As technology evolved, valve radios which functioned on medium waves gradually disappeared from homes. Patel began rescuing them from scrap dealers, salvaging sets not only from Ahmedabad but also from Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur, among other cities. Each piece was restored and kept in working condition through regular maintenance, preserving not just the shell but the sound.The collection spans a striking range. The largest receiver measures about three feet in width, while the smallest fits in the palm of a hand. Among the highlights are receivers from the World War II period. The radios vary in build and origin — crafted in wood, Bakelite, iron, and plastic, and manufactured in countries such as England, Germany, the United States, and the Netherlands.For Patel, the museum is about more than nostalgia. “Radio was a powerful mass communication medium. It was the heartbeat of a generation,” he says.
