“Wow, hard to believe it’s been 25 years since I dropped by my cousin Gerrit’s place in Hoogezand! Back then, he gave me a tour of his shed. It was absolutely packed with old radios and record players. It was such a cool collection. The radios may be gone now. However, I still have a little gem from that time. It’s a 1995 article about his hobby in the PTT company magazine!”

Calling Gerrit’s talent just a ‘natural knack’ would be a huge understatement—and way too one-sided. Sure, he’s got the skills, no doubt about it. But there’s more to him than that. Gerrit de Vries (PBBI) is an inspiring mix of creativity. He also possesses technical know-how. This combination leads to all kinds of fun projects. For example, he designed his own house. He did the renovation himself. ‘That must’ve been in 1977—I had just quit smoking, and I figured remodeling was the perfect therapy.’ On top of that, he’s a pretty talented sketch artist and… he collects vintage audio gear.

The sleek modern stereo in the living room stands out. It is a sharp contrast to the record players and radios tucked away in ‘the shed.’ Those old treasures instantly spark a wave of nostalgia. They take you back to the days when families would stay home together. Families listened to shows like De Bonte Dinsdagavondtrein and De Familie Doorsnee. They even smell like the past.

But once the tubes have warmed up, you eagerly tune in to a station. The magic is quickly broken. None other than Michael Jackson comes blasting in with his latest single. Of course, deep down you knew this would happen. After all, Gerrit’s little antenna wire stretches from his French radio to the birch tree in the backyard. It isn’t pulling signals from the past. It’s just catching today’s broadcasts. Still, for a moment, it almost feels like time travel.”**

And then—surprise!—that bulky old radio suddenly plays the very same tune as the sleek little receiver you just bought. The sound quality? Surprisingly good. ‘When it comes to the electronics,’ Gerrit explains, ‘there’s often hardly anything wrong. These devices were built to last. And they’re just as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.’

The pride of Gerrit’s collection is a 1935 Philips radio, brought over by a neighbor from southern France. It’s a tall, wooden model, crafted with an incredible attention to detail and sense of style. They really went all out. Even the speaker cloth hides the speaker from view. It carries a subtle woven pattern: the Philips logo itself.

That’s the brand I’ve really specialized in,’ explains the long-term planner from the back office. ‘It’s Dutch, of course. But even more, the company has a rich history of experimenting and designing technical equipment. Philips products are truly finished. The craftsmanship inside fascinates me endlessly, and the design on the outside earns my absolute respect.’

One glance at the practically brand-new-looking radios and record players makes it clear why. They’re real gems. Or better said: they’ve become gems again. Gerrit pours countless hours into cleaning and repairing his collection—‘just tinkering around,’ as he likes to put it.”**

During one of those restoration sessions, Gerrit once discovered a hidden little drawer inside one of his sets. Inside? A radio subscription belonging to a certain Monsieur Revel from Nassat. It’s a tiny village near Andorra. There was also a slip from a sweepstakes lottery. Instantly, you can’t help but picture an older man, leaning in close to the radio as the winning numbers are announced—calloused hand gripping a glass of white wine, and in the other, maybe even his ticket to happiness…

Gerrit Radio's 1992