Washford Radio Museum
Posted: Sun 25 May, 2008 11.49
'Er Indoors and I "did" the Washford Radio Museum yesterday afternoon.
If you're thinking of going, it's incredibly interesting, but also incredibly cramped. If they had three or four times the space and could lay things out better it would be really superb. It's currently just in a couple of old offices, leading off the souvenier shop for the Tropiquaria (the main attraction on the site).
There's an old Audix desk, probably the original from BBC Somerset Sound, just down the road; various bits of pre-war transmitter, mainly from Moorside Edge, but also bits from Washford itself; lots and lots of lovely Studer and Leevers-Rich tape machines, some still with the spools of red and yellow leader tape on the front and the editing blocks attached; enough grams and 78s to fill a record library; some of the original "set-top" boxes, to add ITV to your BBC only 405 line television; plus many, many ancient radio and television receivers.
There are also piles and piles of other stuff just jammed in behind the main exhibits. If only all that was out on show as well, the place would be a real winner.
I'd probably rate it at only about six out of ten, because of the space problem, but well worth a visit if you're down that way.
Oh, and to get onto the site, for the Tropiquaria and the Museum, it's £7.50 for adults or £6.50 for children and old codgers like me. If you include a wander round the Tropiquaria, it's good value.
If you're thinking of going, it's incredibly interesting, but also incredibly cramped. If they had three or four times the space and could lay things out better it would be really superb. It's currently just in a couple of old offices, leading off the souvenier shop for the Tropiquaria (the main attraction on the site).
There's an old Audix desk, probably the original from BBC Somerset Sound, just down the road; various bits of pre-war transmitter, mainly from Moorside Edge, but also bits from Washford itself; lots and lots of lovely Studer and Leevers-Rich tape machines, some still with the spools of red and yellow leader tape on the front and the editing blocks attached; enough grams and 78s to fill a record library; some of the original "set-top" boxes, to add ITV to your BBC only 405 line television; plus many, many ancient radio and television receivers.
There are also piles and piles of other stuff just jammed in behind the main exhibits. If only all that was out on show as well, the place would be a real winner.
I'd probably rate it at only about six out of ten, because of the space problem, but well worth a visit if you're down that way.
Oh, and to get onto the site, for the Tropiquaria and the Museum, it's £7.50 for adults or £6.50 for children and old codgers like me. If you include a wander round the Tropiquaria, it's good value.