Air Signal Pittsburgh a Mysterious Early Paging service heard on multi band radios around the region in 60s in Pittsburgh Region

Back in AM radio days of 60s as the new FM  band was making its way to the top  it was all the rage to have one of the new multi-band Radios which had AM, FM ,VHF, TV  and some times MB Military Band or W Short Wave  and when you tuned down into the VHF band to hear Pittsburgh Police  you would hear a short twist down dial this repeating message 

This is Air Signal Pittsburgh there are no messages at this time. 

But then you might hear a message like This air signal Pittsburgh  Dr. Johnson you have a message 

So what was going on ?

Well it was one of the first Pager services in the country that was run by a lady I meet during a exhibition at now demolished Central Medical Center Hospital.in Pittsburgh's Hill District.

From what I gather the system worked by some one trying to contact a subscriber who  would call a special number  and leave a message with Air Signal Operator , who then recorded the message which was continuously broadcast over the designated VHF band . The Dr. or CEO who had the receiver  would then turn it on between calls and breaks and listen to see if he had a message he would then call special number to retrieve from the operator.  

Since the system was such an early use of airwaves I do not know if a tone signal was sent out like more modern pagers to let you know you have a message which is why it kept repeating.

 

I have searched for and have found no information on this business and will try old business directorys but i have asked numerous people about it and no one remembers it but they do remember hearing the signal but no info on company. 

The now Demolished G.A. R home where Civil War Veterans Widows lived and where still alive well into late 1990s

 Yes hard to believe a Civil War Veterans where still alive well into 19190s at the G.A.R Home in Swissvale  on Wood Stock Ave.which stands for the Grand Army of the Republic

But it true in fact the last official widow receiving a pension check passed in 2013

The building always has a mystique about no signage except in front and very little you can find on line  and now that it has been demolished it will soon be forgotten altogether

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2018/02/01/Swissvale-s-historic-Ladies-GAR-home-to-be-demolished/stories/201802010014

 

Built in 1890 to house widows of the war veterans the home was expanded over the years to 53 rooms and eventually some time in 80s started excepting regular civilians  not GAR affiliated it sat facing the river and getting to it was not easy the way streets intersected to it. 

 But your saying to yourself wait a minute how could widows still be alaive that long ? Well in days past  older civil war vets would marry much younger women  as was common in those days a young man would establish himself and then seek a young bride and of course there where some vets who married younger women who where well into their senior years so yes its was possible to ave widows living that long. 

There are still Spanish war vets widows receiving  benefits .

 Its very strange not much was written about or can be found on the old GAR home which gives it all that more mystery since it stayed out of the news.

 

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