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Australia’s largest exhibition of Vintage Radios: The HRSA 30th Anniversary RadioFest By Kevin Poulter It’s on this month in Melbourne: 22-23 September at the Springvale Town Hall. We’ll see you there! T he Historical Radio Society (HRSA) was formed by a group of vintage radio enthusiasts in 1982, led by Ray Kelly, who was a formerly a PMG radio technician. The society’s aims were to preserve vintage radios, plus source circuits and parts. They could never imagine their tiny group would grow to 1,200 members, one of the largest Vintage Radio Societies in the world. HRSA groups meet each month in major cities and regions around Australia to share and exchange in- formation on the golden days of radio – when radio was king and the source of national plus international news, entertainment and education. A time too, when the larger radios – and later radiograms – were the finest furniture in the home. To attract buyers from the multitude of brands available, magnificently designed radios were manufactured, with superb mouldings in wood and Bakelite – along with creative posters, photographs and magazines. The world’s radio factories ranged from immense – even by today’s standards (see the Atwater Kent story, SILICON CHIP, March 2012), to many tiny 1-3 man factories, or even based in home garages. Production included radios for essential services such as the military and the HRSA members have just as diverse interest groups. Each member considers it’s vital to preserve Australia’s radio Two highly collectable and much-sought-after historic radios: at left is a Peter Pan bakelite and alongside it, an AWA “big brother” Empire Radio. siliconchip.com.au 61  S ilicon Chip September 2012  61 Psst! Wanna buy a not-so-cheap radio? But what’s that XBox doing there? heritage, given it’s incredibly easy for people to throw out old radios. Then they are lost forever. Horror stories from members remind us how fragile history can be. Australia’s largest Radio Exhibition The aim of the Historical Radio Society of Australia (HRSA) members is to ensure everyone, now and in the future, can see vintage radios. These are displayed at HRSA Anniversary events, (now called their RadioFest). After a successful event in Canberra, the HRSA is celebrating their 30th Anniversary in Melbourne on September 22-23, in the huge Springvale Town Hall. Members are coming from around Australia and the display is open to the public on Sunday 23rd. The entire hall and adjoining rooms are booked out by the Society, to display hundreds (perhaps up to one thousand) of vintage radios, from Marconi spark radios, to the plastic radios of the 60s. chance to see every conceivable type of radio – Mantel, Cathedral, Military, Battery, Spark, Crystal Set, Vibrator, Car, Console and radiograms, to name a few. There are also related items, like a 1950s Marconi TV camera. There will be the rarest radios, especially Marconi spark radios meticulously built by a HRSA member from photographs, drawings and circuits. In fact you are sure to see some radios that are either the only one in existence, or extremely rare. The Gallery will display posters of radios, advertisements and radio production along with Australian Production photographs too, including local production in the area, such as PYE Telecommunications. Admission for HRSA members is free, or the public can visit Sunday’s Exhibition and Radio Market (items for sale) for $5 each, $15 per family. A magnificent range of vintage radios on display Not only is the event Australia’s largest radio display by far – it’s a rare 62  Silicon Chip This radio has been meticulously hand-built as a close replica of a Marconi Radio, originally made in London. siliconchip.com.au and cannot get to many meetings, member’s benefits are many. For just $35 a year, including a colour magazine every quarter, members can order any of the Society’s 20,000 tested valves, ask for a circuit for almost all known Australian radios, obtain technical advice and data sheets, information on all types of component and radio restoration, mateship with fellow radio people and a “Yellow Pages” market newsletter where members can advertise at no charge for items, either wanted, to sell or to swap. Most of Australia’s vintage radios are in HRSA hands SILICON CHIP is a sponsor of the event, with the current issue for sale. HRSA memberships and their journal Radio Waves, can also be purchased at the event. Look, buy, sell Now here’s where it gets really exciting – many of the radios, parts, magazines, posters and more vintage radio items will be on sale. You can even purchase “new, old stock” valves (NOS). Yes, people have stored brand new valves for generations. There are also many more pre-owned valves tested to be within their emission and other specifications. For wider interest, including for children, be sure to see the vintage working telephone exchange, teardrop caravan surrounded by portable valve radios of the era, Radio Battery Shop, 19th century Benz car and a vintage TV camera filming and starring the visitors on a glorious Black and White screen. obtain parts or a radio that has eluded them for many years. This opportunity to obtain rare items comes with a HRSA proviso –radios purchased should not be re-sold on eBay or other commercial sales a short time thereafter. This ensures bidding is from genuine collectors in the Society only. There will also be members-only radio repair workshops and a sit-down dinner for over 100 of Australia’s most talented radio restorers and collectors, with a well-known radio personality as the speaker. Even if you live in a regional area Collectively it’s estimated the HRSA members have over 30,000 radios and radio-related items. There’s a vast array of member’s specialities which can help you in your interest, like military radios, transistor radios and much more. Some members focus on restoring timber cabinet or Bakelite radios. A few who repair broken Bakelite are masters of the craft, taking up to 30 pieces or more and joining them invisibly. My speciality is collecting and restoring radio advertisements and photographs. The website www.ozradios.com has details and a link to the HRSA site, where you can apply for membership. (The application form asks for a member to nominate you, however if you don’t know anyone in the HRSA, just leave that blank.) SC HRSA membership There are huge benefits in joining the HRSA before the event. Members have a free “access all areas” pass, so they can be part of the action all weekend, including a Class Auction, where some of the finest radios in Australia can be purchased. The event will see even better radios and paraphernalia than offered at the regular HRSA members-only auctions and radio markets (swap-meets) held through the year. Member-to-member sales are aimed to give newer members the opportunity to build their collection at lower prices, or all members a chance to siliconchip.com.au A range of novelty transistor radios will be for sale, such as those built into “piano” cases, cartoon characters or even mini jukeboxes! September 2012  63