Antique Radio Club hosts Radiofest Aug. 2-4

The Antique Radio Club of Illinois will hold its 32nd annual Radiofest Aug. 2-4 at the Willowbrook Holiday Inn Convention Center in Willowbrook. The theme of this special show is “Marconi/Titanic Centennial Commemoration.”

Radiofest is one of the largest gatherings of radio collectors in the U.S. Collectors from across the country, Canada, Europe and Australia gather annually for this event.

Radiofest opens with the large radio auction on Thursday evening. Top-of-the-line radios, rare advertising, vintage television and phonograph items are the often featured fare. The public is welcome to sell their radios at the auction for a nominal charge.

Friday morning starts early with the radio flea market. More than 200 selling spaces are filled with radios, phonographs, televisions, parts for restorations and, for many, nostalgic memories of the past.

Also on Friday, ARCI provides free “Radio Appraisals”. The public can bring in actual radios or pictures of their radio. Experts will advise them of condition, the age of the radio, suggestions for restoration and an approximate value.

Radiofest offers educational seminars to club members (annual dues are only $20). This year's sessions include Vacuum Tube Audio Panel by Karl Johnson, Pete Nauseda and Terry Shaver; Museum Tour: Pavek Museum Of Broadcasting in Minnesota by Steve Raymer; The Ham Radio Forum (Heavy Metal — WLW Cincinnati) by Bill Ross (W9WR); E.H. Scott by Kent King, Scott historian; and Lee De Forest: Movies & Sound, presentation and book signing by Mike Adams.

Friday also brings displays of rare and unusual radios and other items in the annual Equipment Contest. This temporary museum features rare examples of radios and related memorabilia typically not seen by the public. A special exhibit will include a “Marconi/Titanic Centennial Commemoration” special exhibit including “Emergence of Wireless Rescue Radio,” “Marconi Artifacts & Documentation” and “Titanic Items.”

This year ARCI will have Mississippi Flannigan as the entertainment at the Friday evening banquet. Enjoy music from the 1950s-'70s with this talented quartet of Madison, Wis. and Chicago musicians who were a mainstay of the Chicago folk music scene in the 1960s-'70s. Tickets are available at Radiofest until noon Friday.

Radiofest concludes Saturday morning. The flea market continues until noon. ARCI also hosts a large donation auction where the proceeds support the club. Radios and related items are sold at the auction without reserve, often as low as $5. This final event brings out the bargain hunters.

There is no general admission fee for any of the selling areas, and the public is invited to attend. Boy & Girl Scouts in uniform may attend all activities free except the banquet.

For details, visit the ARCI website at www.antique-radios.org or call (630) 739-1060.