HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-11-25, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25,1992.
Old Tyme Radio Centre moves to Belgrave
By Bonnie Gropp
When Gary Clayton's hobby out
grew his Walkerton home he knew
the time had come to branch out.
So The Old Tyme Radio Centre has
come to Belgrave.
Since Mr. Clayton began restor
ing old radios four years ago, the
Old Tyme music makers
Gary and Nellie Clayton stand before a few of the antique radios, which are awaiting
restoration. The couple have purchased the former Country Store in Belgrave and have
established it as a showroom for their Old Tyme Radio Centre.
AuburnThe news from
Compiled by Mildred Lawlor Phone 526-7589
WZ sees slides of Singapore
At the Auburn Community Hall
at 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 the Women's
Institute met for the Education and
Cultural Activities meeting.
President Evelyn Flett opened the
meeting with I Remember, a poem
by the late Celia Taylor.
The Ode and O Canada were
sung with Marjorie McDougall as
pianist. The Mary Stewart Collect
was said in unison. Secretary Kay
Lapp read the minutes which were
accepted as read. Correspondence
was also read. Tina Empey gave
the treasurer's report which was
seconded by Irma and carried.
There will be a blood donor
clinic on Nov. 26 at Central Huron
Secondary School, Clinton.
Donations of gifts of food for the
Huron County Christmas Bureau
are needed.
The Women’s Institute will be
catering to the Hullett council for a
Sales predictions
Continued from page 1
"Things like coveralls, and boots
are selling as well as last year, if
not better," she says. "However, the
fancy stuff like down-filled coats
aren't. People want the plain, ordi
nary, good stuff this year."
As for the Blyth Festival, its Box
Office Manager declared, "We're
delighted with our Christmas
voucher sales."
Christmas and Country, owned
by Wilma Scott and Dianne Snell is
reporting steady sales.
"We've had some serious shop
pers and I'd say we're on par with
last year," reported Mrs. Scott. But
she admits people are looking for
good deals.
hobby had grown to such a point
where it had taken over the living
room of his Walkerton home.
When Sutton's Country Store in
Belgrave became available Mr.
Clayton and his wife Nellie saw it
as the answer. Their love of rural
living, coupled with their amazing
beef dinner on Friday, Dec. 11.
On Dec. 17 the Women's
Institute Christmas meeting is to be
a pot luck dinner. Spouses or
friends are invited. Members are to
bring a gift of money for the
Children's Aid Society. Each
member will be responsible for a
Christmas poem, verse or story.
Collection was taken a roll call
taken with 10 members and one
guest present.
Irma Cartwright introduced the
guest speaker Mrs. C. Archibald of
Clinton. She showed pictures and
spoke on her trip to Singapore with
her husband to visit their son and
family. On the way they stopped at
Amsterdam and saw the city and
canals.
Singapore, which is in South East
Malaysia is about the same size as
Toronto. The gardens and flowers
are beautiful. Orchid is the national
flower and it is in abundance.
Archibalds also visited Bangkok.
There is gold leaf on towers and
monuments there. In northern
Malaysia they visited Penang. The
bird park there has hundreds of
birds. W.I. members enjoyed
pictures of the various breeds - one
striking one was the red ebis.
Violet Durnin thanked Mrs.
Archibald for the pictures and for
taking members on their trip.
God Save The Queen and grace
was sung. Lunch was served by
Marion Haggitt, Violet Dumin and
Martha Daer. Prizes were won by
Jean Plaetzer for nearest birthday,
Violet Durnin had the marked
saucer and Ruth Jardin was the
farthest traveller of the day. Social
time was enjoyed.
antique radio collection, made the
ambiance of the old store and house
just perfect.
Entering The Old Tyme Radio
Centre is like a walk back in time.
Vintage radios from as far back as
a 1925 Rogers Batteryless to a
1958 German Graetz grace the inte
rior of the store, while antique
Auburn youth
flies in a CC140
Hercules jet
Michael Schneider, Auburn
attended the Air Experience
Training on Nov. 16, 17 & 18. The
flight was on a CC140 Hercules
from Canadian Forces Base,
Trenton, Ont. to Can. Forces Base
Goose Bay, Labrador. Sergeant
Schneider is with the 532
Squadron, Royal Canadian Air
Cadets, Goderich.
Doran Rolston
sings at church
After an inspiring praise service,
Doran Rolston thrilled the
congregation at Auburn Missionary
Church by singing “God On The
Mountain”.
Pastor Carne's message for
Sunday, Nov. 22 was from
Hebrews 11: 17-34. Abraham was
the father of the faithful, but in
Hebrews II mention is made of the
many who were faithful. There
were others who were faithful who
are not listed but we leam the just
are saved by faith.
It is not an easy step to accept
Christ as Saviour and Lord, said
Pastor Came. It is not easy but it is
not impossible. Take God at His
word. Nothing in my hand I bring;
simply to Thy cross I cling. The
just live by faith. The just believe
that it is worthwhile to give to God.
The just die by faith. Death is not
extinguishing the light - it is just
putting out the lamp because the
dawn has come.
Euchre played
Five tables of euchre were played
on Tuesday evening, Nov. 17 at the
Auburn Community Hall. Marion
Haggitt and Lou Isaac also played
scrabble.
Winners for euchre were: high
lady, Mrs. Preszcator; low lady,
Dorothy Daer; high man, Edgar
Howatt; low man, Bert Daer and
novelty prize, Kay Lapp.
clocks provide a nostalgic audio
backdrop.
By appointment, customers are
invited to visit, browse and remem
ber.
Radio prices are upwards of $200
for table models to $400 for floor
models. A 1929 Spartan, which
Mr. Clayton purchased in Lansing,
Mich, holds a special place of hon
our near the front window. Its value
is $2,000.
To enable him to better find these
treasures, he is a member of the
Michigan Antique Radio Club as
well as the Antique Radio Club of
America and London Vintage
Radio Club.
Mr. Clayton's first radio restora
tion happened somewhat by acci
dent. A woman, who knew about
his love for refinishing furniture
asked him to do a small table
knew nothing about the 'innards',"
he said, adding that a friend did
those repairs, but the restoration
work was seen and admired by
many. With more demand and
hands-on experience he soon
caught on to the electrical repairs
and today he has 10,000 tubes in
stock ready to go into radios. "I
have enough radio parts to keep me
going until I'm 100-years-old. "
Restoring these antiques, his own
and others, takes Mr. Clayton about
50 hours and is, he says, "a labour
of love." Keeping the past alive is
more important to Mr. Clayton, he
says, than making money from the
work. He picks up most of the
radios from private sales or at auc
tions, ones, he says, which would
have in their day cost anywhere
from $100 to $400, about the price
of a Model A.
His wife says Gary prefers the
old craftmanship so all the radios
are stained by brush, not sprayed.
"He has always had an interest in
the way older things were built;
when they took pride in their
work," she said.
"Yes, back in the days when they
really made cars and really made
radios," he said.
The finished radios are not only
lovely to look at but delightful to
hear. The hours of work are more
than worth it, Mr. Clayton says,
when he listens to the superb
sound.
Many in the collection, he says,
come with shortwave which brings
in stations world-wide. They "pick
up" a number of AM American sta
tions quite clearly too. "They are a
lot more sensitive and powerful
than the radios of today," says Mr.
Clayton, noting that they all come
with built-in antenna.
Mr. Clayton says there is no pro
file to fit his clientele. "They can be
someone who has had a radio like
one of these in the past and would
like to bring it back to their home.
It can be a local farmer, a factory
worker or an executive from
Toronto."
While he has been an ent
repreneur for most of his life, Mr.
Clayton says his radio restoration
is "where his heart is". To bring
turn out a thing of beauty from
what seems to be a useless piece of
furniture is extremely satisfying for
him and he cautions anyone with an
old radio to not give up on it, but
give him a call.
Admitting that he watches little
television, Mr. Clayton stresses the
importance of the old "radio days".
Preserving the beauty of these
beautiful relics is very important to
him. "They bring back memories
of an era lost," he says.
model radio for her. "At the time I
Purchasing a vehicle
is a big decision!
Let us help you
make the right one!
GARRY WOODCOCK
Quality Cars & Trucks
We Can Save You Money
Drive A Little - Save A Lot
jM/CoNTGOMERY j LUCKNOW
'“y-1 1
528-2813
SHARP
DEALS
ON QUALITY- CLEAN
READY-TO-GO
USED CARS
Great Savings on
These Used Cars &
Trucks. Some One
Owner Low Mileage.
1991 Chevy S-10
extended cab pickup, V6
with air
1991 Pontiac 6,000,
4 door
1991 Tauras, 4 door, V-6,
air
1990 Chrysler New Yorker
Landau, loaded with
extras, 4 doors
1990 Tauras, 4 door, V-6,
air
1989 Olds Custome
Cruiser Station Wagon
loaded
1985 Olds Cutlass
Supreme Brougham, 2 dr.
V8
1983 Ford F150 4X4
pickup
HAMM'S
BLYTH
PHONE - 523-4342