Who collects old vintage radios?

itguyinaction

As in the title, who collects old vintage radios? Will you share your collection with us?

Pelvis Parsley

Me!

My shack is up in a heap with the last while, as I’m having a fully sealed lean to built on one side of the house for storing everything that shouldn’t be in the shed. When I reclaim that space I’ll get back at it again.

I have a selection of everything from the thirties to the seventies. Valve and later transistor. Some nice vintage audio gear too (Technics/Marantz). HMV, Bush, Decca (just the one tranny), Philips, Ekco, and Pye. Nothing exotic except the HMV which is a beautiful work in progress, a 650 from 1936 or so.

Projects for restoration are readily available here, although everything seems to be an “Irish Pye!”

I’m hoping to hit the UK in autumn and pick up some more unusual ones, once I have the shed/shack space sorted out.

Only one TV in the collection-a Hitachi with a very soft tube. In the pile for restoration.

10000maniacs

I have been collecting Japanese radios since the 80's.

Here are a selection of some of the items I have collected.

DublinWriter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117784852#Comment_117784852

Had that Sony in the bottom right. Sold it for mad-money last year. Still a firm favourite of spies!

Pelvis Parsley

I have the ICF 7600 alright. I must recap it sometime as it's disappointing enough on HF.

Lot of QRM here though...

10000maniacs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117784865#Comment_117784865

Every so often you can pick one of those up for maybe €100 on eBay.  They are really cool.

But you have to be aware there are a few weak areas on these radios like the battery compartment. 

If you go at the batteries full tongs, you will damage the surrounding plastic.

The ribbon cables connecting the base to the display go open circuit in the first version, because of the lack of a notch in the hinge and the opening and closing of the radio. This was corrected in subsequent versions.

The "leather" case rots and breaks up sometimes if not stored at room temperature in a dry area.

This type of material was never meant to last 30 years.

Caps are fine in this radio, never cause problems like they do in the ICF sw001.

Caps in some of these Sony radios have been a disaster for customers.

Ger Roe

It depends what you mean by 'vintage'.... I have a collection of bits and pieces that I sometimes use in talks given to young people. I start off by telling them that some of the radios I have, weren't vintage when I bought and used them!

Includes :

1980's Grundig Satellite 1400, 1940's RCA AR77 military communications receiver, 1927 BBC Crystal set. 1950's portable valve AM receiver (battery powered), 1970's AM/FM & CB radio receiver, 1980's Airband, 1960's early Transistor radio, 1980's pocket Sony FM transistor, 1950's Murphy house radio, 1980's Summit Freeplay wind up radio, 1980's Hitachi TRK 8080 BoomBox (used to tape most of the recordings featured on Anorak Hour programmes) It's not that I collect them so much, more that I am given them to save from being thrown in a skip.

I usually go through the various design changes that resulted in easier use through the decades - better frequency ranges, smaller physical size, the change from mains powered valves to battery valves to discrete semi conductor components and on to integrated circuits. I end up by showing them an Alinco DJ X3 communications receiver, explaining that for its tiny size, it covers more radio bands than all the others combined (50% of the physical size is the 3 x AA battery compartment).

I then tell them that they have the most powerful communications receivers ever built, in their pockets and that their phones can be used to listen to radio from all over the world.

You have to hope that a spark of interest might break out to use their phones for more than watching video of cats playing the piano 😀

itguyinaction

Let me allow to propose you one video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yk_FwGXTK4

Iconic Hi-Fi towers, equipment for marine, military and diving (Radmor)

*** Reportage from the exhibition dedicated to the legendary Radmor company products. Do you remember those iconic Hi-Fi towers from the 80's? In addition, equipment for ships, divers and army. Welcome! ***

spurious

I had one of these in the late 70s but haven't seen it in years. It may be in my parents' attic. Many an evening I spent with it DXing, chunky Soviet style.

Vega Selena B212.

Ger Roe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117825704#Comment_117825704

Nice gear. I now have what my wife calls 'clutter crap' envy. 😁

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117784852#Comment_117784852

I have a Sangean ATS909 in mint condition up for sale. If you're interested, pls PM me.

Pelvis Parsley

Hmm. Could go for that myself maybe. If he’s not interested.

How much are you asking?

Pelvis Parsley

Built like a tank these, and sold here in modest numbers.

Fine respectable radios.

(Prick of a site dropped the quote-I was referring of course to the Vega).

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117829564#Comment_117829564

Euro 180 plus cost of shipment, maybe 15 Euros? All in original packaging.

Pelvis Parsley

Seems reasonable eough, but I'll give the other chap first refusal, as you asked him! We can take it to PM so as not to clog the thread if he's not interested.

10000maniacs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117829923#Comment_117829923

Just to confirm I am not interested. I have a Sony that is a near exact clone, so I will stick with that.

Pelvis Parsley

Thank you.