As one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, Duke Energy is at the forefront of new beginnings. And while we're investing in the future, we'll never forget the people and events that got us to where we are today.
This collection of photos is from Florida Power Corporation, a Duke Energy legacy company that was acquired by Carolina Power & Light (CP&L) in 2000 to form Progress Energy Corporation. When Duke Energy merged with Progress Energy in 2012, the company had about 7.1 million electric customers. Today, Duke Energy delivers electricity to 8.4 million customers in six states.
Photo 818: If you recognize this Florida Power Corp. lineworker – or know what region he worked in – send us the info at illumination@duke-energy.com, and please include the photo number or attach the image.
Photo 822: We’d love to know what’s happening in this photo and where it was taken. Any guesses?
Photo 823: Do you remember “Radio Watch”? What can you tell us about it? We’re also interested to know who this is and when he worked at Florida Power.
Photo 821: Who are these lineworkers? Where in Florida did they work?
You helped us learn more about these photos …
Photo 816: We know more about this truck, thanks to Brian Croft, Rick Simmons, Greg Bray and Tom Tate. Everyone agreed it’s a Diamond T, though the verdict is out on what year it was manufactured.
According to Tate, “The truck pictured is a 1936 or ‘37 Diamond T, Model 80 with a utility bed for what appears to be running new cable/wire. I lean toward 1936, given that the model shown was all new for 1936. It was considered one of the nicest trucks you could buy at the time.”
Bray leaned toward 1937, saying it would have been used by a distribution line crew to set poles, carry transformers, pull stringing rigs, etc. like a line truck is used today. As for the high tube running across the rear of the bed, he said, “This could be used as a wire spool rack, or as part of the support for an A-frame derrick to set poles as there were no hydraulic booms at the time.”
Photo 820: Scott Mallory recognized his dad, Lawrence Mallory, in this photo. Pictured third from left, he said Mallory – also known as “Chief” – was a general line foreman at Florida Power for 37 years.
“I don’t know where this was taken,” Scott Mallory said, “but my dad and Larry Hardy (left) worked out of the Haines City, Fla., distribution yard.”
The unidentified individuals may have worked as Duke Power line techs, according to Bray, who said, “If you look closely at the hardhats of the two men facing the camera, you can see the old Reddy Kilowatt Citizenship/Service logo. I still have mine at home.
“They are transporting a single-phase distribution transformer on a hand cart, most likely because they had to change out the transformer by hand with a set of blocks on a pole that was inaccessible with a line truck,” Bray continued. “Also, judging from the clothing and equipment, I am guessing this photo was taken in the 1970s.”
Ryon Roberts added: “They’re using a dolly to roll an old CSP transformer back to the trucks to be hauled off during a transformer replacement. This older style of transformer used an internal secondary breaker, an internal high-side weak link fuse and an external arrestor – all of which were supposed to preserve the transformer and extend its life.”
