The Antique Radio Club of Illinois (ARCI) will hold its 36th annual Radiofest on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 4, 5, and 6, at the Medinah Shriners, 550 Shriners Drive in Addison, Ill.
This year will mark an expansion of Radiofest to include post WWII electronics, including radio, television, antique and vintage audio and amplifiers. This event commemorates post World War II electronics.
Radiofest is one of the largest gatherings of electronic collectors in the country. The Medinah Shriners in Addison is along the I-355 corridor, roughly 45 minutes from downtown Chicago and both Midway and O'Hare airports. Ample free parking is available for all attendees.
The event will open with the club’s large radio auction on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Top-of-the-line radios, rare advertising, recording equipment, antique and vintage audio, amplifiers, vintage television and phonograph items will be the featured fare. The thrill of a live auction creates a high energy opening to Radiofest. The public is welcome to sell their radios at the auction for a nominal charge. Registration for the auction begins at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday morning starts early with the electronic flea market. Selling spaces are filled with radios, phonographs, amplifiers, televisions, parts for restorations and, for many, nostalgic memories of the past. Also on Saturday, ARCI will provide 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 market value.
Radiofest offers educational seminars to club members (annual dues are $25, which includes regular newsletters). This year's educational sessions are to include the following:
-How to Set up Your Turntable with Pete Nauseda (vintage audio expert and enthusiast). Properly setting up a turntable is one of the most asked-for audiophile topics. Nauseda will hold an informative Q and A session after the presentation.
-Crystal Set Performance Basics with Larry R. Wright (electrical engineer, retired). Have you ever constructed a crystal set? Wright will share how to optimize the design of a crystal set to achieve remarkable DX performance.
-Bill Ross Memorial Ham Radio Forum joint presentation by Harry Blesy, Bob Drake, and Ron Grams (longtime club members and ham radio enthusiasts). Also, Bob Nickels, W9RAN, will present “A Systematic Approach to Powering Up Equipment.” This topic is of interest to those who restore vintage equipment and want to minimize the anxiety when power is first applied.
Saturday also brings special displays of rare and unusual items focusing on post World War II electronics plus other items in the annual equipment contest. This temporary museum features rare examples of radios and related memorabilia typically not seen by the public. The evening will conclude with an awards banquet and entertainment by Sweet Pepprika. The female vocal trio re-creates the unique live sound of the admired Boswell Sisters, a popular New Orleans-based vocal trio of the 1930s.
Radiofest concludes Sunday morning. The flea market continues until noon. ARCI also hosts a large donation auction, with proceeds used to support the club. Radios and related items are sold at the donation 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 and Girl Scouts in uniform may attend all activities free of charge except the banquet.
Additional information about Radiofest can be found on the ARCI website at www.antique-radios.org or by calling the club at 630-739-1060.