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| VINTAGE
RADIO LINKS Here are just a few links to start you off exploring the (surprisingly large) world of vintage radio out there on the world wide web. Over the past quarter-century the hobby has grown from nothing to a specialist part of the antiques field generating major worldwide interest. There are so many fascinating web sites on the topic it's difficult to know where to start, and any selection is bound to be a personal one. To keep things simple, I've kept this list as brief as possible and have also removed any site I don't rate as 'excellent'. You'll also find all but one of the sites listed here are UK-based. Several of them have large and comprehensive international links pages of their own and you'll soon find yourself branching out into outposts of the hobby all over the world. So prepare to settle back now for hours of happy surfing ! Old Radio Broadcasting Equipment and Memories Let's start with this absolutely fascinating site, full of personal reminiscences of the B.B.C. in former days. From the birth of Broadcasting House, through the war, to the later impact of Pirate Radio and details of modern control rooms, it's all here. I found the section on Wood Norton in wartime highly interesting, since I worked there myself for many years. A marvellous site, which really brings to life what it was like to work in radio broadcasting in the UK. The British Vintage Wireless Society Useful introduction to the BVWS. This site continues to develop. Recently all the '405-Alive' (vintage television) content has been moved here. This section is of excellent quality and makes for an absolutely absorbing read. Also the National Vintage Communications Fair has now been taken under the BVWS wing and there's a informative page available. It's all here ! Information and pictures of all sorts of vintage electronic technology including (but not limited to) radio. In fact there's everything here from vacuum cleaners through calculators to crazy inventions. I would imagine that this site would make a particularly good research tool for serious study of the field. Timelines and tables make access to information easy. Everything here benefits from in-depth treatment and excellent illustrations. A useful glossary of technical terms is also included. Steve Harris has achieved much since he founded this business ten years ago and now runs Britain's biggest vintage technology centre. Although this site is still under development, it already includes a virtual tour of Steve's renowned 'Broadcasting Museum' (now sold on to the BBC), information about their new business premises and details of 'Airwaves' magazine. In all, highly recommended. This is a very stylish, easy-to-use and clearly laid-out site packed with information on all the major UK brands. It is particularly strong on Murphy. Components and valve information sections are promised for the future but be sure to visit now; you won't be disappointed. Worldwide Vintage Wireless Database Martin Francis has done a brilliant job creating this database-intensive site. It's basically an online compendium of vintage radios and valves. Crucially, visitors can easily add their own data to the site. There's also a useful set dating feature based on Jonathan Hill's dial examination method. The database itself can be downloaded for use in your own computer. Martin is an interesting chap and the other areas of his site are well worth exploring too. Malcolm Bennett's excellent site is an absolute mine of information, including a very well-researched and comprehensive links section and instant access to the valve line-up of a large number of British sets. This Canadian site is a major source for circuit diagram 'schematics' for your vintage radio on the web. The range of sets covered is international, and vintage-compatible capacitors are available too. Well worth checking out. This is the grand-daddy of vintage radio sites on the net. Paul Stenning has set a standard with this popular site that few others can match. Everything is here, with comprehensive resources to support every facet of the hobby. Vitaliy Brusnikin's unique 'Soviet Antique Radio Gallery' deals in great depth with the fascinating world of Soviet-era vintage radios. All periods are represented and the site is available in both Russian and English. A definite 'must-see'. This neatly designed site is a very useful resource, offering an excellent selection of books and magazines and also a good range of components suitable for vintage radio and gram decks. Well worth a visit. A premier US site, with everything an enthusiast could need to pursue the hobby - at all levels from beginner to advanced. If you're interested in British vintage television, Jon Evans' "valve page" site is without doubt the major resource on the internet. Here you'll find everything you need, including details and illustrations of all sets manufactured from 1936 to 1960, the historical context and much more - all annotated in Jon's inimitable style. Highly recommended. There's quite a social scene associated with recreating the 1940s and I'm not talking about vintage radio swapmeets... At 1940.co.uk Ian Bailey has created something really special. Here you'll find details of the 1940 Society and their activities. There are also excellent historial resources available here as well as a thriving message board. A must-see. Carrying on with the social scene connected with re-enactment of life in the 1940s, at this engaging site you can catch up with the latest events organised by this club, which recaptures life as it was lived on Britain's home front. A surprisingly young crowd are involved; you can see many of them depicted in period scenes on the site, though you'd be forgiven for thinking the photos are actually vintage ! |
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RADIOCRAFT
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