Military Wireless Museum in the Midlands facts for kids
The Military Wireless Museum is a special place in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. It's a private museum that shows off a huge collection of military radio equipment from all over the world. This amazing collection started with one person, Ben Nock. It helps us understand how important radio communication was during World War II and in the years that followed.
About the Museum
The Military Wireless Museum is located in Kidderminster. It's run completely by volunteers who love history and radios. The museum has a group called 'Friends of the Museum' for anyone interested, and members come from all corners of the globe!
The museum often takes its radio displays to different events in the UK and other countries. They can also give interesting talks to groups who want to learn more about military communications.
This museum shows how vital wireless communication and related technologies, like Radar and Navigation, were during World War II and other conflicts. Visitors can see military communication gear from many different countries, which is usually hard to find. The museum also has a large collection of radio equipment used for spy work.
The museum even has its own Amateur Radio call sign, GB0MWM. Volunteers often use vintage radio equipment to show visitors how it works. If you contact them by radio, the museum is happy to send you a special QSL card to confirm your contact.
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The museum has a huge collection of wartime communication equipment. You can find items from Britain, America, Japan, Germany, France, and other countries. They also have equipment from later periods.
Besides the radios, the museum keeps many handbooks and technical details about the gear. There's also a growing collection of old uniforms and other military items.
Here are some examples of what you might see:
- British Wireless sets like No.18, No.19, No.22, and No.62.
- Japanese World War II radios for sending and receiving messages.
- Radios used in German bomber planes.
- American wartime radio sets.
- Special 'suitcase radios' used by spies from Britain, USA, Germany, and Italy.
- Wireless receivers made in the UK by companies such as EKCO.
How the Museum Started
Ben Nock, the founder, has been a radio amateur since the late 1960s. Like many people back then, he started his hobby using old radio equipment left over from World War II.
After many years of just enjoying the hobby, Ben realized in the 1980s that these old radios were important to save. He began collecting them to preserve them for the future.
Over 20 years, his collection grew to about 900 radio sets and many other military items. In the late 1990s, he created a website for a 'Virtual Museum' which is still updated regularly. The physical museum continues to grow, adding about 2 to 3 new items each month.
In 2011, the museum moved to a new location in Kidderminster. This new space was much better for displaying the equipment and historical objects. It allowed everything to be shown off clearly and made it easier for the public and interested people to visit.
Ben Nock still writes articles about military wireless technology. Many of his articles have appeared in magazines like Practical Wireless and Radio Bygones. He has also been published in American magazines and even the RAFA magazine.
The museum is always happy to give talks and put on displays for clubs, groups, or events that are interested in military history or communications.
See also
- List of World War II electronic warfare equipment
- Radar in World War II
- Marine radar
- Luftwaffe radio equipment of World War II
