History of Berliner Funkturm

History of Berliner Funkturm
Berliner Funkturm was designed by Architect Heinrich Straumer. He was Born on December 7, 1876, in Chemnitz, Germany. He died in Berlin on November 22, 1937.
In the middle of December 1924, after the end of the First Radio Exhibition, the construction of Funkturm (a radio tower) began. A 120-meter-tall antenna mast was erected, which served as a crane for constructing the tower.
The Radio Tower transmitted on a medium wave frequency of 520.8 kHz. A single T-antenna was strung between two towers and an 80-meter-high guyed steel framework mast. At the end of April 1925, the Funkturm was finished. On September 25, 1925, Funkturm was inaugurated.
On March 28, 1926, the second construction began to protect visitors from electrical hazards; the Tower was grounded through its elevator shaft.
On September 3, 1926, Funkturm opened to the public at the inauguration of the Third Great German Radio Exhibition.
In the middle of 1929, was tuning medium wave transmitter was to 716 kHz for the first television transmission tests.
On December 20, 1933, a new large transmitter in Tegel, Berlin took over broadcast transmissions from Funkturm. After this, the medium wave transmitter at Funkturm is only a backup transmitter for Tegel.
On March 22, 1935, from an antenna of the top of Funkturm, the world's first regular television program was transmitted.
On August 22, 1935, a major fire in the exhibition hall at Funkturm destroyed all transmission devices. There were flying sparks from the fire that burned out the Funkturm restaurant.
On December 23, 1935, Funkturm resumed television broadcasts.
In the middle of 1938, Television transmitting equipment was removed from Funkturm.
During World War II from 1939 through 1945, Funkturm served as a warning and observation post.
On April 19, 1945, projectiles destroyed one of the four legs of Funkturm at a height of 38 meters. The restaurant is again burned out.
In December 1945, they repaired the tower leg with 800 kg screws and 7.2 tons of steel.
In the middle of 1948, the German government experimented with directed radio transmission toward the mountain of Harz.
On May 28, 1950, the Funkturm restaurant reopened.
In the middle of 1951, the Assembly of a super turnstile antenna on top of Funkturm for the broadcast of FM radio and television programs. With this antenna, Funkturm grew around 12 meters, from 138 to 150 meters.
On October 1, 1951, the Resumption of television transmissions was disrupted by World War II and the immediate post-war period.
On May 15, 1963, after the completion of the 230-meter-high transmission mast near Scholz Platz, regular transmissions of television and broadcast programs from Funkturm were almost terminated.
At the end of 1973, they ended regular broadcast transmission from Funkturm.
In the middle of 1989, the disassembly of Funkturm's last transmitters for the broadcast of radio and television. The Funkturm viewing platform is 410 feet in height. Funkturm restaurant is 180 feet in height. Funkturm is 453 feet in height. (without the antenna)