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Subiaco Museum > Records

RADIO: UPRIGHT CONSOLE

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c. 1935

Overview

Rectangular, upright wooden cabinet. Front has a recessed central panel with tuning dials and 'magic eye' tuner at the upper edge. Below this are four bakelite knobs, one centrally beneath the dial and three in a horizontal line below. The lower 2/3 of this central panel houses the speaker which is covered with brown flecked rayon fabric. This is again covered with open woodwork panels and bakelite strips (3). The cabinet stands on four flat, broad legs. The cabinet is made of wood veneer and has an art-deco design. The rear inside of cabinet is divided into two sections, the lower containing a large speaker and the upper a valve radio. Electrical flex and plugs are attached.

Historical information

An example of a valve radio in an art-deco wood veneer cabinet, common in homes in the 1930s. Valve radios, also known as vacuum tube radios, were the dominant form of radio receivers from the 1920s through the 1950s when they were replaced by transistor radios.

Used by the donor’s family at 209 Heytesbury Road, Subiaco.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-1987.205

Item type

Material

Width

530 mm

Height or length

945 mm

Depth

290 mm

Keywords

ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY

Heytesbury Road [209], Subiaco

Master Builders Association

Museum Treasure

Year

Statement of significance

Historical. Example of radio of the period.

Last modified

Friday, 21 November, 2025

Completeness

94

Subiaco Museum

Subiaco Museum

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