAN "THE CREAKING DOOR"
"HIGH ADVENTURE", "HITCHCOCK HALF HOUR" & "THE
FINGER OF FATE".
THE SOCIETY NOT ONLY JUST COLLECTS RECORDINGS OF SPRINGBOK RADIO BUT ALSO
LITERATURE, AS CAN BE SEEN IN ABOVE IMAGES.
DIE VERENIGING VERSAMEL NIE NET OPNAMES VAN SPRINGBOKRADIO NIE MAAR OOK
LITERATUUR, SOOS GESIEN KAN WORD IN BOGENOEMDE FOTO'S.
LITERATURE, AS CAN BE SEEN IN ABOVE IMAGES.
DIE VERENIGING VERSAMEL NIE NET OPNAMES VAN SPRINGBOKRADIO NIE MAAR OOK
LITERATUUR, SOOS GESIEN KAN WORD IN BOGENOEMDE FOTO'S.
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PRESERVATION PAGE / BEWARINGSBLADSY
Many people believe that very little was done in South Africa with regards to
the preservation of the many programmes broadcast over Springbok Radio
between 1950 and 1985. In some instances it is true, however a handful of
producers, actors, writers and loyal listeners to the station did record
programmes and because of these efforts, programmes were saved. In the
archive section more detail will be given to those individuals and what they
donated.
I must however mention one person in this preservation section, in all honesty
he saved the most. Neil Gesson, a very loyal listener to Springbok Radio started
recording programmes on reel to reel tape around 1955 and continued doing
so until 1985, when Springbok Radio closed down. Recordings were also made
of SABC English Service programmes between1955 and 1985 and Radio South
Africa programmes between 1986 and 1988. Many of the programmes
recorded between 1955 and 1960 on Springbok Radio originated from
Australia and will be made available to the Australian Sound & Film Archive.
Copies of all the restored material will be donated to the SABC Sound Archive
in Johannesburg for national preservation.
Neil sadly passed away in 2006 at age 78. The irony was that Neil recorded
these programmes not with preservation or archiving in mind but to listen to
and enjoy during his retirement. The recordings made by Neil has afforded us a
rare second chance to preserve this material and save it to give future
generations an example of the glory days of radio in South Africa. We will
always be grateful to him for the legacy he left behind.
