While the broadcast industry flocks en masse to shows to Las Vegas and Amsterdam every year to see all the latest in broadcast technology, a handful of broadcast historians continue to seek out classic gear from our industry's rich past, so as to document and preserve broadcast history.
From the Golden Age of Radio to early renditions of more recent digital technology, these odds and ends - some of which may still be in use in some facilities - chronicle the rapid pace of change in broadcast and communications tech over the years - and technology in general - and highlight the impact technology has had on our industry, and vice versa.
The fine folks at the Museum of Broadcast Technology (MBT) are just some of those involved in the pursuit of vintage gear, collaborating with others interested in preserving this history. And while they attend NAB each year as well, they provide a sort of respite from the "out with the old, in with the new" clamor - a chance to look back and see how we got here. That's why for MBT, as Founder and President Paul Beck says, it's all about the classic gear.