museum seeks donations to transport coach to Blytheville Antique bus show.

[pd4501-771]

I am the organizer for the upcoming "Ghosts of Highway 61-Dixie Tour 2013" National Antique bus show – to be held at the restored former Greyhound terminal in Blytheville, Arkansas April 4-6, 2013. I recently became aware of a most unusual historic vehicle that I feel would be an outstanding display at the event.

Chuck Conrad of the Chalk Hill Media Museum located in Kilgore, Texas, has restored a rather amazing and truly rare vehicle. A 1949 Flxible DuMont Television "Telecruiser" (Model B, Number 101). This coach was sold new to KBTV Dallas channel 8 TV and was one of the very first mobile TV production vehicles ever built.  When new, it was outfitted with state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment of the time. This is believed to be the last survivor of twelve ever produced.

This Telecruiser is believed to have been used during part of ABC TV/WFAA coverage of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas.

Chuck has a large collection of vintage TV broadcasting equipment (cameras, etc.) that would make a very interesting display to accompany the Telecruiser coach.

Due to the untested reliability of the original Buick straight eight engine, Chuck feels more comfortable if the Telecruiser is treated as a static display. Therefore, it is necessary to transport the Telecruiser to events by truck. Chuck Conrad is the founder and President of Chalk Hill Educational Media, Inc., a not for profit 501 (c) (3) corporation museum established in 2000. Due to the limited financial resources of the group, we are asking for help from bus enthusiasts like YOU !

To donate please visit the Telecruiser website. Also see  fascinating history, archival photos, and cool  facts:

http://www.telecruiser.com/     

Please donate as much as you like toward the truck transport expenses for the Telecruiser. It will cost $5,000. to transport the Telecruiser round trip. Every dollar counts! Please send donations via credit card, etc. through Paypal  to:  dumonttelecruiser@yahoo.com or send donations payable to:

Chalk Hill Educational Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 1008
Kilgore, TX 75663

Please select "gift" within the Paypal menu, so the museum receives your full donation without any fees from Paypal. If the Paypal link from the Telecruiser site does not cooperate for you, just know that you can log into www.paypal.com to send your donation.

Every donor will receive a thank you letter for tax deduction purposes. Please send me your email or mailing address to receive such a letter.  tbonemcnally@hotmail.com

Please help us achieve this very worthy goal.  I feel the general public would love to have a chance to see such a historic vehicle up close. I will report back with updates on our progress! We can do this!

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Tom McNally
Peoria, IL.
(309)253-2169

[Van]

That is a unique bus for sure.

[pd4501-771]

That's what I thought too. I was blown away the first time I read about it. Take care

Tom