"..11111,F-
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SOBCZAK
he picture is clear; the
sound is perfect, without a
hint of static. While the TV
set is from another era, its
signal reflects the airwaves of today.
For Neil Dorfman, a pharmacist and
amateur radio operator from West
Bloomfield, the connection to the past is
his passion. He and his wife Debby collect
and restore antique radios and televisions.
"We moved into this condo 15 years
ago," says Neil. "I wasn't allowed to
have a big radio tower and other large
antennae systems, so I diversified into
antique radio and TV restoration."
Neil has loaned his equipment to
movies, such as Quiz Show, adding
authenticity to the productions. "We go
running around the whole country drag-
ging home stuff, from flea markets and
home sales.," he says.
"Every radio or TV Neil brings
home, he restores and makes opera-
tional, which few collectors do," says
16 • JULY 2001 • STYLE AT THE Jr
Debby. Neil has an entire storeroom in
his basement filled with working radios
and TVs from the early 1920s through
the 1940s. Debby has her own collection
of radios from the art deco era. Another
storeroom holds interior working parts
he has collected, allowing him to restore
what are often shells in poor condition.
Neil has crystal radios in all shapes
and sizes, from 1920 - 1922, which
necessitated the use of earphones and a
long piece of wire hung outside. "You
would work the cat's whisker to touch
the crystal at its sensitive part to lis-
ten," Neil explains. Later models com-
bined the tubes, speakers and other
components on a board, allowing the
family to listen.
A 1937 Scott, "the Cadillac of radio"
in a deep walnut floor console, a 1935
Zenith "Big Dial" in a rare rosewood
cabinet, and a 1923 Crosley, "The Pup"
with a light bulb on top, all occupy
prominent spots in the Dorfman home.
Neil owns one of the first TVs devel-
oped for public use, created by RCA
and NBC in 1939 for the World's Fair.
Called a "mirror in the lid" system, it is
an early projection system. Its picture is
still perfect, and it's only one of 12 left
in the United States.
Both Neil and Debby stay active on
the amateur radio waves, meeting peo-
ple from every corner of the world. Neil
and seven other men meet every
Sunday morning for breakfast, and have
for 20 years. "Radio is no longer the
main topic," says Neil.
"Now it is about friendship."
— Lisa Brody
Clockwise from left:
Neil Dorfman
poses with some
vintage RCA
broadcasting mics.
Dorfman restored
this Philco 1959
Preticta to perfect
working order.
The RCA TRK-12,
one of only 12 in the
world, features an
image that is
bounced off a mirror
inside the cabinet.
Inset:
These crystal
radios date
from the 1920s.