Pavek Museum in Minnesota + Northland Antique Radio Club

[Freeberg, Scott (STP)]

I belong to the Northland Antique Radio Club which is fortunate to have its
meetings at the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting here in Minnesota, specifically
St. Louis Park which is just north of Minneapolis.  I'd heard about the
museum for some years now but had no interest in a "broadcast" museum.
After joining Northland and attending my first meeting, I got a chance to go
through the museum, taking all the time I wanted.    You gotta hear this.

It is nothing short of being absolutely amazing!  I left there in awe of
what I'd seen.  Probably the most amazing display of radio equipment that I
will ever see!  I got to see a selection of ham radio receivers and
transmitters, including a 32V and 75A1, and an amazing amount of crystal
radios, tube radios from the teens, 20's, 30', 40's, plastic radios,
military radios, televisions, tubes and even more tubes.  I got to see a
Deforest Audion and a real coherer.  They have vintage test equipment,
turntables, broadcast stuff including alot of really cool microphones (for
the BA AM guys like myself).  They even have fully operational spark station
set up!   There is also a ham station setup running a Collins KWM-2 and
30L1, a 75A4, and a 51J.

Even the vintage broadcast stuff was facinating.  You want to see speakers?
Up on the roof supports hang a pair of the two biggest speakers I have ever
seen (out of an auditorium), and yes, there was music coming from them
during my visit.  Also alot of radio dealer signs and dealer stuff.  They
even have a Philco Radio  neon outdoor sign lit up above a 1939 display.
Its gorgeous.

Now I haven't seen the entire museum yet, and one visit isn't enough to see
everything.  So if you are ever passing through Minneapolis/St. Paul, you
should put the Pavek Museum on your list!  It is an incredible experience.

Here is the Pavek museum URL  http://www.pavekmuseum.org/    as they have a
website which talks about the museum and their goals.  The museum is a
strong supporter of youth education and has offers youth education programs
in broadcasting and radio history thru today.  A staggaring amount of
students toured the museum last year.  You can also join the Pavek Museum
and become a supporter as well as be supported by it.  Membership is $20 per
year.  One of the benefits is access to their entire collection of antique
radio documents, schematics, manuals, and technical and historical support.
By the way, their web site shows a few pictures of the museum to give you an
idea of the size of the place.  By the way, the Pavek Museum also offers a
seminar on restoring old radios, where you bring your project to class and
restore it.

I must comment about the Northland Antique Radio Club (NARC).   The meeting
yesturday had no (zero, zip, nada) business to discuss, but got right into
the program where we learned how to rewind speaker field windings, saw a
demonstration of a AM broadcast peak/null loop antenna by an enginner from
Amplifier Research who designs and manufactures tube based amplifiers, a
demonstration of the first wireless control of a console radio (the remote
control was bigger than a cigar box and yes had a tube in it).  Remember,
this was the 30's.  They talked out IF coil troubleshooting problems and
solutions.  They also had a small tailgate swapfest prior to the meeting.  I
guess if I have to think of the one thing that impresses me the most about
the Northland Antique Radio Club it would be the membership.  I think I read
that they have 300 some members and the ones I've met at the meeting are
guys who know tubes and tube radios, troubleshooting, parts.  Its incredible
but not all unexpected as a club is only as good as its members.  One of the
reasons I joined the club is for the networking.  Like most of you folks, I
like to restore old ham radio equipment and NARC is a wonderful resource for
parts, history, and knowlege.  Here is their URL:
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/4544/index.html    Dues are only
$10.

When you contact the Museum or NARC, please let them know that Scott WA9WFA
sent you.

73,

Scott WA9WFA in Saint Paul Minn

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