THE               MUSEUM   

Patiently constituted since the beginning of the seventies, the radio collection of Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier is now a rare and precious expression of the history  of  the radio industry in France from the first experiments of the late 19th century to the invention and development of the transistor. Joining more than 500 radio receivers and also test apparatus, loudspeakers and a large documentation, the collection presents almost all the major steps of technical evolution during the 20th century, from the Branly coherers to the High Fidelity of the sixties.

In fact, we accord a large place to the period 1920-1930, witch represents the beginnings of broadcasting and, consecutively, the beginning of radio industry development. Almost all the major french companies of the twenties are present in the collection (Ducretet, Péricaud, Lemouzy, Hurm, Vitus), but we have also a special interest for a large number of not well known manufacturers who have choosen to use very original technical solutions (SEC, SET, Bouchet et Aubignat, Omégadyne, Planchon, Defay...) or to respect a very high level of quality (PHAL, Huet, Irradia...). In this latest category, we have a particular attention to the company Radio-Techna from Châlons-sur-Marne witch represents probably the best in quality and technology. You can see pictures of a large number of our battery and crystal receivers by selecting on the left on the corresponding categories.

In 1928,  french manufacturers were confronted for the first time to the competition with a major foreing  radio company. Previously specialized with the production of vacuum tubes, the dutch society Philips began the production of radio receivers with a  level of industrialization neither met in Europe before. As new Philips radios were more performing and easier to use than french ones, the manufacturers must adapt or desert. The collection of Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier shows a large number of  Philips receivers from the thirties and some of the responses (more or less credible) of the french industry to these new challenges. You can see pictures of some of these apparatus by selecting on the left on the corresponding categories.

During the thirties, the industrialisation of the production had a traduction with the development of new materials for the realisation of radio cabinets (Metal, mirror, cataline, bakelite and some others). The collection of Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier presents  the much well known french "design" radios (Sonora, Radialva, Radio-Capte, Marquett, SNR ...), some very unusual receivers (Electronda, Clairton, Rouzié...) and a large number of coated metal radios. You can see some of them by selecting on the left on the corresponding catégories.

During the fifties, there was a radio in almost every french house but the new concept of High Fidelity was  yet reserved to a few number. The collection of Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier joins some of the most significatives early Hi-Fi amplifiers (Quad, Rogers, Mc Intosh, Leak...), some unusual french ones (Cabasse, Hitone, André Charlin, Mélodium...) and also some very early american products, now presented as High Fidelity ancestors (Western-Electric 25 B, Sanson, Scott...). Of course, we have also some early J.C.Verdier realisations. You can see some exemples by selecting on the left on the corresponding categories.

The collection of Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier joins also numerous short-wave portable receivers (Zenith "Trans-Oceanic", french equivalents Pizon-Bros...), american, english, german ...receivers, test equipments, electrotherapic apparatus and many more that would be uneasy to classify. You can see some of them by selecting on the left.

The collection of Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier is not organized for the admittance of the public. Nevertheless, Eric Verdier will be very pleased to show it to radio collectors and people especially interested by wireless telegraphy history (Only possible during the week-ends, the rest of the week whe are really buzy). 

Our collection is not closed. If you have something to sell  witch have  some kinds of interest for us, you can contact by E.Mail (please, use only the mail box present at the Radio-Museum page). 

Jean-Constant and Eric Verdier hope you will enjoyed by your visit on the site.