Collecting

Collecting - What and how?

One can collect anything from cigars to postage stamps. But we collect all kinds of old radios.

The collector (most are men but there are women who either collect in their own right or with their male partner) has different motives for practising this hobby. Some have technical interests, Others see it as an investment and hope of monetary appreciation. Other simply have a desire to own a piece of old technology.

The scope of what is collectable in Radios is very large. From big superheats, portables, music boxes, loudspeakers, Wehrmacht radios, car radios, or only sets from particular manufacturers. In my case only Loewe Opta.

There are some collectors with fat wallets who are greedy and want everything but will give nothing.

But that is up to the individual. The main thing is to have fun with one's hobby.

However there are some ground rules that all collectors should be clear about.

1. Try not to collect everything. You will get too many radios and you will forget what you have. There are about 5000 pre-war radio models and not many fewer post war models

2. Always be aware of your available space. You might have a small apartment and the radios end up in the garage or the cellar and that won't do. You cannot see them or you will get into trouble with the wife.

3. Be realistic about your abilities to repair your radios. When one acquires rare radio sets one needs plenty of space to restore them. And restoration materials can be very expensive.

4. Decide whether originality or functionality comes first for you. Here there is a difference of opinion among collectors. Some reject even a gentle cleaning a radio and insist on leaving the circuit untouched even if the radio no longer works.

Others would like to hear the set play again and here one needs to replace a tube or a capacitor. Where can one still get these old treasures?

One can still find many of them nowadays. Just look in the newspaper or in auctions for example at www.ebay.de or www.ebay.com or www.ricardo.de and so on. You could also put an ad in the local paper "Seeking old radios"

And when the first set comes into the house. Try to create some order about your collection. Above all try to involve the woman in your life in your hobby. Do not ignore her!!

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