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Harry Keep did a lot for Houston: he provided electronic communications at the Texas City Disaster, designed the sound systems at the now-demolished Houston Coliseum and other public projects, and operated the Gulf Coast Electronics store which also sold records above it. Jane Wiley Keep, Harry's widow, tends to his memory with the museum. It is a one-woman enterprise, and it shows.
The Gulf Coast Electronics Museum, 1110 Winbern St., is off the Main St. train line. Since it doesn't have a sign, you wouldn't find it if you didn't know what to look for. But don't go without getting in touch with Jane. The museum's hours are sporadic, depending on Keep's availability. Her artistic impulses steer the Gulf Coast Electronics Museum in many directions. What is missing is a single focus, well explored. Instead, the building has been used for art shows, salons de refuse, a cafe, and only in the last room, the display of electronics. In radio terms, the signal-to-noise ratio is skewed too far to the noise side of the spectrum.
True fans of vintage radio and electronics might find some hidden treasures, but the casual visitor will find a basic lack of curation and information. With clear and concise documentation, the museum could be polished into a little gem. Harry's military service, professional expertise, and service to the community make for interesting tale, it just needs a good storyteller to do it justice.
Electronics Room, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
The last room in the building, most resembling a museum, is dedicated to electronics and the man who sold them in Houston, Harry Keep.
Gibson Girl, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX: Gibson Girl.
This WW2 era survival radio, called a Gibson Girl after its hourglass shape, had a balloon or kite-launched antennae.
Tubes, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
Cameras, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
After Harry's death, Gulf Coast Electronics had a large collection of items in its storage building. Some have been put on display, like cameras that were sold in the store. Others did not survive the lengthy time spent in an insecure garage with bored kids in the neighborhood. Vandalism took its toll on much of the stored inventory.
Magazines and Headphone Head, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
Many of the displays are arranged more for aesthetic appearance than educational content.
Stairway, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
Cafe Room, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
The cafe area, now unused, displays old records, vintage electronic magazines, miscellaneous radio and TV items, and Wiley's own artistic creations.
Art in the Gallery Space, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
One of the first and last things seen on a visit to the museum is the biological/technology-infused art by Wiley.
Radar on the outside of the Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
Outside Sign, Gulf Coast Electronics Museum - Houston, TX
As A teenager I worked for Harry Keep at Gulf Coast Electronics for two summers around 1959 & 1960. My first job was to paint the downstairs storefront and then up the stairs toward the demo room. I don't recall whether I got to the sound room upstairs but the color was a pastel gray/green. I graduated to installing University speaker components and hand making the crossovers that we put into some very simple back loaded corner horns Harry had made for him to sell. With his Magnacord tape recorder, Harry had recorded some Dixieland music played by Mac Dale and he used this to demo the lone Klipshorn in the corner of the demo room. The first time I heard it I was astounded. He also used Martin Denny's recording of Quiet Village with it's exotic bird calls to demonstrate the realism of High Fidelity. Once Harry caught me goofing off listening to music in the sound room. I recall being so embarrassed I teared up as I apologized to him. I recall the first "binaural" dual tone arms that were needed to play the binaural records of the day. The term stereophonic or stereo had not been heard at that time. - GB