This shop first opened it's doors in 1994 for friends and neighbors to bring their tube era radios in for repair. The shop owner was a young kid not yet out of Junior High with a passion for vintage radios. Because of college the shop closed its doors for 4 years, but now has reopened to yet again do business.
Why repair vintage radios?
Antique and vintage radios are part of our history. They surround us everyday everywhere. In our cars, our homes, our offices, on the street corner, radios are everywhere. There was a time when people dreamed of a radio in every room, yet that was just a dream. During the golden age of radio, most homes had only one, maybe two radios. Everyone would gather around the large consol and listen to the radio plays, The Shadow, X minus 1, Abotte and Costello, the early soap operas. This was the 1930s, TVs were owned by the exclusive wealthy, and as nothing more than a barely usable show piece to prove their wealth. Our history must be preserved, and these are a key part.
They have style. Modern radios are cheap pieces of plastic and metal, they are not designed to look nice, but to work. There was a time when radio was such a key part of the home, it had to look nice in the home. The designs for each radio was unique, many of which are true examples of art deco workmanship. They experimented with different kinds and looks of plastic. Many of the wood consol radios from the 1920s are highly ornate, often times being hand carved.
Radios have stories to tell. If a radio has been in your family, often times since new, there are stories about it. Many of the people I purchased radios from remember listening to the attack on pearl habor, or how a loved one would turn it on every day to listen to a particular show. They kept these radios, often times not working for over 40 years, because of sentimental value.
All of these factors combined make these radios valuable, not just to a collector, but to everyone. Vintage radios have monetary value, but I consider that secondary to their place in history, style, and heart.
