K
kpreed
Guest
It is one of those "wish I said that" kind of letters I want to share.
I'm sure we all have our own reasons why we collect. Some may do it in hopes of making a profit. Some may collect for the love of wood restoration. Some for the thrill of bringing a dead chassis back to life.
Why do I collect radios? For me, it's the drive. The want. The desire to preserve a piece of Americana, a part of America that will never return again. I look at a you guys in here as the last of a dying breed. Once you guys are gone, where will those of us who cherish these radios go for advice, instruction, knowledge, and tricks of the trade? Who will carry on?
I've always loved the past. My first car I bought in 1970 was a 1939 Ford Coupe. As I've mentioned in a previous threads that I own very valuable pre-prohibition shot glasses. I collected Coleman Lanterns and accessories for quite a while. I dabbled in watches and clocks for a short time. But none of those has inspired me like the flavor of these old radios that I've tasted have. I am truly hooked on these old relics. Each radio has its own personality, it's own stories to tell if it could talk and tell us the things it's seen come and go through the living rooms, the parlors, the shops, the farms, etc., throughout their powered up lives. But now, a lot of them are tossed in the garage with the rest of the junk. Sometimes literally thrown away in the garbage can.
I love the past. I love old things. And my love for the past, the values this country had when these radios were in their prime, the work ethics, and the way the country pulled together and realized what patriotism was all about.
Basically, I am collecting these old radios because it takes me back to the days of my youth. I had a great childhood. I doubt I'll ever sell the radios I've aquired so far. And if I do, I'll pass it on to the next fella at a fair price. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the hunt, enjoy the learning experience, and the thrill of learning as much as I can.
Before I end, think about this.... Imagine how many different hands have turned the knobs on the radios that you guys own. Imagine a time when that was how they got their news. Not by a bunch of pretty television talking heads, but instead, by a voice and a voice only. Listeners were left to their imagination as to what the speaker looked like, etc. It was/is a wonderful stimuli. We have to use our brains to listen to a radio. Isn't wondering a great thing?
I collect radios because I love the feel of wood, the sight of glowing tubes, strange new dials, shiny glass, buttons, knobs, and, the smell these classics give off.
Long live the tubes!
_________________
I'm sure we all have our own reasons why we collect. Some may do it in hopes of making a profit. Some may collect for the love of wood restoration. Some for the thrill of bringing a dead chassis back to life.
Why do I collect radios? For me, it's the drive. The want. The desire to preserve a piece of Americana, a part of America that will never return again. I look at a you guys in here as the last of a dying breed. Once you guys are gone, where will those of us who cherish these radios go for advice, instruction, knowledge, and tricks of the trade? Who will carry on?
I've always loved the past. My first car I bought in 1970 was a 1939 Ford Coupe. As I've mentioned in a previous threads that I own very valuable pre-prohibition shot glasses. I collected Coleman Lanterns and accessories for quite a while. I dabbled in watches and clocks for a short time. But none of those has inspired me like the flavor of these old radios that I've tasted have. I am truly hooked on these old relics. Each radio has its own personality, it's own stories to tell if it could talk and tell us the things it's seen come and go through the living rooms, the parlors, the shops, the farms, etc., throughout their powered up lives. But now, a lot of them are tossed in the garage with the rest of the junk. Sometimes literally thrown away in the garbage can.
I love the past. I love old things. And my love for the past, the values this country had when these radios were in their prime, the work ethics, and the way the country pulled together and realized what patriotism was all about.
Basically, I am collecting these old radios because it takes me back to the days of my youth. I had a great childhood. I doubt I'll ever sell the radios I've aquired so far. And if I do, I'll pass it on to the next fella at a fair price. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the hunt, enjoy the learning experience, and the thrill of learning as much as I can.
Before I end, think about this.... Imagine how many different hands have turned the knobs on the radios that you guys own. Imagine a time when that was how they got their news. Not by a bunch of pretty television talking heads, but instead, by a voice and a voice only. Listeners were left to their imagination as to what the speaker looked like, etc. It was/is a wonderful stimuli. We have to use our brains to listen to a radio. Isn't wondering a great thing?
I collect radios because I love the feel of wood, the sight of glowing tubes, strange new dials, shiny glass, buttons, knobs, and, the smell these classics give off.
Long live the tubes!
_________________
