Reply To: why do you collect radios?

[Les Dickson]

Interesting questions!

• Nostalgia: As an adolescent and early teen I had the discarded family radio in my bedroom. The cover was missing and I recall listening to CJME late at night – in that half-sleep state – while the glow of the tubes ‘warmed’ the room. I now know – after some research – that it was an Emerson 744B (and I wish I had one now!)
• Opportunity: In the ’80s I was taking a load to the local dump and sitting there, recently abandoned was an old cabinet radio. I brought it home and stored it in the basement thinking that at some point I’d restore it. (Hasn’t happened yet.) It’s a Northern Electric Lucerne.
• Opportunity keeps knocking: About two years ago I was able to acquire three radios, a tube tester and an assortment of related items that had been donated to our local ReStore.
• Timing & Challenge: I’m easing into retirement and I love the challenge of learning something new as I attempt to get the radios operational again. I have no electronics background and am continually amazed at the complexity of these old radios – at least to me.
• Congruence: We live in an old home – 1911 – and love collecting old furniture so the radios are a great fit. However, I’m running out of room to display them. Also, I love working in my office and listening to CBC radio which to me is a quintessential Canadian resource.