01
Multi-Band Shortwave Tuning
Features dedicated calibrations across Medium Wave and four individual shortwave bands for international reception.
Curio Gallery
01 / 04
01 / 04G.E.C. Multi-Band Valve Table Radio — photograph 1
Highlights
Why this object
still matters.
Housed in a curved black wooden cabinet with brass-toned pinstripe accents, this vintage G.E.C. table radio features a multi-band tuning scale covering Medium Wave and four Shortwave bands (S1–S4). Dual concentric-style rotary controls manage volume, station tuning, bass, and treble alongside a bank of push-button selectors. An aperture in the diamond-patterned fabric grille reveals a tuning indicator tube commonly known as a magic eye.
02
Integrated Magic Eye Indicator
Equipped with a dedicated viewing window in the upper baffle for a visual cathode-ray tuning indicator tube.
03
Push-Button Waveband Switching
Fitted with a seven-key mechanical push-button selector bank positioned along the bottom of the glass dial.
04
Distinctive Tone & Volume Architecture
Incorporates independent Bass and Treble markings accompanied by classic bass and treble clef musical graphics.
05
Mid-Century Cabinet Geometry
Showcases rounded pillar corners, inset gold-toned banding, and elevated tapered support feet.
06
Applied G.E.C. Insignia
Finished with the raised metallic script G.E.C. brand logo centered beneath the glass tuning dial.
Specifications
The useful facts,
clearly recorded.
Measurements, construction, identity, and seller-supplied details are kept together for direct comparison.
Reviewed · Curio catalogue
Maker
General Electric Company (G.E.C.)
Origin
United Kingdom
Year
1955
Department
audio
Packed shipment
5 kg · 45 × 32 × 30 cm
Manufacturer
General Electric Company (G.E.C.), United Kingdom
Band Coverage
Medium Wave (MW) and 4 Shortwave bands (S1, S2, S3, S4)
Tuning Indicator
Magic eye tuning valve aperture mounted on speaker baffle
Controls
Volume, Bass, Station Tuning, Treble, and 7 push-button selectors
Cabinet Material
Wood with dark finish and metallic line inlays
Operating Voltage
Not visible in photographs
Details
Close inspection,
recorded in photographs.
Detail № 01 · G.E.C. Multi-Band Valve Table Radio — photograph 2
Detail № 02 · G.E.C. Multi-Band Valve Table Radio — photograph 3
Heritage
A traceable life,
carefully recorded.
Provenance documentation was not supplied for this specific G.E.C. Multi-Band Valve Table Radio; this listing is based on the supplied photographs only.
Global Broadcast Engineering
Voice Across Continents
Designed for domestic and international listeners, the five-band tuning dial visible in the front photograph offered precise shortwave calibration to pull in distant world services during the golden era of radio broadcasting.
Mid-Century Joinery
Crafted Wooden Enclosures
The top-down perspective highlights the curved cabinet joinery and inset decorative brass lines, representing the transitional aesthetic where traditional British acoustic woodwork adopted cleaner mid-twentieth-century industrial forms. That specificity gives the buyer a traceable, emotionally resonant piece of United Kingdom design history rather than a generic decorative substitute.
Timeline
An object in time,
one continuous story.
1886
Establishment of G.E.C.
The General Electric Company is founded in the UK, growing into one of Britain's largest electrical manufacturers.
1930s
Expansion into Broadcast Receivers
G.E.C. develops renowned domestic and communication radio receivers across Great Britain and export markets.
1955
Post-War Multi-Band Sets
Multi-band shortwave receivers are produced for overseas territories requiring robust international reception.
Present
Collector Interest
Mid-century British tube radios remain admired examples of post-war industrial design and acoustic cabinetcraft.
Condition
Honest wear,
documented clearly.
The cabinet shows visible surface wear, scratches, chips, and finish loss along the wooden edges and upper surface. The patterned textile speaker grille displays age-related discoloration, dust, and minor staining. The rear back cover is partially detached, and the unit retains its original curled vintage mains cord.
✓
InspectedCabinet Finish
Noticeable lacquer rubbing, scratching, and edge flaking visible along the dark wooden casing.
✓
InspectedSpeaker Grille Fabric
Diamond-woven textile shows mild foxing, localized darkening, and surface particulate accumulation.
✓
InspectedDial & Controls
Tuning scale glass, lettering, control knobs, and push-button keys remain intact with light age patina.
✓
InspectedCabling & Rear Panel
Vintage power cord is bundled at the rear; the protective backboard is loose and slightly displaced.
Logistics
Inspected, insured,
door to door.
Step 01
Delivery
Inspected, photographed, and packed with its condition report.
Step 02
Shipping
Custom-fit protective packing with tracked, insured courier service.
Step 03
Returns
Return requests are accepted within fourteen days of confirmed delivery.
Step 04
Dispatch
Prepared for courier handoff within three to five business days.
Acquisition
Make it part of
your collection.
Contact the seller for more information or to discuss this object.
✓ Insured Shipping✓ 14-Day Returns✓ Condition Report✓ Reviewed Listing
G.E.C. Multi-Band Valve Table Radio