“Radio is one medium that triggers all senses in a person and listening to it through an analogue radio set is a wholesome experience in itself.

My father, Late. Shaik Mahboob started Mahboob Radio Service from Dabeerpura in Hyderabad before moving to the present location, Chatta Bazar, in 1948. He was into the PVC pipes business earlier, but later, got into the radio selling and repairing in the late 1920s.

Like my father, my brother and I were also passionate about radios. So we used to help him with radio repairs in the evenings after school. We used to work on all kinds of radio sets, from brands like Murphy, Phillips, Sony, Marconi, and many more.

One of our most prominent customers were Viceroy Mir Osman Ali Khan, who ruled Hyderabad back then. We used to repair their radio sets and deliver them back to the palace once done. The King would give us some money in lifafa (envelope).

Those days were certainly the best as it was considered the Golden era of Radio. However, things have changed drastically with the advent of new technologies. Today, smartphones have replaced most of the analogue sets including the television and radio.

But I have no regrets. Even today, I have clients who come from different parts of the country who comes for the repairs or to buy vintage radio sets.   My children don’t want to continue this business as they are not interested in these antique radios. They have already started working elsewhere. But my love for Radio is eternal and I will continue repairing radios until my last breath!”

– Shaik Mahboob, Mahboob Radio service

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