Saturday 6 June 2020

Student repairs vintage radios during lock-down



Student repairs vintage radios during lock-down

Another good news lock-down story now, featuring an A-level Electronics student with an obvious enthusiasm for vintage radios.  Although the article makes much of young Mr Martins' use of lock-down time to maximise his restoration work, clearly this has been a long-term hobby for him and certainly something that he seems intent to continue - and more power to him! 

It is splendid also to encounter such a welcome attitude towards old technology as that displayed by this 19-year-old chap - quite a rare thing amongst his generation in fact, I would venture to suggest.  Where most teenagers would be gushing over the latest piece of black or white "smart" tech this lad is [rightly] lamenting about their "sterile" and overly slick design and enthusing about the "endearing charm" of vintage radios and the style they represent.  It is a view that has long been championed both here on Eclectic Ephemera (and again recently) and elsewhere in the blogosphere and I find myself nodding in agreement with everything young Diogo says.  It's equally wonderful to see him talk with obvious appreciation about the social history and "ritual" of listening to the radio and encouraging to note that he sees the legacy in it all as something to be preserved for future generations. 

source

With traditional analogue radios under threat from the more modern digital platforms (which do have their place, don't get me wrong, but not at the expense of AM and FM) it is good to know that there are young people out there still demonstrably interested in conserving this tried-and-tested technology and ensuring that classic radios from the past are given a new lease of life.  Well done to Diogo, I say, and long may he continue to follow his passion providing sanctuary for discarded wirelesses.

2 comments:

  1. Wonderful video!
    It brought back many memories of my youth making crystal radios and by about 12 or 13 venturing out into the world of making old radios work. I learned a lot on my own and with the help of a mentor. Eventually on to college and a career in electronics.
    Those old radios generally sound much better than anything modern, and the valve sets have wonderful front ends that transistors (as designed into radios) cannot touch.

    Good to see the chap keeping up a great tradition.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a charming young man! Thank you, too, for the hat tip, Dear Bruce.

    ReplyDelete

Don't just sit there, type something! I enjoy reading all friendly and positive comments.

Followers

Popular Posts