The late Fred Hammond had a passion for radios – massive radios and pocket-sized radios, radio accessories, and all manner of equipment that transmits electromagnetic energy waves.
The many things he collected over a lifetime of enthusiasm for the technology - and many more items donated by others - fill the impressive Hammond Museum of Radio at 595 Southgate Drive.
The clean, orderly and eye-popping museum, with over a thousand items on display, is open daily during regular business hours, and evenings and weekends by appointment.
Call 519-822-2441, ext. 590, or email [email protected]. Visit the website at www.hammondmuseumofradio.org.
Founded by Hammond in 1982, it is tucked away in a south end industrial zone in the manufacturing headquarters of Hammond Power Solutions. The museum is a storehouse and treasure-trove of radio antiquity spanning from the 1800s to 1970, said curator Noreen Hahn, who has overseen the collection since it moved to Southgate Drive in 1999.
“It really is Guelph’s best kept secret, I like to say,” said Hahn, adding that it is featured in Guelph’s visitors guide, and the website gives in an international reach. Visits come from around the world to check out it collection, she said.
The collection features rare and historically significant pieces, including the identical Marconi spark-gap transmitter used to send Morse Code equipment from the doomed Titanic, as well as battlefield radio equipment, the first innovations in plastic radios, and several examples of Ham radios.
Hammond began collecting radio-related collectibles back in 1929, when he was still a teenager. But before that he was building his own radios as a boy. He became a licensed amateur Ham radio operator in 1929, one of other two operators in Guelph at the time.
A display case in the museum honours Fred Hammond, and there is a display of newspaper and magazine article highlighting his involvement in Ham radio operation, and in radio parts manufacture.
“About 60 percent of the collection comes from Mr. Hammonds private collection,” said Hahn, “with the remaining 40 percent from donations. We get about two to three new things donated to us each month, mostly radios.”
The museum is busiest in the fall, just before the snow flies, she added.
“We get quite a great variety of people coming through, from all over the world,” Hahn said. “We love visitors.”
Fred Hammond, along with his brothers Len, Roy and Ken, took over the operation of Hammond Manufacturing Company Limited after their father, Oliver, passed away in 1925. The company will be 100-years-old in 2017.
