International Marconi Day at Sandford Mill
/The extensive collection of historic radio exhibits at the Sandford Mill Museum in Chelmsford will be open to the public on Saturday 25 April 2015
Chelmsford's former waterworks at Sandford Mill is primarily a museum collections store and science education resource however it is open to the public for special events during the year.
Sandford Mill has featured in TV programmes such Great British Railway Journeys and The Wave Messengers. The building houses an extensive radio collection, with some equipment dating back to the 1890’s. There is a series of five ship’s radio room displays representing different decades including some very rare Marconi equipment from ships contemporary with the Titanic.
On Saturday 25 April 2015 from 10am to 5pm the collection will be open to the general public to celebrate the birthday of Guglielmo Marconi who was born on that date in 1874.
The Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) will be operating a demonstration station, call sign GX0MWT, in the historic Marconi 2MT Writtle broadcast hut which is now housed inside the museum.
On the first floor Colin Page, G0TRM and his team will be demonstrating the impressive Mechanical Morse and Morse Key display with the opportunity for the youngsters to try their hand at sending Morse. The Morse punched paper tape sending and decoding process always proves to be a big hit with potential junior CW operators.
During the day there will be several presentations in the Barn on the museum site. At 2:15 pm Dr Elizabeth Bruton, well known for her presentations at the RSGB Convention, will give a talk on Marconi. This includes details about the vital wartime contribution made by the Marconi Company and Marconi Company Engineers and staff employed by the British military during World War One. It will include a local element: the establishment of a signals interception station located in the Hall Street works in Chelmsford.
CARS Vice President John Bowen, G8DET will be giving three presentations titled “Saving Lives at Sea – up to and including the RMS Lusitania” at 11am, 1pm and 3.30pm.
Sandford Mill is run with the help of the Friends of Chelmsford Museums and other ex-industry volunteers. It relies on the support of several voluntary bodies including Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society, the Radio Officers Association, the Marconi Veterans Association and the Susan Trust. Susan is the last wooden Chelmer Barge and is undergoing restoration (financed by funds devotedly raised by the Susan Trust), before returning to her moorings at Sandford Mill.
The Museum is located in Sandford Mill Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6NY, admittance and parking are free.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society - Sandford Mill - http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/sandfordmill/
Chelmsford City Council - http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/sandfordmill
