First concrete TV towerIn 1956, the world's first concrete television tower on the Hoher Bopser hill was inaugurated in Stuttgart, Germany, for Süddeutscher Rundfunk (now SWR). Instead of a steel girder transmitter mast, design engineers Fritz Leonhardt, Erwin Heinle and Rolf Gutbrod originated a 217-m steel-topped concrete needle to broadcast TV and FM radio. The observation decks three-fourths to the top provide tourists with views of Stuttgart, the local forests, vineyards and the Alps. It was built in 20 months at a cost of 4.2 million DM. Similar designs have since been used for many television towers around the world. The inauguration was attended by Anastas Iwanowitsch Mikojan, who later became head of state of the Soviet Union.« |
