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Thread: Radio City Tower

  1. #1
    MissInformed
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    Default Radio City Tower

    I was talking to someone in work today, and he said the tower was originally a chimney for St John's.
    Is this right?

    There is a tour with work in Jan..

  2. #2
    PhilipG
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    Quote Originally Posted by MissInformed View Post
    I was talking to someone in work today, and he said the tower was originally a chimney for St John's.
    Is this right?

    There is a tour with work in Jan..
    Yes, it was indeed a chimney for St John's Centre which was opened in April 1970.
    When the Queen opened the second Mersey Tunnel in June 1971, she had tea in the Revolving Restaurant.
    I've got a set of postcard views from it which were issued as a "Lettercard". Remember them?
    (I'll get a scanner today. I'll settle for a cheap one if I don't see what I want).

    It was open to the public a few years ago, but the windows were so dirty, and my old Zenith camera was sick that day, that the results were very disappointing.

    Is there any chance that I could tag along on the visit?
    I'll even use a tripod!

  3. #3
    MissInformed
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    hi philip
    it's £3.00 per person. But I shall have to ask as there is 20 places per tour, and i think there are 2 tours.
    It's not til Jan 2007, so I will find out tmw for you

    ta for info

  4. #4
    Senior Member Waterways's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MissInformed View Post
    I was talking to someone in work today, and he said the tower was originally a chimney for St John's.
    Is this right?

    There is a tour with work in Jan..
    I worked on the tower as a kid in 1968. When I was there is was just two concrete saucers and a crane out of the top. A temporary builders lift was inside and permanent operator. It was about 3 foot square and about 20 fellas seemed to get into the lift. There was no protection on the sides of at the top and it was easy to fall off. I recall laying on my stomach to look over the edge on the bottom section (the floor). I remember a hole in the top section (the roof) with a bit of wood thrown over it. It would have been easy to fall through to the lower. Safety was not as it is today.

    The chimney part was only small inside. Most is the lifts and the services. Whether it was to hide the flue for the boilers or the flue for the boilers was taken up it for convenience I'm not sure. It think the chimney was using the tower rather than the other way around.

    The services were at the top of the tower (kitchen) and the restaurant revolved around them. It was nice up there having a steak as it went around. At dusk on a high tide as the ships were coming in was spectacular.
    Last edited by Waterways; 11-29-2006 at 03:53 PM.
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  5. #5
    MissInformed
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    wow waterways...that sounds scary!!

    Would be great to see some pics if anyone has any...

  6. #6
    PhilipG
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    Quote Originally Posted by MissInformed View Post
    wow waterways...that sounds scary!!

    Would be great to see some pics if anyone has any...
    Watch this space!
    I've just got home with a new scanner.
    Not the one I wanted, but it'll do for now.

  7. #7
    scouserdave
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipG View Post
    I'll even use a tripod!
    Do you think it's safe to take such a risk?
    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipG
    Using a tripod at night, when alone in a dark street doesn't seem a wise move to me.
    Even taking photos in daylight leaves oneself open to muggers.

  8. #8
    PhilipG
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    Quote Originally Posted by scouserdave View Post
    Do you think it's safe to take such a risk?
    Dave, that's the second time you've brought up that old quote, and used it out of context.
    Don't you realise that it speaks volumes about you.
    I wonder if anybody else on this forum would be a*sed?

  9. #9
    scouserdave
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipG View Post
    Dave, that's the second time you've brought up that old quote, and used it out of context.
    Don't you realise that it speaks volumes about you.
    I wonder if anybody else on this forum would be a*sed?
    I was jokingly replying to your reference(s) about tripods. Get a grip Phil.

  10. #10
    FKoE
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    I remember the day when it opened.. and me mam would'nt go up it, so we all sat in the Wimpy burger bar an looked up instead

  11. #11
    Senior Member Waterways's Avatar
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    When the tower was rising there was a covered section where the fellas worked - no crane. The covered bit looked like the bit on the top right now. The concrete was fed from the inside. It reached full height and the covers came off and a small crane was fitted at the top. This lifted the concrete sections that made the two saucers - floor and roof. As much as possible was taken up via the crane, rather than inside.
    The new Amsterdam at Liverpool?
    Save Liverpool Docks and Waterways - Click

    Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
    becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
    longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
    tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
    canals to view its modern museum describing
    how it once was?


    Giving Liverpool a full Metro - CLICK
    Rapid-transit rail: Everton, Liverpool & Arena - CLICK

    Save Royal Iris - Sign Petition

  12. #12
    PhilipG
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    Default Lettercard.

    This came out (presumably) when the tower was new.
    There is no publisher's name, so I'll post the lot.

    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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  13. #13
    MissInformed
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    many thanks philip!
    i take it you got yourself a super scanner then?

    how do you actually get into the tower?

  14. #14
    scouserdave
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipG View Post
    This came out (presumably) when the tower was new.
    There is no publisher's name, so I'll post the lot.
    Thanks Phil.
    Do you have any of your own that you could post?

  15. #15
    PhilipG
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    Quote Originally Posted by scouserdave View Post
    Thanks Phil.
    Do you have any of your own that you could post?
    No.
    Sorry.

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