Home | Events | Location | Education | Shop | Vehicles | Weapons
Much of what we accept as normal today, the television, hi-fi, computer, robotics, automated flight and space travel, has come about in the last 60 to 70 years. From the humble beginnings of the first telephone conversation by Alexander Graham Bell, the invention of the thermionic valve by Ambrose Fleming and the television by Logie Baird, the rate of progress has accelerated at an unbelievable speed until we have a bewildering array of electronic devices which form the heart of most modern day equipments. New ideas and concepts are continually coming alive and there seems no end to man's ingenuity.
The impetus for much of the development has its origins in the defence industry and Ministry funded research and development establishments, where the best scientific brains were assembled to overcome technical problems in order to meet the needs of the Services. This became particularly important during the Second World War and afterwards in the "Cold War" and subsequent conflicts.
The REME Museum of Technology had the good fortune and foresight to preserve many of the early examples of military electronic hardware, test equipment and literature. This is backed by a wide range of training aids and devices, some of which were specially developed to teach the difficult concepts of electronics and aircraft engineering to young soldier technicians over the years. The result is a unique collection which cannot be equalled anywhere in the country. It embraces the history of electronics, the equipments associated with the main REME trades taught at Arborfield (ie telecommunications, control equipment, radar, avionics and aircraft) and the plethora of support equipment and literature essential for the repair and maintenance of warlike equipments in both a static workshop environment and a mobile field unit under active conditions.
REME's role is "To maintain fit equipment in the hands of troops". This unrivalled collection shows many of the items which made it possible for REME to meet its remit during peace and war.
Development of the Electronic and Aeronautical Collection is an ongoing process, mainly in the hands of volunteers. Most of the Collection is located within Arborfield Garrison, rather than the Museum itself. It is available for viewing but this has to be by appointment. Most of the present volunteers' efforts are directed towards identifying and cataloguing equipment and supporting documentation. It is hoped that future effort will include research into the history of the equipment. Details of this process will be included here as they are developed.
REME Museum of Technology Home Page
Email Enquiries or telephone 0118 976 3375 for further information
Page produced by Peter Eldred - Last updated 28 June 2004