Historical information

The Bakelite radio represents an era when radios were a central part of home life for news, music, and entertainment.
The leather-cased radio suggests an early portable radio trend, making radio more accessible to travellers and workers.
The silver box radio hints at the transition to modern transistor-based designs, leading to compact AM/FM radios and cassette players.

Physical description

Top Right – Leather-Cased Portable Radio: PHILLIPS
A compact, rectangular radio encased in brown leather with metal corner reinforcements.
The front panel has a large tuning dial at the top right and a speaker grille with a fabric covering.
The brand name appears in script on the front, possibly indicating a mid-20th-century transistor radio.
Bottom Right – Bakelite Tabletop Radio: AWA ADIOLA
This dark brown radio, possibly Bakelite, has an art deco or early mid-century design.
The large tuning dial is octagonal with a transparent cover and frequency markings.
The speaker grille has vertical slats, with a fabric covering beneath, which appears aged.
Two knobs below the tuning dial likely control volume and tuning.
These features suggest it may be from the 1930s or 1940s.
Left – Silver & White Portable Radio: ASTOR WIRELESS
A more modern, boxy radio, possibly from the 1960s or 1970s, with a metal and plastic casing.
The front grille has horizontal vents, and the handle on the side suggests portability.
A latch mechanism on the side might indicate it doubles as a cassette or reel-to-reel player.
The cleaner, industrial design aligns with electronics from the mid to late 20th century.
Owned by Vic WHITFIELD
Top Right & Left Radios: Likely battery-operated transistor radios, used for personal listening.
Bottom Right Radio: An early vacuum tube radio, requiring mains electricity and used as a home entertainment piece.