Signals Museum

Thank you to the wonderful group from Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America for visiting this morning! We hope you enjoyed your visit as much as we enjoyed having you!

We’re getting ready for our Huntsville Hamfest visitors!

The ham shack is getting tuned up, the radios are ready and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to SIGNALS.

If you hear a weird, squeaky sound coming from the back rooms of Signals, it might just be our volunteer docent Lyn working on Edison cylinders. Most of our cylinders are from 1900 to 1920 and the core material is plaster. Over time, that plaster absorbs moisture and can expand so much that they won’t fit on the mandrel that turns the cylinder. In this case you have to use a reamer to hollow out the cylinder so it can be played again. So if you hear that obnoxious squeak on a visit, now you know!

If you’re looking for Signals’ founder Dr. Marc Bendickson, and he’s not in his office or walking the museum, you’ll likely find him in one of his favorite hideaways - “the lab” as they call it. Last week he spent much of an afternoon restoring a beautiful stamped metal Atwater-Kent radio from the late 1920s, with volunteer Don Bertram providing some assistance. That distinctive machine is working like new - and sitting prominently in one of the radio displays in the event room. Come take a look!

GRANDPARENTS CAMP: FINAL CALL!

Before the grandkids head back to school and your house gets quiet, bring them to SIGNALS for one more adventure!

Because summer may be winding down, but there’s still time to make one more connection!

We were thrilled to welcome a group from The Wallace State Lifelong Learning Institute (Walli)! Thank you for spending the morning with us and exploring the history of communication. We hope you had a great visit!

Meet "Big Bertha"

This impressive 1939 Zenith 12-S-370 earned the nickname "Big Bertha" among collectors thanks to its grand size and outstanding performance. Featuring Zenith's iconic Robot Dial and beautiful Art Deco styling, it's a true masterpiece of the Golden Age of Radio.

We were excited to welcome Beverly and Tom Jobes and their family to SIGNALS! Tom's vision and encouragement inspired Dr. Bendickson to create SIGNALS, making the museum possible.

Thank you, Beverly, Tom, and your family, for your visit and for the lasting impact you've had on SIGNALS. We were delighted to spend time with you and look forward to welcoming you back again!

Pictured: Beverly and Tom Jobes with Dr. Bendickson during their visit to SIGNALS.