Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

David G4EBT · 26th Apr 2010, 6:54 pm

Whilst googling for something else, I came across an intersting 30-page well reseached paper on the changing face of vintage radio collecting in the era of internet. For anyone interested, it can be found at this link:

http://www.essex.ac.uk/chimera/conte...radiophile.pdf

David.

ppppenguin · 26th Apr 2010, 7:29 pm

The author, Becky Ellis, is a lecturer at Essex University. A few years ago she was doing research for that report in the forum under the name "Dustheap Boffin". The Chimera research unit at Essx was closed down just over a year ago. Some of the staff transferred to the sociology department. http://cresi.essex.ac.uk/getperson?personID=3

Becky and her partner regularly have a stall at the NVCF.

David G4EBT · 26th Apr 2010, 10:23 pm

Thanks for reading my post Jeffrey and for the info and the link to Becky at essex Uni, which outlines her PhD research and prodigious output of papers, several of which are of interest to the vintage radio fraternity - in particular, the influence of e-bay, for good or ill.

I wonder if she'll be having a stand at the NVCF this year?

Now I know what she looks like, maybe I'll be able to put a face to a name!

Regards,

David

mhennessy · 27th Apr 2010, 2:47 pm

Hi,

Having just skimmed the report, I'm interested in peoples opinions. Especially about how eBay has changed swapmeets (this NVCF will be my first). For example, pages 24-25 paint a fairly gloomy picture about this...

The report is 6 years old, so with the benefit of hindsight, what do people think?

Mark

Aub · 27th Apr 2010, 5:09 pm

Just looks like a big plug for ebay really, especially as it was 6 years ago.

Aub

HamishBoxer · 27th Apr 2010, 5:11 pm

This has been around a year so back,not certain where i read it.

David

ppppenguin · 27th Apr 2010, 5:30 pm

More than a year ago, probably 2 or 3 years. Unfortunately, as far as I can see, all posts by DustheapBoffin (2004-2006 era) and older threads about this have been deleted.

chipp1968 · 8th May 2010, 6:28 pm

I couldn't read all that ,I hate scrolling action on computers makes me dizzy .
Re Marks question ,
Things have definitely changed since Ebay started .Prices have dramatically dropped at swap meets. I sold quite a few sets about 10 years ago from my earlier radio collection when thinning out. They on average made good prices at BVWS auctions. At recent auctions I have been to, which often include items of quality from peoples collections donated to the BVWS ,I have had a few good buys and seen plenty of bargains .Unfortunately some ordinary sets don't make anything much at all .Its a buyers market.Unless its something very special.But this is also the same in the antiques trade generally at the moment.
I believe the availability of rarer less seen items suddenly becoming visible on ebay makes it easier to collect stuff .I started collecting 405 line Tvs a few years ago and within 3 years had a house full of very nice sets ,some of which i then had to pass on.It was that easy .I would not have had been able to do this at swapmeets .
I am in two minds about it .I like ebay for its ease of viewing items etc,and its ability to bring rarer objects available ,but it leaves alot to be desired and is addictive .I regularily look at Tvs But rarely at vintage radios as im too temped with some that appear to go so cheep ...Prices are also fickle ,a set can go for well over its worth one min then next to nothing the next.
I really like swapmeets ,and when younger used to get excited about what i could find to buy , which was limited to what was on offer and what i could afford ,which was usually less than £40 in those days .I actually lament the drop in prices ,mainly for the reason that it junks alot of sets .

26th Apr 2010, 6:54 pm	#1
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,766	Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! Whilst googling for something else, I came across an intersting 30-page well reseached paper on the changing face of vintage radio collecting in the era of internet. For anyone interested, it can be found at this link: http://www.essex.ac.uk/chimera/conte...radiophile.pdf David.

26th Apr 2010, 7:29 pm	#2
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Intersting report on vintage radio collecting! The author, Becky Ellis, is a lecturer at Essex University. A few years ago she was doing research for that report in the forum under the name "Dustheap Boffin". The Chimera research unit at Essx was closed down just over a year ago. Some of the staff transferred to the sociology department. http://cresi.essex.ac.uk/getperson?personID=3 Becky and her partner regularly have a stall at the NVCF.

26th Apr 2010, 10:23 pm	#3
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,766	Re: Intersting report on vintage radio collecting! Thanks for reading my post Jeffrey and for the info and the link to Becky at essex Uni, which outlines her PhD research and prodigious output of papers, several of which are of interest to the vintage radio fraternity - in particular, the influence of e-bay, for good or ill. I wonder if she'll be having a stand at the NVCF this year? Now I know what she looks like, maybe I'll be able to put a face to a name! Regards, David

27th Apr 2010, 2:47 pm	#4
mhennessy Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Evesham, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 4,244	Re: Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! Hi, Having just skimmed the report, I'm interested in peoples opinions. Especially about how eBay has changed swapmeets (this NVCF will be my first). For example, pages 24-25 paint a fairly gloomy picture about this... The report is 6 years old, so with the benefit of hindsight, what do people think? Mark

27th Apr 2010, 5:09 pm	#5
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,039	Re: Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! Just looks like a big plug for ebay really, especially as it was 6 years ago. Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

27th Apr 2010, 5:11 pm	#6
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! This has been around a year so back,not certain where i read it. David

27th Apr 2010, 5:30 pm	#7
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! More than a year ago, probably 2 or 3 years. Unfortunately, as far as I can see, all posts by DustheapBoffin (2004-2006 era) and older threads about this have been deleted.

8th May 2010, 6:28 pm	#8
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Interesting report on vintage radio collecting! I couldn't read all that ,I hate scrolling action on computers makes me dizzy . Re Marks question , Things have definitely changed since Ebay started .Prices have dramatically dropped at swap meets. I sold quite a few sets about 10 years ago from my earlier radio collection when thinning out. They on average made good prices at BVWS auctions. At recent auctions I have been to, which often include items of quality from peoples collections donated to the BVWS ,I have had a few good buys and seen plenty of bargains .Unfortunately some ordinary sets don't make anything much at all .Its a buyers market.Unless its something very special.But this is also the same in the antiques trade generally at the moment. I believe the availability of rarer less seen items suddenly becoming visible on ebay makes it easier to collect stuff .I started collecting 405 line Tvs a few years ago and within 3 years had a house full of very nice sets ,some of which i then had to pass on.It was that easy .I would not have had been able to do this at swapmeets . I am in two minds about it .I like ebay for its ease of viewing items etc,and its ability to bring rarer objects available ,but it leaves alot to be desired and is addictive .I regularily look at Tvs But rarely at vintage radios as im too temped with some that appear to go so cheep ...Prices are also fickle ,a set can go for well over its worth one min then next to nothing the next. I really like swapmeets ,and when younger used to get excited about what i could find to buy , which was limited to what was on offer and what i could afford ,which was usually less than £40 in those days .I actually lament the drop in prices ,mainly for the reason that it junks alot of sets .