Military Wireless Museum in the Midlands facts for kids
The Military Wireless Museum is a special place in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, UK. It shows off a huge collection of military wireless (radio) equipment from all over the world. This museum started from the private collection of Ben Nock. It helps us understand how important radio communication was during World War II and in later years.
About the Museum
The Military Wireless Museum is located in Kidderminster. It is run completely by volunteers. The museum has a 'Friends of the Museum' group. Anyone can join this group, and members come from all over the world.
The museum often shows its radio equipment at different events. These events happen both in the UK and in other countries. The museum can also give talks to groups who are interested in military radio history.
This museum helps us see how important wireless communication was. It also shows how related services like Radar and Navigation played a big role in World War II and other conflicts. The museum lets visitors see military communication gear from many countries. This equipment might be hard to find anywhere else. The museum also has a large collection of radio equipment used for spy work.
The museum uses the Amateur Radio call sign GB0MWM. They often use old radio equipment to show visitors how it worked. They are happy to send special QSL cards to people they talk to on the radio. These cards are like postcards that confirm a radio contact.
Amazing Exhibits
The museum has a huge collection of wartime communication equipment. You can find gear from Britain, America, Japan, Germany, France, and other countries. They also have equipment from later periods.
Besides the radios, the museum also keeps many handbooks. These books have technical information about the equipment. There is 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 radio receivers and transmitters.
- German Bomber radios.
- USA wartime radio sets.
- Spy suitcase radios from Britain, USA, Germany, and Italy.
- Wireless receivers made in the UK by companies such as EKCO.
Museum's History
Ben Nock has been a radio amateur since the late 1960s. He started his hobby using old radio equipment from World War II. After many years of just enjoying the hobby, he decided to start collecting this equipment. He wanted to preserve it for the future. This collecting began in the 1980s.
After 20 years, his collection grew very large. It now has about 900 radio sets and many other military items. The museum also has a website that is updated often. The collection continues to grow, with about 2 to 3 new sets added each month.
In 2011, the museum moved to a new location in Kidderminster. This new place is much better for showing off the collection. The equipment and artifacts are now displayed in a way that is easier for the public to see and learn from. Ben Nock still writes articles about military wireless. Many of his articles have appeared in magazines like Practical Wireless and Radio Bygones.
The museum is always happy to give talks and put on displays. They do this 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
