The Welsh radio museum

Gwefr Heb Wifrau - Wireless in Wales, a charitable trust, is a small radio museum with a difference.  With its emphasis on the history of broadcasting in Wales, the influence of broadcasting on our national identity and the contribution of the Welsh to the development of wireless technology it is unique.  We have an interesting collection of old radio equipment and books, as well as educational and informative displays.  The Museum is based around the collection of the late David Evan Jones and was opened just a few weeks after his death in 2008.

We were officially re-accredited by the Museums, Archives and Libraries Division of the Welsh Government in May 2018.

The museum is open on Mondays, 11.00 - 15.00 and the first Saturday of every month, 11:00 -1500. Group and private visits are welcome at any other time, by appointment, throughout the year.

Wireless in Wales provides a safe and secure environment for volunteers and visitors, including wheelchair access throughout the building, a hearing loop and exhibits for safe handling. Our staff are trained and experienced in looking after visitors with disabilities. 

Monthly update, February 2019

Since the beginning of the year, Wireless in Wales Museum has been opening its doors to visitors on the first Saturday of the month. This gives the Radio Amateurs a good opportunity to contact other Amateurs around the world as Saturday is the best day to do so. It is also an opportunity for us to hold regular Craft Mornings for schoolchildren aged 6-12, from 10.30 to 12.30. We offer a wide range of crafts for boys and girls, including painting, creating objects, origami, etc., led by Carole and Ann. Places on these Mornings are limited, so please contact

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if you want to book a place. Following is a picture of Hannah and Katie making small animals at the January Craft Morning. They also created flowers from wire and nail varnish,

and snow globes.

The other photograph shows the latest gift the Museum has received. The Cossor Melody Maker model 549 was a wedding gift in 1957 and the radio and the instruction booklet are still in excellent condition. It has LW, MW and SW and was one of the first radios to receive VHF / FM. The name 'Melody Maker' was used by A.C. Cossor Ltd from the late 1920s for about 40 years; the first ones were Kits to be made at home. A. C. Cossor were scientific glass producers in the late 19th century and they began to work in the electronic field during the First World War. In 1936, they produced their first television. During the 2nd World War they manufactured radar equipment and later equipment for airport control towers. Radio and Television production was sold to Philips in 1958 and the company was

sold to Raytheon.

Here are the next lectures in our series on Friday nights at the Museum at 7.00 p.m.:

February 15th, Tony Vine talks about 'Geography, Geology and Gemstones'.

March 15th, Speakers from StudioMADE will present the David Edward Hughes Annual Lecture and speak on 'Art, Science and Technology'.

April 5th, Christopher Lees talks on "Heading for the City - following the story of a Wireless Operator and a German WW1 Cruiser".

Monthly update, January 2019

The end of 2018 was a very busy time for the Museum.

Richard Vernon, bass guitarist of the 'The Mission' rock band, gave a talk on his experiences of life 'on the road'. He was raised on Anglesey and he bought a bass guitar for himself with money which had been saved for something else. He joined the musical world by accident almost and has travelled to many different countries during his career. He described world tours which lasted 80 days without a break, and life on the customised coaches which were made to make life more bearable. He talked about the loneliness and depression that many musicians suffer from and the need then to rise to the occasion and perform for new audiences. The picture shows 'Rich' performing in 2016.

On the Curator's Evening, David Crawford spoke about the inventor Thomas Edison, 'The Man who almost invented radio'. When Edison was working on a project to improve the telegraph system for the Western Union company in USA, he noticed that sparks appeared in a section of the equipment where he did not expect that to happen. In 1875, without much evidence, he announced in the New York Times that he had discovered a new force which he named 'The Etheric force' - the newspaper can be seen in our Museum. The claims were rejected by the scientific establishment at the time, but this gave the Welshman David Edward Hughes an opportunity to experiment further for two years. Later, Heinrich Hertz proved that Edison and David Edward Hughes's claims were correct. This 'new' force which had been discovered was high frequency radio waves. Amongst the many other things that Edison invented was a ship to shore radio system, which he sold to Marconi's later.

Thanks to everyone who supported our Christmas Coffee Morning in conjunction with Vale of Clwyd Mind and the Soroptimists. We raised over £400 between us.

Everyone is welcome to our next lectures which are held at the Museum on Fridays at 7 o'clock.

January 18th, Dr. Selwyn Williams talking on 'Community Digital Radio.

February 15th, Tony Vine talking on 'Geography, Geology and Gemstones'.

March 15th, Speakers from StudioMADE will present the David Edward Hughes Annual Lecture and speak on 'Art, Science and Technology'.

April 5th, Christopher Lees talking on "Heading for the City - following the story of a Wireless Operator and a German WW1 Cruiser".

In addition, there will be a Film Night at Theatr Twm o'r Nant on January 26th and a Quiz Evening at the Museum on January 31st.