Join us at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for a weekend of vintage communications!
This event highlights the communications technology of the Trolley Era and is included with general admission. Explore antique radios, typewriters, printing presses, victrolas, phonographs, and more!
Along with participating in the event, visitors can also explore our interactive exhibits in our Welcome & Education Center, take a trolley for a ride on our 4-mile round-trip line, and discover our historic streetcar collection. Our regular admission rates are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $15 for children 3-18. Children under 3 are free.
Confirmed exhibitors and things to do:
- Local amateur radio clubs will be setting up a special event station (W3T) and inviting visitors to explore the historic (and modern!) world of ham radio. Test out your Morse code skills on a practice key!
- Typewriter enthusiasts are invited to display their machines and to set up machines the public can use! We’ll have many machines to test out as part of the event from the collection of David Cannon. The museum will happily host buy/sell/trade tables as well. Type a letter to send in the mail and test out the different fonts and feelings of these classic machines
- You’ve heard of a printing press – now’s your chance to test one out! Wayne and Nancy Young from the print shop in Portersville will be sharing and demonstrating their printing press. Also on site will be the Old Economy Village Print Shop, with head printer John Thomas.
- See (and hear!) a collection of working antique radios – local collector Ben Costello will showcase his collection of Catalin tabletop radios, similar to the Bakelite radios
- See a WWII-era Jeep with a back seat command set radio and historical displays from Don Grimm
- Experience the sounds of a Victrola and observe the bells of antique phonographs
- See a selection of antique telephones through the ages from the collection of Dave Grill and Donald Scott
- Explore a display of cameras through the ages
- Retro fun: learn how to create a cassette mix tape and explore the world of early 2000s digital photography
- Saturday only: take a trip through time with a 1924 Crosley 52 radio and G-Whiz George from WJPA!
- Viewpoint Production Services will share a collection of antique broadcasting equipment. Could you make it as a 1970s news videographer with all that heavy equipment?
- Food truck: P’s Bird Wagon will be on site serving lunch for purchase each day!
Exhibitor Invite:
Do you collect a particular mode or method of vintage communication? Please reach out to Kristen at kfred@patrolley.org if you’d be willing to share/display/showcase your…
- antique radios
- antique telephones
- antique televisions
- vintage cameras
- retro computers
- jukeboxes
- newspapers
- recording or broadcasting equipment
- …and other types of communication!
Hotel Info
- This year, we’re working with HomeTowne Studios & Suites Washington by Red Roof at 2110 N Franklin Dr, Washington, PA 15301. Call the hotel front desk at (724) 884-0299 and mention the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum to receive the discounted rate of $69.89 plus tax (Sunday-Thursday) and $82.89 plus tax (Fridays and Saturdays). Jacuzzi rooms available for $15 upgrade! Rate is valid all of 2024. Rooms include a free breakfast and free parking.
- Special rates for museum-goers are also available at the Quality Inn & Suites (501 Racetrack Rd in Washington, PA) (formerly Microtel). Phone (724) 705-7676. Rates vary by season but are typically $60-$75 per night plus tax – mention the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum when asking about special rates.
- Visit the Hampton Inn Washington website (119 Murtland Ave) and enter the code 0003472486 in the Corporate Account box under Special Rates to receive 12% off the regular room rate. Guests can call the hotel directly to book this discounted rate as well at (724) 228-4100.
- There are many other hotels nearby along Racetrack Road within 10 minutes of the Museum and elsewhere in Washington, PA within a 15 minute drive.
More Information about our Exhibitors:
Printing Press: Come see the Steam Show Print Shop from the Northwest PA Steam Engine and Old Equipment Association! We will be demonstrating how hand-set type was used in the 1700s to the mid 1900s. Books, magazines, newspapers, wedding invitations, and other printed materials were created using this technique. Print your own souvenir on our Kelsey table top press!
Amateur Radio: WA3COM is coordinating and organizing the amateur radio communications for this event, including the special event station. The station’s call sign is W3T – ham radio operators are encouraged to work us on the air! Visitors can see a functioning amateur radio station, and an amateur radio operator will help you try to make a radio call! Representatives from the Washington Amateur Communications (WA3COM) and Steel City Amateur Radio Club (W3KWH) will be on hand to answer all of your ham radio-related questions! Modes demonstrated will include CW (Morse code), SSB (phone), and FT8 (digital).
Jeep Command Set Radio: Volunteer Don Grimm will exhibit his WWII-era Jeep and the SCR-506-A – a medium-power AM set designed for installation in tanks, amphibian trucks, personnel carriers, and other vehicles to provide continuous wave (CW) and voice communication from one vehicle to another or between these vehicles and airplanes or base stations. Saturday only!
Typewriters: Enthusiasts from around the region will be showing off typewriters – some for display-only, some for the public to use, and some for selling! If you’ve had a typewriter in your house for a long time and you’re wondering what to do to fix it, feel free to bring it in – experts will be on site!
