QUOTE: Ram Singh Bodh, known as the "Radio Man of India," has spent his life collecting and preserving radios. As TVs and digital media took over, he kept the love for radios alive. He holds a Guinness World Record for owning the largest collection of unique radios, with 1,257 in total, officially counted in February 2024. His collection includes radios from as early as 1920 to 2010, including rare ones like a Marconi model designed by radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi. This is his story.

I have around 250, down from a peak of close to 300 about 15 years ago, when I decided to purge most of my consoles and a few radiograms. Most of my collection is valve-powered, with only two or three being solid-state. I am not sure that 1,500 is the largest collection though. About 20 years ago I did hear rumours of two or three Australian collectors having far more, with one having around 5,000 - though I have personally never seen a collection that big or know further details on these people. I guess it is the case that anyone with either lots of radios or even just a few very expensive radios may want to keep their collections low key for security reasons, which is completely understandable.

I am not sure that 1,500 is the largest collection though

Neither am I, but as the thread title says "according to Guinness". Guinness can only verify claims that are brought to their attention.

Interesting to see school kids saying that they have never before seen a radio.

Where I work, there are quite a few junior workers there and I am amazed at how many of them don't know what a VCR is or have ever watched an episode of Get Smart. It's only after some careful thought that I realise that Gen Z has generally never been subject to these things. It just makes me feel old.

When my nephew was younger, he'd ask what the items on my bookshelves were and when I explained that they were very old radios he'd study the one he liked the most a bit harder and then ask where the AM/FM switch was. Assuming that only FM stations played music, he'd ask whether we listened to music in the old days or not.

As for kids listening to the radio, I reckon most don't bother with it now and just tap their phones to listen to whatever they desire. I am at the other end of the spectrum. I am looking for a radio with a CD player for my vehicle and whilst they are still made, there's very little choice now, with most depending on USB keys with MP3 files on them or a bluetooth connection to a phone. To be honest I can't be bothered with all that and prefer the very simple task of getting a CD out of the console and sticking it in a slot.

With that in mind, it is probably hard for them to understand why 2GB, born in the 1930s, is still our most listened to radio station.

My youngest grandson is 7 years old.

He visited recently and I had an AWA 209C from 1957 in the room, running a period Bugs Bunny cartoon.

His mum said "That's what Grandpa watched when he was your age."

Question came back "Where's the colour?"

An interesting conversation ensued, having been told that colour hadn't (quite) been invented back then, GS said.

"Was everything black and white in the olden days?"

The last question is a valid one - when I was young I also assumed that everything only became coloured in 1974 - hinting at the power television did have on young minds. The funny thing is, at that age, aside from the pondering about when colour arrived to the human race, we never gave it much thought.

I hate to tell you but there is a well known collector in Queanbeyan that has more than 1257 radios. His are in a massive room with 5 aisles of radios stacked tastefully to the ceiling. These are absolutely amazing sets. I won't say who it is but you have to realise that just because it's documented as the largest doesn't mean it actually is.

I hate to tell you ... you have to realise that just because it's documented as the largest doesn't mean it actually is.

That is why the thread title says "according to Guinness". There could be many more larger collections in various countries.