For Irv Kochman, a local enthusiast, the allure of long-wave radios has transformed into a lifelong passion. His journey into the world of vintage radio collecting began in his youth when his father gifted him a Planetair crystal radio. Although his interest in electronics was evident early on, Kochman didn’t immediately pursue collecting.
“I’ve always been a gadget guy, constantly taking things apart, even if I couldn’t always put them back together,” Kochman reminisced. Over the years, he picked up a few radios here and there, but his collection didn’t truly take shape until later in life.
Radios were a significant part of Kochman’s formative years. He fondly recalls a shopping trip with his father to purchase a transistor radio at the old Simpson’s store, and he still possesses many of the radios from his childhood, keeping them in working order. “I used to fall asleep every night with my old Hitachi transistor radio in my ear,” he recalled.
As a young tinkerer, Kochman enjoyed experimenting with an old reel-to-reel tape recorder, which he connected to his family’s tube radio, transforming it into an intercom system. “I had speakers in the attic, laundry room, outside, and in the kitchen,” he said, remembering how he entertained himself and occasionally annoyed his family with his setup.
It wasn’t until about three years ago, when health issues confined him to his home, that Kochman fully embraced radio collecting. In need of a hobby, he revisited his enduring interest in radios. “That’s when I got more serious about it and began buying, selling, and trading to acquire the best pieces,” he explained.
Kochman’s Distinctive Collection
Once his health improved, Kochman found himself almost addicted to radios. Unlike some collectors who seek rare or valuable items, he has a preference for tube radios from the 1940s and 1950s. “There’s just something about tubes, wires, and speakers that have always fascinated me,” he said. “Those radios are like guitars; each one has its own unique sound.”
Kochman doesn’t follow strict criteria for his collection, valuing unique shapes and designs over monetary value. His collection features a variety of unusual shapes in both wood and bakelite plastic. “It’s not about what a radio is worth,” he stated. “I could pay $15 or $300 for a radio and get the same enjoyment out of it.”
His most cherished piece is a large 1937 Northern Telecom floor radio, which he listens to almost daily. “I have a big, new stereo system, but I still get better sound quality out of the old radio,” he said, describing its unique tuning dial and signal strength lights.
Preserving History
Despite their age, Kochman keeps his radios in working condition by replacing tubes and parts as needed. “They’re still tubes, and tubes go, and repairs can be expensive,” he noted. To manage costs, he waits until several radios need fixing before seeking repairs.
While tube radios are rare today, Kochman discovers treasures at antique markets and online. Some of his models are displayed and sold at a North York art and photography studio he co-owns with his brother.
Looking to the future, Kochman plans to explore pre-1930s radios and short-wave gadgets, but his first love remains the tube radios of his youth. “It’s something that’s stayed with me all my life, and I plan to keep collecting and finding interesting pieces,” he said. “Everyone has something they love, and for me, it’s always been radios.”
