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Murphy A24

Radio
1934 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mains table radio. An upright veneered wooden cabinet, slightly tapering towards the top on the sides. The top of sides are rounded. Most of the cabinet is veneered with dark brown wood, except for front which has a large cutaway section inset from and parallel to the outside edge of the cabinet. The bottom half of this section contains an inlaid yellow, speckled burrwood veneer at the top of which, in the centre, is a black plastic rectangular insertion, with a semi-circular aperture over a white plastic tuning scale. The cale has black markings. Below this is a round, fluted plastic control knob. Just below this is another control knob, with knobs in line either side of it. All of the knobs are identical in pattern. The top part of the cutaway section contains a loudspeaker aperture within a shallow recess, covered with a pale brown fabric. The edge of the cutaway is painted red. Across this cutaway and overlapping it are three narrow, yellow horizontal struts. The sides of the cabinet are undercut to the depth of the burrwood veneer at the base. The back of the set has four horizontal cutaways with rounded corners, covered from behind with a light brown fabric. A metal data plate is attached at the bottom-centre.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMurphy A24 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Plywood veneered with walnut and birdseye maple, plastics, textile
Brief description
Radio, Murphy model A24; veneered wooden cabinet; designed by R.D. Russell for Murphy, Welwyn Garden City, 1934
Physical description
Mains table radio. An upright veneered wooden cabinet, slightly tapering towards the top on the sides. The top of sides are rounded. Most of the cabinet is veneered with dark brown wood, except for front which has a large cutaway section inset from and parallel to the outside edge of the cabinet. The bottom half of this section contains an inlaid yellow, speckled burrwood veneer at the top of which, in the centre, is a black plastic rectangular insertion, with a semi-circular aperture over a white plastic tuning scale. The cale has black markings. Below this is a round, fluted plastic control knob. Just below this is another control knob, with knobs in line either side of it. All of the knobs are identical in pattern. The top part of the cutaway section contains a loudspeaker aperture within a shallow recess, covered with a pale brown fabric. The edge of the cutaway is painted red. Across this cutaway and overlapping it are three narrow, yellow horizontal struts. The sides of the cabinet are undercut to the depth of the burrwood veneer at the base. The back of the set has four horizontal cutaways with rounded corners, covered from behind with a light brown fabric. A metal data plate is attached at the bottom-centre.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45cm
  • Width: 40.5cm
  • Depth: 28cm
Measurements taken from paper catalogue - not checked on object.
Style
Production typeMass produced
Object history
Purchased by the Circulation Department from 8th Sanderstead (St. Mary's) Scouts [1976/372].
Historical context
Brand new, in 1934, this set would have cost £14 10s 0d.
Bibliographic reference
Hogben, Carol, The Wireless Show!: 130 classic radio receivers, 1920s to 1950s, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1977
Other number
16234 - serial number
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.595-1976

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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