VOLUME 27               AUGUST 2010                NUMBER  8

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

From Antique Radio Classified for August 2010
(Copyright 1996-2010 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

As our cover announces, more changes are coming to A.R.C.The most immediate one is that the September and October issues will be combined into a single double issue. The same will be done for a November/December double issue. The result will be later delivery than you are used to and require a little patience on your part. For example, instead of the usual delivery schedule in late August or by September 10, the September/October issue may not arrive until September 22. For the revised advertising deadlines and the mailing schedule, see the rear cover and the next page.

The second change is that, after nearly 24 years as your publisher/editor, I have decided to look for someone else to take over, someone who might have new vision for A.R.C. Under new leadership, A.R.C. may not continue as we know it, but it may evolve into what is appropriate for the new media environment. It may become a web-only publication. It may merge into another magazine. It is possible that with a new business model, A.R.C. can be rejuvenated and will continue to grow and serve the radio-collecting community.

If Larry King can hang up his suspenders after over 20 years, I guess I can too. Anyone with a passion for old radio who is interested in participating in A.R.C.'s future, please give me a call (978-369-9770), write (John Terrey, 498 Cross St., Carlisle, MA 01741) or e-mail (johnterrey@aol.com).

A.R.C. Over The Years

As those of you who read these pages monthly must be aware, for some time this publication has attempted to adapt to the changes brought about by the new media environment -- primarily, the Internet. The means of delivering information has changed drastically in the last ten years and all print media are struggling to find their niche and to continue with their print publications.

I took over the publishing of A.R.C. in 1986, and, within ten years, grew the subscriber base from 1,800 to over 8,000. Our biggest problem back then was how to get the classified ads to everyone at the same time. We tried every reasonable solution, but problems with the U.S. Postal Service persist to this day.

However, the solution to instant delivery of information was finally invented -- the Internet. Now all who subscribe to A.R.C. can get the information at the same time by reading A.R.C. on our website.

Nevertheless, this seemingly miraculous delivery system has proved to be both a blessing and a curse to print publications trying to preserve the quality of their editorial offerings and to find a way to pay the bills. In our case, in addition to the offerings on the website, we have a history of quality articles and of spreading the word about radio preservation and the pleasure and camaraderie inherent in this hobby.

For example, we have had requests for over 92,000 free samples over the years, often from individuals who have just one radio that might have been destined for the town dump. Instead, our free sample copy may have resulted in an owner's connection with an interested buyer who restores the radio. In addition, we have offered a free listing on our pages for clubs and museums to help them promote their events and add to their membership.

How many radio enthusiasts have we reached out there? Well, over the years we have had over 28,000 subscribers. Add to these the 92,000 free samples and we have been in touch with over 120,000 collectors or individuals interested in old radios. And today, we have over 1,000 visitors to our website each day. Unfortunately, those impressive numbers have not translated into the enlarged subscription base so essential to any publication. To those who remain loyal subscribers, we cannot thank you enough for your support, but it is unfortunate that so many more fail to realize the value of Antique Radio Classified!

When I took over the publication of A.R.C., I believed that by making it a "real business," as opposed to a "sideline," and a "real magazine" as opposed to a "newsletter," there would be both continuity and quality. Quality we achieved, but continuity is now elusive. In our better years, there were four full-time plus additional part-time employees answering the phones, typing the ads, taking orders, shipping the books, editing the articles, doing "paste-up." (Paste-up in those days meant using an X-Acto knife and wax; page layout software such as Pagemaker or InDesign did not exist!) A.R.C. was, and still is, one of those small businesses that furnishes an excellent product -- plus provides jobs, purchases goods amd services, and pays taxes. Unfortunately, surviving as a small magazine business today is proving not only difficult but also extremely challenging. I am hoping that in the near future, someone with a new vision will take up that challenge.

Participate in A.R.C.'s Future!

As I said on the previous page -- anyone with a passion for old radio who is interested in participating in A.R.C.'s future, please give me a call (978-369-9770), write (John Terrey, 498 Cross St., Carlisle, MA 01741) or e-mail (johnterrey@aol.com).

The Current Issue

Now back to what makes this job a pleasure every month -- the content of the current issue. I'm always struck by how dedicated the contributors of articles are to preserving antique radios and radio history. Howard Stone excels in that category as is evident in Part 2 of his article on his outstanding collection of early wireless equipment now also shown on his website.

This time Howard concentrates on his Marconi items. The three Fleming valves pictured, all manufactured by Marconi, are examples from his large tube collection. Before and after photos of his Marconi Type 16 crystal set illustrate the quality of his restoration techniques. Those barnacles or whatever they were covering the set brought up from the ocean bottom must have known the game was up when Howard took on the restoration. The products of such a dogged pursuit of perfection and accuracy are what make this hobby so endlessly interesting.

Phil MacArthur too is engaged in another kind of dogged pursuit. He searches for "benchmark radios" and urges fellow collectors to join him in documenting coming across a first model or the first of a particular class of radio such as the transistorized Trans-Oceanic Royal 1000 or the Zenith 500 series. That kind of collaboration in record keeping would be another giant step in keeping track of everything worth knowing about the world of antique radio.

That world is endlessly surprising as proved by Gary Milner's Photo Review submission -- an RCA Model 301 Duo, which might be called a "stealth radio/phono." Unless you lifted the cover, you'd never know that a phonograph lurked beneath.

As always, thanks to Ray Chase for a fine report on the Estes auction of the Steven Ralston Collection. This auction had to be a happy event for many participants who saw some high quality, uncommon items cross the block. The colorful GE and RCA wooden advertising dolls by Maxwell Parrish drew a lot of attention and solid bids of $700 and $750, while the top bid of $4,250 went to a superb McMurdo Silver Masterpiece V in a Clifton cabinet. As Ray often reminds us, at auctions you have the pleasure of seeing fine old radios, even though you may not be able to take one home.

You should have many more such opportunities in the remaining summer/fall months. Enjoy!

A.R.C. Benefits. Be sure to take advantage of A.R.C. benefits: a toll-free number (866) 371-0512; Discover, MasterCard, American Express, Visa accepted; a secure shopping cart on the website, www.antiqueradio.com; a searchable auction price database, now nearly 25,000 entries; and the full magazine available on the website. Note: Please do not send credit card info by e-mail. Use our secure website or U.S. Mail, or call or fax.

Coming Radio Events. This is definitely "Meet Month" -- 8 are listed, along with 25 meetings and 5 auctions. Fellow collectors are waiting for you to join them everywhere.

Happy Collecting!

John V. Terrey, Editor

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ON THE COVER

Our cover is altered from a postcard from the John V. Terrey collection. To convey our own message, we "Photoshopped" both the flag on the microphone, which originally said "BBC," and the text, which on the script held by the announcer said, "Weather Report & News." Above the drawing were the words, "It will be Wet" -- probably not exactly news in England. The back of the card states: "Inter-Art" Comique Series, London, and the postmark is Scarborough, Yorkshire, July 16, 1951.

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Or, Call Us Toll Free At (866) 371-0512

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Or, Write Us at:

A.R.C., P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741

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Revised Publishing Schedule
Issue Date	Classified Ad Deadline	Display Ad Deadline	Mailing Dates	Target Date*	Call If Not Received
September/October	Aug. 24	Aug 17	Sept. 10-11	Sept. 13	Sept. 22
November/December	Oct. 25	Oct. 18	Nov. 12-13	Nov. 15	Nov. 24
* Target Date is earliest date copies might be received.

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ANTIQUE RADIO CLASSIFIED

Antique Radio Classified (ISSN:8750-7471) is published monthly, 12 times per year, by John V. Terrey, 498-A Cross Street, P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741. Periodicals postage paid at Carlisle, MA, and additional mailing offices. Telephone: (866) 371-0512, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET weekdays; machine answers phone at other times.

Annual subscription rates within the U.S. are $45.00 by Periodicals mail and $60.00 by First Class mail. Annual foreign rates. By air: Canada - $61.00; Mexico - $67.00; Other foreign countries - $105.00. Two-year subscriptions are twice these rates and receive an extra month. Sample issues are available free on request.

Staff: Publisher and Editor: John V. Terrey. Assistant Publisher: Cindie Bryan. Managing Editor: Dorothy Schecter. Advertising Manager: Cindie Bryan. Publishing & Editorial Staff: Ray Bintliff, Dave Crocker, Bobby Lyman. Founding Publisher/Editor: Gary B. Schneider. Contributing Writers & Consultants: Mike Adams, Richard L. Arnold, Richard Begbie, Ray Bintliff, Norman Braithwaite, Ray Chase, Dave Crocker, Dick Desjarlais, Alan Douglas, Richard Foster, Andrew Hayden, Jim Kreuzer, Phil MacArthur, Ron Ramirez, Gary Schneider, Daniel Schoo, Frank White, Walter Worth. CONTACTING Antique Radio Classified. All correspondence should be sent to: A.R.C., P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741. Only UPS, FedEx, etc. items to street address: 498-A Cross Street. Telephone: (866) 371-0512; Fax: (978) 371-7129 E-mail: ARC@antiqueradio.com -- Web: www.antiqueradio.com The publisher is not responsible for any buying and selling transactions incurred, or for any other use of the contents of this publication. Antique Radio Classified subscription rates, frequency of publication, content, policies, size and ad details, and rates are subject to change at any time by A.R.C. Unless other arrangements are made: (1) All received materials (ads, articles, letters, correspondence, e-mail, photos, artwork, etc.) become the property of A.R.C., may be edited, combined with other material, published, and will not be returned. (2) For all received materials, A.R.C. is granted publishing and reprint rights in all forms of media including the monthly printed magazine, internet, etc. See the June 2009 issue for additional policies and advertising rates. © Copyright 2009 by John V. Terrey. If A.R.C. inadvertently has infringed on a copyright, A.R.C. will pay an appropriate usage fee when notified. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Antique Radio Classified, P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741. Printed in U.S.A. Purpose. Antique Radio Classified is published for people involved in the radio collecting hobby. Its purpose is to stimulate growth of the hobby through the buying, selling and trading of radios and related items, and to provide a monthly forum for the interchange of ideas and information.