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Community Corner

Old Radios Brought Back To Life At InfoAge

Radio club hosts repair clinic

Gerry Kersus’ RCA radio has been in the family for more than 60 years. It was a wedding gift for his parents.

But it has seen better days.

Rather than junk it, Kersus brought the All American 5 radio to the radio magicians from the New Jersey Antique Radio Club Saturday to see if it could be resurrected.

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The club held a Antique Radio Repair Clinic at InfoAge Science and History museum, assisting visitors with all manner of radio problems for free, or minimal cost.

“This radio was a gift to my parents on their wedding day in 1948,” said Kersus, of Constitution Way.  “I pulled it out of the basement to bring in today.”

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Club Vice President Harry Klancer, of East Brunswick, got to work on Kersus’ radio. He was optimistic about getting it up to speed by the end of the day.

“This type of AM shortwave radio was very popular after World War II,” Klancer said. “It’s a modification of an All American 5 Radio.”

Kersus’ radio wasn’t the only challenge during the clinic.

Evan Broadbelt, of Meeting House Road, brought in two radios for repair at today’s clinic.  The first, a 1953 Zenith AM/FM radio, was easily repaired by club member Marty Friedman, of East Brunswick.

Broadbelt’s second radio, a 1946 RCA table AM radio, presented more of a challenge to the club members.

 “I bought this one at an antique shop in Red Bank and now I’m hoping that they can get it to work,” Broadbelt said.  Club members Friedman and Chuck Paci, of Manalapan, felt certain they could fix the radio by day’s end.

The radio repair clinics are held about three times per year at InfoAge.  There is no charge for most repairs. Some required repair parts may result in a nominal fee, members said.

Other activities of the radio club, which boasts a membership of about 200, include monthly meetings, swap meets and the operation of a museum exploring the history of communications from the telegraph to various types of modern radio communications.

Club member Matt Reynolds, of Flemington, was hard at work repairing one of the Radio Club’s museum pieces.

“It’s an Altwater Kent Model 70 AM radio, probably made in the early 1930s,” said Reynolds, who at 25 years old is one of the younger members of the radio club.  “I’ve been a member for one and a half years.  Everyone in the club is eager to teach you what they know. It’s been a great learning experience for me.”

Anyone with an interest in antique radios, televisions, or military communications is welcome to join the NJ Radio Club. 

“We are always seeking new club members and volunteers for our museum,” said Al Klase, the radio club’s technical coordinator.

 The museum is open Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. at InfoAge. For more information, visit  www.njarc.org or call Harry Klancer at (732) 632-7160.

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