Walk into a nondescript building in Alameda, California — which happens to have once been the first telephone exchange on the island, circa 1900 — and you’ll find yourself plunged into an electronic wonderland of Inspector Gadget-type widgets and gizmos.
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Jim Fink, volunteers March 2 at the Bay Area Radio Museum and Hall of Fame in Alameda, Calif., which stretches back some 120 years to the invention of radio.
Steve Cushman, former president and current director of the California Historical Radio Society, shows off the type of crystal rocket radio that fascinated him as a child.
A microphone from pioneering Berkeley radio station KRE is on display inside the museum
Gilles Vrignaud, a lifetime member of the California Historical Radio Society, tests a vacuum tube while volunteering at the museum.
Colorful and exotic radios are on display March 6 at the Silicon Valley museum. Most of its artifacts are donations, and it has the largest communications library west of the Mississippi.
Colorful and exotic radios are on display at the museum, where visitors can buy old radios that have been updated with Bluetooth connectivity.
Colorful and exotic radios are on display at the museum. The first entertainment broadcasts in the United States came out of San Jose, Calif., in 1912.
10 retro appliances for your vintage-inspired kitchen
Unique Appliances Classic Retro Fridge
If you can’t afford to splurge on a $3,700 1950s-style fridge from Smeg, try this lookalike refrigerator from Unique Appliances that comes in at well under half the cost. We love the pastel blue and mint green for a playful retro look, but you can also keep things classic with black or white.
Nostalgia Electrics Microwave
Don’t let an ultra-modern microwave ruin the look of your mid-century kitchen. This perfectly retro microwave from Nostalgia comes in pink, red, teal, yellow, aqua, black and ivory, so you can match it to your colorful kitchen.
Big Chill Retro Dishwasher
No one looks forward to doing the dishes, but you might start if you had a vintage-inspired dishwasher that was this cute. Big Chill’s retro appliances come in a variety of fun standard colors and dozens of custom shades.
Smeg 50s Retro Toaster
If you want to add a Smeg appliance to your kitchen without breaking the bank, try their countertop options such as this four-slot 50s-style toaster. It comes in multiple colors, from diner red to pastel pink.
Hallman Vintage-Style Oven Range
This vintage-style range from Hallman is undoubtedly a splurge at over $5,000 for the oven. Still, it’s hard not to fall in love with the perfect antique look of this modern stove.
Laekerrt Mint Green Retro Espresso Maker
Start your day off right with this vintage-inspired espresso maker from Laekerrt. It comes in a nostalgic mint green or stainless steel if you prefer a slightly more modern look.
Haden Heritage 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Need a more mild jolt in the morning? Try this 12-cup coffee maker from Haden in a pretty robin’s egg blue. It might look mid-century, but it has all the modern programmable features you love.
Frigidaire Retro Blender
At under $40, Frigidaire’s retro blender is an affordable way to add a vintage touch to your kitchen. It also comes with an adorable mason jar to-go cup.
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit a KitchenAid stand mixer from your grandma (because her’s is probably still working), you can buy one that looks just like it. Why mess with a classic design?
Swan Retro Tea Kettle
This powder blue tea kettle from Swan will fit perfectly in your vintage kitchen. The electric kettle’s cordless design makes it easy to move, too.
Whether you want inspiration you can bring into your own kitchen or you just love watching mouthwatering footage of the best food from around …
