My radio collection is not a large one, consisting of fifteen units (of which twelve work) from 1925 to 1937. I began by getting a working 1931 Philco 70 cathedral (in my opinion among the most beautiful of all antique radios) in the Fall of 2002 at which point I had the misfortune of listening to my beloved New York Yankees get blown out of the 2002 American League playoffs by the California Angels. From there I proceeded to delve into Atwater Kents, eventually lucking out with a working 20C which along with my working 1930 Philco 20 cathedral, are the stars of my collection. Since I know very little about restoration at this time (I'm currently trying to figure out how to get a Philco 60 early version cathedral to work) I concentrate on getting whatever I can afford at any given time and what appeals to my sense of taste (I am very partial to cathedrals and have six of them). The latter is very important for unless you want to go through the hassle of going to eBay (I've bought all but three of my radios from there but after stumbling across a semi-working Philco 70 at a local antique shop for just fifty bucks am beginning to look elsewhere) the odds are you're going to be stuck with what you have for awhile unless of course you're intent on taking a loss. Many collectors don't care whether or not a radio works but also being a collector of antique candlestick telephones, I am anxious to make use of whatever antiques I have so a working device is usually a condition I set before buying. However, that is of course a matter of personal choice. Since it is only wise to use an antique radio for an hour or so at a time, it is very important to have several working models in close proximity to one another. That way if you like to listen to ballgames as I do then you can switch from one to the other without missing any of the action. Having a long enough antenna (copper wire is best) is the key to getting good reception for the AM band invariably shifts from one radio to another even if they're side by side. The pleasure at owning these sets cannot be exaggerated.

[Some of Eric's radios] -- F.W.

Being only thirty nine years old, having a working set that is more than twice my age is a source of endless wonder. I am always left speechless by the realization that my 1925 Atwater Kent 20C once carried the voice of President Calvin Coolidge, broadcast the 1925 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Senators (the Pirates won in seven games after being down three games to one) and was sold while Robert Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln's oldest son, was still alive. The history associated with these sets alone make them worth buying for these radios literally ushered in the era of modern communications. Because of the radio the world became a much smaller place and through them the endless human struggle for equal rights took on such an immediacy as to make all such struggles global affairs. When one starts to collect it would be wise to join such clubs as the Antique Wireless Association for there you can easily communicate with people who are experts in the field and who can give you helpful tips on building a collection that is a wonder to see.

Though my collection is indeed small it is choice, consisting of Atwater Kents, Philcos, General Electric, Zenith, and Grunow. Now, if only I can save up enough money to get a few working consoles? Excuse me for daydreaming; if we antique radio collectors have nothing else in common it is this; we always want more and in this case, more is not necessarily a bad thing.