Nestled on Chatta Bazaar Road in Hyderabad’s Old City, Mahboob Radios is a treasure trove of vintage audio equipment, offering a journey back in time for lovers of classic radios, record players, and cassette decks. The shop is a living archive, showcasing iconic brands like Murphy, Philco, Marconi, Telefunken, Grundig, HMV, and Philips.
Inside this small, packed shop, Muhammad Moinuddin, one of the owners, proudly introduces visitors to rare items. “This is a Johnson radio from the U.K. It’s over 80 years old,” he says, pointing to a prized spool tape recorder similar to those once used by All India Radio and Radio Ceylon. His most cherished piece? An original GEC radio that still runs on a dry battery, a marvel from a bygone era.
Mahboob Radios, founded 80 years ago by Moinuddin’s father, Shaikh Mahboob, has grown from a small setup in Dabeerpura to a renowned vintage repair shop. Recognizing the growth potential of Hyderabad’s Old City, Mahboob moved the shop to its current location, purchasing the space for Rs. 7,000—a significant investment at the time. The brothers, Moinuddin and Mujeebuddin, have continued their father’s legacy, servicing devices from across India, with clients sending vintage radios from cities like Mumbai and Kolkata for repairs.
“Our Grundig spool recorder and HMV record player once belonged to Marri Chenna Reddy,” Moinuddin shares, referencing the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. “Only we can repair these, as we still have stocks of rare 4-volt and 6-volt valves,” he says.
The brothers’ skills go beyond repair. In earlier days, they would assemble radios from completely knocked-down kits (CKDs), showcasing their expertise. As Mujeebuddin carefully tightens the tuning thread on a Philco radio, he notes the contrast with modern electronics: “Most of today’s radios are ‘use and throw’—they can’t be repaired like these classics.”
Mahboob Radios stands as one of the last bastions of vintage radio repair in India, preserving an era of craftsmanship and quality. This little shop continues to attract vintage enthusiasts and collectors, eager to experience and restore a piece of audio history.
