Exploring a Historic Abandoned Radio Broadcast Station in Detroit (ALL Equipment Left Behind!)

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In this Episode I'll be exploring an abandoned radio station in Detroit.
This historic broadcast station is one of Detroit's best kept secrets. Tucked away in a suburban neighborhood, this station had received very little foot traffic since it's time of closing. Equipment was stashed away in every single corner and space, decaying, rotting, molding. The station sits idly waiting it's ultimate demise. The last broadcast, nothing but history now.
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Опубликовано:

2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 202

@darjiaethera 7 лет назад

That vintage equipment.... and those beautiful RCA vacuum tubes. All left to rot and destined for the dump. Oh, my heart.... :(

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

It's a very sad sight. I wish this equipment was rescued and reused. Thanks for watching

@darjiaethera 7 лет назад

As long as you're posting, I'll keep watching.

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

darjiaethera I'll keep that in mind. Lots more to come.

@willrobbinson1 7 лет назад

i too seen them same feeling :(

@OfficialDPTheRealDeal 6 лет назад

Man I’d put those oscilloscopes to use where’s this located?

@michaeladamcik7475 Год назад

Still worth saving that Optimod and TV equipment

@WhoFlungPoo2024 4 года назад

I'm a former TV and FM radio technician.They could have recovered some decent money had someone with DPS used their head when the station was closed. Stupidity, I'm sad to say, and very sad now that everything has been so vandalized.

@InsideOfMyOwnMind Год назад

Sadly stupidity seems to be the state of that whole region's system of governance to include the school system. It's not just there though. Locally we have a high school with a 400 watt FM and about all they do is play music with no locally informative programming about the school, the local area or anything except some rebroadcasts of NPR content on Saturdays. IMHO they should lose their authorization.

@awaismushtaq5719 3 месяца назад

My sympathies exactly. I'm a radio engineer's son. It gives me a heartache to see such decent and vintage tech vandalised. They could have auctioned loads of that stuff for reasonable amount. How can they be so thick-headed? Looking at the state of things in this video, if I were given a chance and ample time, I could have made not all but many of that to work.

@peterq.george6834 7 лет назад

That beautiful Optimod and the BE exciter, I would grab it in a heartbeat. A real shame.

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

And it sucks because most of it is gone by the time this video was released.

@chrisc1553 5 лет назад

I would love that GE console

@BobBurnham-ro2zp Год назад

I was one of the last designated Chief Engineers at WDTR. They had a very servicable Harris transmitter -- not as old as the BE, but tube type -- that was deemed not suitable for WRCJ. I also completely re-built their main studio with an AudioArts 15 channel board. This was also analog, and not suitable for WRCJ. We also had an entry level Audio Vault system in both the main studio and Production. All the "good" stuff seems to have disappeared. I was told the lack of heating/cooling in the building and growing mold damaged the equipment beyond use. The BE transmitter was back-up only and it put out bad spurs -- but it worked. Although everyone was afraid of it, I had it on the air for a short time.

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Did you work in this specific location? That's fascinating! I bet you have some stories.

@smallenginedude71 7 лет назад

people like me would kill for alot of that equipment

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

Very unfortunate to see it in this condition. Thanks for watching :)

@plaguex1 7 лет назад

Same here. Very sad to just see it left to rot. Beautiful photography but still very sad.

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

It's a shame nobody is here helping pick up the pieces.

@YU5KBM 6 лет назад

So it is a duel....???

@Karlfalcon 6 лет назад

Truth. That GE mixing console in particular.

@bradleysmith681 6 лет назад

Thanks for video.. It hurts to see all the vintage equipment, which could have been restored... That Optimod, console, reel-to-reel, and TV control surface almost drove me to tears...

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

And unfortunately most of it is destroyed or scrapped.

@bradleysmith681 6 лет назад

Detroit EXP Sad.. But a cool video.. Thanks for reply

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

Thanks for watching :)

@miguelsalami 4 года назад

You hit the motherload with all those RCA TUBES still in the box. If they are still there take some empty cardboard boxes & load every one of those RCA TUBES. You can sell them in lots or individually on eBay. Cryin shame they will be destroyed if nobody gets them & RCA made some excellent tubes back in the day.

@adamstanley4209 6 лет назад

I went here over the summer, crazy experience. It was interesting seeing this kind of building abandoned

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

Yeah it's a very interesting experience. Not use to this style of abandoned building.

@edwardbyard6540 5 лет назад

A lot of those logs and notes should go to a museum. Please make it happen. Once it's gone, its gone for good.

@jhallo7740 7 лет назад

I can cry to see that beautyfull orban optimod waiting for destruction.😭

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

+JH allo I completely agree 😪

@mikeerickson9025 7 лет назад

Is it possible to salvage it?

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

I am going to say no, because since this video has been filmed, almost 100% of this stuff featured in this video has been scrapped out.

@sonus289 4 года назад

oh god I know...and that console!!!

@googlephill 2 года назад

Sad

@sondrayork6317 3 года назад

you should ask the district if you crank take that video camera, that'd be a piece of tv/radio history right there if you gotta crank it to move the tape along to the next frame,. i've never seen a camera like that either.

@sondrayork6317 3 года назад

wow, everything is still there. transmitter even i bet u.

@rustymotor 6 лет назад

Thanks for the fascinating tour, lots of lovely old equipment wanting a good home before being destroyed.

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

+rustymotor Thanks for watching, we like giving you the tours.

@sebastianguevara3615 Год назад

@@DetroitEXP It's Sad What Has Happened To The City Of Detroit, Michigan In General Over The Years.

@thebiggerbyte5991 3 года назад

7:45 A Heathkit HERO Jr. robot! So much stuff that needs to be rescued and put into a museum or something, not just left to decay. :(

@grbloopers 6 лет назад

Heartbreaking... I wish I didn't watch it. Such a pity to see a part of history become like that. I really hope that someday it gets restored.

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

+grbloopers Such a common theme..so depressing to see stuff like this.

@mikeburch2998 6 лет назад

That was another great tour! Nicely done. It sure is too bad that such an (electronic/informational) effort was completely wasted on a mismanaged city and a low end population. You guys did a great job in there and thanks for showing us that. Greetings from Arizona.

@7viewerlogic670 6 лет назад

Cool place!

@tonib9261 9 месяцев назад

It’s now 2024 and I really enjoyed that video. Seeing a lot of old equipment I know of. But what worried me was the tower. Okay, you can leave a once valuable optimod to rot and die, and that’s a shame, but you can’t leave a tower without maintenance, or eventually, it will fall over. It’s also looked like it might be 200foot or more tall, in which case it needs to have working aircraft warning lights.

@DetroitEXP 8 месяцев назад

Yes, you are correct about the tower. They had to come out and demo the tower shortly after the video since it was left in a dark state.

@LeonardNessel Год назад

Great video . I worked at the Lawton building in the late 60's & early 70's . In the 60's we did 40 live TV programs a week and WDTR was on the air 8 hrs a day .

@JamesJ7851 7 лет назад

Nice vintage stuff. At 6.45, you may have missed the big transmit tubes sitting on the floor. Tons of good salvageable parts in that facility, going to waste. :(

@TempoDrift1480 2 года назад

Yep it's sad. I wish I'd know it was there when I lived in the area.

@jvolstad 2 года назад

What a cool building. I like the lack of gang graffiti. Those were better times.

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

Thank you so much. I totally agree about the graffiti.

@crissdrums3975 Год назад

Great video

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it!

@omaimakhan4451 7 лет назад

This is so cool I'm definitely gonna be checking this place out

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

Definitely awesome to check out. We were grateful to be able to see this place.

@nordland2235 Год назад

Detroit is sooo depressing.

@musicman257 4 года назад

what gets me is why didn't they sell of the equipment and always wonde why the cut the power chord on the equipment

@chrismhp 7 лет назад

Damn, this place got scrapped up already then? What shame. Thanks for sharing the explore.

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

I'm sure right now, this place looks 100% different from this video. Unfortunate..

@Wtmuradiotvcom 5 лет назад

Not only radio because that optimod was for the fm and is worth lots but also looks like they also broadcasted tv too

@Wtmuradiotvcom 5 лет назад

Sad and truthful the government let Detroit go to waste

@Piecemaker1623 6 лет назад

Hello. Nice to see the vintage media equipment. Just curious.. how many people in the core group of Detroit Exp?

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

All the videos are filmed and edited by one person. There are plenty of close friends with me though that explore very frequently so they're usually always featured on my videos.

@Piecemaker1623 6 лет назад

That is nice to know. I just wanted to learn a little bit more about your channel. May you always have save exploring.

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

Thank you very much!!

@WeaponizedExplorer 5 лет назад

Someone left a fucking optimod and that lovely tape machine?!?!?!?!?!

@DetroitEXP 5 лет назад

Yes unfortunately it's all been destroyed or taken at this point

@maryrafuse3851 Год назад

I hope folks don't mind me sharing? My husband's dad managed a chiefly GATES/RCA powered AM radio station back in the day. The chief engineer was the confident type and would replace a monitor volume pot while the GATES board was still on the air. The old school engineers did things differently, by their own book, and deserve to have their stories told while people can remember them. I'd love to hear more station engineer stories from both the US & Canada.

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Oh that's really interesting. I love hearing stories like this.

@fnordhorn 5 лет назад

Dam and all them good Valve (tubes) give it 6 month and you most likely find them smashed on the floor. And someone like me how restores old radio equipment has problems getting them now

@radioman1170 7 лет назад

I can't believe that so much was left intact and bet it's now been destroyed. Amazing!

@PrestonHazard Месяц назад

I always feel so bad for those Otari machines. Every time I watch an abandoned radio station video, there’s always at least one MX series mix down machine discarded away. It’s unbelievable sad, they’re such good machines. Save the Otari’s

@caroltenge5147 8 месяцев назад

3:13 blue face Optimod. Dumb to leave it behind.

@DetroitEXP 8 месяцев назад

We never take anything from these properties. We respect it and leave things how they were originally.

@fredbissnette3104 2 года назад

imagine the jazz collection this place had

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

I am sure it was immense lol

@Gerk8 Год назад

As a record collector it would’ve been tough for me to leave those records behind. Even the vintage PSAs or station IDs would be cool to hear and should be salvaged.

@maryrafuse3851 2 года назад

I really don't think any company could rival Gates & RCA for tough broadcast equipment back in the day.

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

I would love to learn more about that, I know nothing about the equopment in here.

@williamjones4483 2 года назад

Western Electric. A manufacturer many people don't know of.

@maryrafuse3851 Год назад

@@williamjones4483 How true. I'd love to know more about Western Electric although my husband, through his dad, was raised on GATES & RCA broadcast equipment.

@davidcarson4421 9 месяцев назад

Gates was ok, but also popular because it was cheap.

@postersm7141 2 года назад

You can always tell people know nothing about vinyl when they call them vinyls

@xaenon 2 года назад

Language evolves. Try not to take it personally.

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

Lol I know nothing about vinyl. So lots of vinyl = vinyls.

@musicman257 7 лет назад

TThanks for sharing really enjoyed looking at the old equipment left behind

@terencehayes9840 5 лет назад

Great video

@ericundertaker4994 6 лет назад

I actually helped do there back in the early 90s. the all new hip hop show.

@hmbpnz 3 месяца назад

Oh man, an Optimod FM, and all of those tubes!!! Why were they just left behind??????

@xmttrman 7 лет назад

Even if the building and contents were in perfect condition, the television equipment would be useless for broadcast today due to the DTV standards, though the radio equipment could probably be repurposed.

@videolabguy 6 лет назад

Wow. The arrogance of youth. That equipment is highly sought by collectors. But, fools like you will walk right past it and fixate on the irrelevant junk. Just wow. I've been in the TV racket from before transistors too modern digital HDTV. In fact, I was a member of the committee that established some of the new standards. That facility needs to be preserved. But, it woun't be. May you all get what you deserve for your closed minds.

@crtsaretubular3940 4 года назад

Is it still around?

@TempoDrift1480 2 года назад

Too bad they all got their Rodney King on after it was shut down. The rest of it would probably all still be there. I fucking left Detroit for one reason. Actually one big group of the same reason.

@howardoller443 6 месяцев назад

Thank you for this video, but please either control your tongue or censor the obscenities (e.g. 1:45).

@karlament6939 6 лет назад

IF I WAS THERE SOME OF THAT SHIT WOULD BE COMING HOME WITH ME IT LOOKS LIKE AN OLD TV STATION I WORK ON CRAP LIKE THAT 35 YEARS LOL

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

+Karl Ament Unfortunately most of the stuff you saw in this video has long been gone.

@karlament6939 6 лет назад

that is sad i love old vintage systems when you where showing the rf switching system and the audio and video patchbay system look cool thanks for the video i just wonder how many more places like this does exist

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

+Karl Ament It's certainly my goal to find them all.

@jabberwocky1707 3 года назад

5:08 Valves, valuable valves now! • Hard to get Was that entire building used for the radio station? - Apparently TV too, any more info on that?

@DetroitEXP 3 года назад

The entire building was for the station yes. And since we filmed that place has been scrapped out, we got there very early

@metalmanjakson01 5 лет назад

Fuckin A! All those vac tubes just laying around!!

@jasongreene303 Год назад

2:44 The kids uncle must have been Mr. Potato Head

@gary-kr7dm 2 года назад

Such a shame 🥲

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

Totally agree!

@robvanderweijden5391 6 лет назад

What I do not understand? the money light at your feet? I see things that make money with ease! Friendly greetings from The Netherlands! Rob.

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

Thanks for watching, Rob! :)

@spellerlittlewing Год назад

Great video guys Thanks

@josephjames259 5 лет назад

Lots of good equipment going to waste. A room full of new vacuum tubes and other goodies.

@DetroitEXP 5 лет назад

Unfortunately most of this equipment has been smashed and removed from the building. Terrible.

@sopaman1234 Год назад

2:19 freeze it there those song titles are mainly from the late 1940's thru the 1950's

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Did not even notice! That's really cool.

@CMExploration Год назад

Nice! Very cool place 👌

@stevek8 2 года назад

Holy christ. Why is every statement in the beginning a question????

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

Not sure lmao. This video is old and it sounded like I had a head cold when I recorded audio.

@joesantangelo1 6 лет назад

All of those old vintage power amp and preamp tubes... guitarists heaven right there

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

+Joe Santangelo It was definitely full of cool stuff!

@joesantangelo1 6 лет назад

Detroit EXP if you guys want any rock based/heavier dark music in your videos let me know. I’d be interested in helping with that if that peaks your interest guys! I’m a local Detroit metro area guy myself!

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

+Joe Santangelo I would definitely love to hear a sample!

@joesantangelo1 6 лет назад

If you want to shoot me a message of what you’re looking for, and shoot me some ideas, I could get to working on something for you!

@AlexS-lu2ry Год назад

Круто! Спасибо за видео)

@PaulCasaliMusic 2 года назад

The Reel to Reel machine appearing at 5:47 was an MCI JH-110 stereo master recorder, a classic, incredibly well built and long lasting piece of machinery. I bet it would have turned on, for sure. Sony Corporation bought MCI in 1982, so this unit must be from the late 70's. 6 grand of history left to rot and be scrapped. Hope it got saved by someone...

@DetroitEXP Год назад

I think it got saved, the equipment was scrapped out. Hopefully it went into good hands and not sold for raw materials.

@badboys239730 7 лет назад

Wish we could've seen the tower more.

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

It was hard to shoot in the sun like this. It wasn't coming out too well because of how tall it was.

@ahsulak 7 лет назад

Great find guys!

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

Thank you, sir :) Appreciate you taking a look!

@hugoromeyn4582 2 года назад

Orban Optimod 8100... Also left behind...

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

Lots of equipment left behind.

@tomwaalkens9560 5 лет назад

Those audio consoles sell for good money. Damned shame. I bet it is all trashed by now.

@wisteela 3 года назад

Such a waste

@stevegladden1364 Год назад

Not sure how anyone on those closing shots would not have moved the camera to show up to the top of the tower. Had a few chances/shots and they stopped no higher than half-way up. They probably had no idea that these things use antennas and towers.

@Mr39036ce 5 лет назад

Pretty sad,the whole country is in decline.

@jtsgarage2999 Год назад

where is this

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Detroit's West side. The building looks almost nothing like this, a lot of major scrapping has ravaged anything that's left.

@drobichovideo 2 года назад

intact is a bit of a stretch lol

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

You should see it now lol.

@rgarito 5 лет назад

Looks like a HeathKit HERO robot at 7:46

@mikegrosz6127 4 года назад

cool

@raul6562 Год назад

No pude contener mis lágrimas al contemplar semejante tesoro ante tamaña ignominia.

@xaviersmith5567 7 лет назад

You were exploring, but your buddies were ransacking and Vandalizing the place thieves!!!! Respect Abandon Places Don't Steal or Destroy anything.

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

We were respectful of the building and it's belongings. No stealing here.

@nordland2235 Год назад

I would love to have a Opti-mod AM.

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Is that a piece of equipment you saw?

@Channel-cm7yc Год назад

You saw an Optimod FM.

@hallodanke- 4 года назад

Why did that radio station stop

@Channel-cm7yc Год назад

It hasn’t stopped. This is the stations’ former facility.

@karlament6939 6 лет назад

OH JUST TO LET YOU KNOW IT IS FROM THE 60S AND 70S ERA

@sassysue6472 7 лет назад

Sad! That equipment was built to last. Too bad it went to waste!

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

If this place was secured from day one, I think you could have started the machines up and began broadcasting.

@Bobbo6665 7 лет назад

my dad use to sell those tubes in the day, now a days some of those tubes are worth hundreds of dollars a piece on eBay. shame

@DetroitEXP 7 лет назад

The worst part is, mostly all of these have been removed or scrapped by now.

@YU5KBM 6 лет назад

I cried just for the SO239s i cant eave speak about the rest.....

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

So much good equipment left.

@YU5KBM 6 лет назад

To bad it is just rusting away...

@sonus289 4 года назад

that transmitter ,optimod,reel to reel and console makes me very sad..... all those tubes.......man

@YouzTube99 6 лет назад

00:15 Small correction; WRCJ (90.9 FM) is alive and well, not past tense: www.wrcjfm.org/ Digital too!

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

Thank you thank you! I just realized I didn't make it clear enough that the station still broadcasts.

@YouzTube99 6 лет назад

LOL! Just adding 'ed' instead of 's' to the end of the word 'play' put them out of business!

@Channel-cm7yc Год назад

I’m surprised no one in the city has made it a priority to drop that tower. Wow!!

@aronlinderhof8030 6 лет назад

please bring me the Orban

@sonus289 6 лет назад

quite a few pcs of very useable gear there..... is this still standing?

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

It's still standing, but we went to this place pretty early and caught it in good condition. Now most of this equipment is scrapped or destroyed.

@shawnaburns5158 3 года назад

I'd loved to have all the vintage gauges and meters!!!

@ST-zc5br 2 года назад

Good old BE FM Transmitter. Maybe 30 kW TPO?. I will grab that Orban Optimod FM. Clean it up, re-cap it, and it makes a great standby processor when your $15,000 Omnia 11 goes tits up.

@DetroitEXP 2 года назад

Thanks for commenting. Unfortunately this building was ransacked almost immediately after people found out about it.

@googlephill 2 года назад

. I will grab that Orban Optimod FM Me To

@ChazSeamus28 2 года назад

What is that thing use for? I see a compression and a limiter but what's it main purpose?

@leakesonasucs 6 лет назад

Thanks for showing me this now I can salvage what I can get and the entire building will be empty and I'll be awesome, btw I live not that far from Detroit so yeah.

@DetroitEXP 6 лет назад

You're unfortunately about 6 months too late! All of the equipment in the video has long been removed. Thank you for your consideration though :)

@51nw Год назад

all that gear deserves to be given to or sold to people who need the parts or for restoration and use. not rotting away in some abandon building. pshhh, ridiculous

@DetroitEXP Год назад

Totally agree. It's already been looted pretty much fully, very sad.