This month’s Object of the Month is a model of one of Rugby Radio Station’s masts.
The model represents one of twelve masts that supported approximately 27 miles of copper wire, forming the long-wave aerial system. Each mast was 250 metres tall, weighed 200 tons, and was capable of swaying up to three metres at the top.
Rugby Radio Station was established in 1926 by the General Post Office on a former First World War airfield. It became one of the world’s most important centres for long-wave and very low frequency radio communication.

Built for the 50th anniversary exhibition by Bob Lawrence, who was a technical officer at the station, the model was constructed to a precise scale of 1:80. Standing 313cm high, it consists of 2,246 plastic pieces. Every piece was individually cut and glued by hand.
The model is very fragile. It was damaged while on display in the old museum in 2000, but was carefully restored by a team of volunteer model makers in 2017 by inserting steel rods and repainting it with enamel paint. This is the first time it has been on display since the repairs were completed, so come and see it before the 100 Years of Rugby Radio Station display closes on 3rd October.