VOLUME 18               NOVEMBER 2001                NUMBER  11

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

From Antique Radio Classified for November 2001
(Copyright 1996-2001 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

Last month, as we rushed the October issue to press, the world we thought we knew was crumbling all around us. My editor's comments began with a brief response to the shock of September 11, a response wholly inadequate now that we know that we can't begin to judge the ultimate repercussions of that terrible event. Thousands are still unaccounted for, and we struggle to cope with the continuing anguish, anger, and insecurity.

In the past, we have run articles on radio in natural disasters like the San Francisco earthquake, but they pale beside September 11. Still, from correspondence via U.S. mail and the Internet, we realized that people find comfort in connecting with each other, as well as with memories of times when life seemed less threatening.

As a result, Managing Editor Dorothy Schecter put together an article about what was once the site of the World Trade Center -- Radio Row -- and its continuing significance to collectors. The role of radio in rescue efforts during the first weeks of the crisis and a first-hand account by Bart Lee are also included. In this way, we attempt to tie some of the events of history together with our own radio community history.

Richard Brewster's article about his discovery of Rotterdam's Radio Museum in Holland seems appropriate in this issue. Like the Ham operators at the World Trade Center, Richard has found a way to help others. We also include a "Collector Profile" of Richard.

Dale Davenport had his interest piqued by the striking Leutz Type L-6, which Robert Kitchel wrote about in the June 2000 issue. It's always gratifying when a collector responds to a previous article with more information.

The AWA Conference report, traditionally appearing in November, will appear in December, while a backlog of other auction and meet reports appear in this issue. Among them is the second annual Jenack "Age of Edison" Technology Auction of over 260 radio-related lots reported by Ray Chase; Erwin Macho's Dorotheum Auction House report from Vienna giving us a snapshot of the busy European radio scene; and the Carolinas Chapter-AWA Spring Meet described as the "best ever."

Photo Review includes a striking cone speaker graced with the figure of an exotic belly dancer (did we miss a cover opportunity here?). Dick Desjarlais has reviewed Mark Stein's Machine Age to Jet Age III, and Radio Miscellanea reminds us of the Marconi 100th transatlantic message anniversary, which we will celebrate in our December issue.

New at A.R.C. We now accept Discover and American Express, as well as MasterCard and Visa. In addition, we have a toll-free phone number: (866) 371-0512; book shipping is now free to U.S. addresses; and for our subscribers, we're offering a ten percent discount on all book orders. To qualify for the discount, you must be a current subscriber to A.R.C. and request the discount when placing your order. Shipping must be to the address to which we mail your magazine.

Coming Radio Events. Among the 45 events listed in November, of special note is the 3-day Vintage Radio & Phonograph Society/AWA Convention 2001 in Mesquite, Texas, on November 9-11.

Happy Collecting!

John V. Terrey, Editor

ON THE COVER

Our cover is a detail from a photo by Percy L. Sperr in Photographic Views of New York City, 1870s-1970s. It was obtained from and printed with the permission of the Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History, and Geneaology, The New York Public Library. The May 1935 scene is Cortlandt St., the heart of Radio Row, and the site of the World Trade Center. We hope it evokes happier memories of that ill-fated Manhattan landmark.