Philips Radioplayer All-Electric model 2634 thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Philips Radioplayer All-Electric model 2634

Radio
1931 (designed and made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Radio broadcasting was made possible in the UK in 1920 by Marconi’s experimental radio station in Essex. The station was based in an ex-army hut in Writtle and daily half-hour broadcasts of news and light entertainment were made. Marconi brought together the work of many earlier pioneers to create broadcast radio, including Michael Faraday, James Clark Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz.

Radio became a popular form of entertainment through developments such as the founding of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), the widespread use of short-wave radio in the mid 1920s and an increase in the number of broadcasting stations throughout the country.

This is an early example of a mass-produced mains table model, with an integrated speaker, housed in a plastic cabinet. The plastic is Bakelite, made from phenol-formaldehyde, a compound suitable for moulding complex shapes in high-speed industrial processes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePhilips Radioplayer All-Electric model 2634 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Compression-moulded Bakelite (phenol-formaldehyde), oxidised bronze
Brief description
Wireless, Britain, designed and man. Philips, 1931
Physical description
Radio contained in a Bakelite case with heptagonal design.
Dimensions
  • Width: 39cm
  • Height: 48cm
  • Depth: 18.5cm
Measurements source: vintageradio.nl
Styles
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
PHILIPS RADIOPLAYER ALL-ELECTRIC, TYPE 2634 Designed by Philip, Eindhoven, the Netherlands Made by Philips Lamps Ltd., Mitcham, Surrey, England 3 valves; oxidised bronze grille, Bakelite case 1931 This is an early example of a mass-produced mains table model with an integrated speaker housed in a plastic cabinet. The plastic is Bakelite, made from phenol-formaldehyde, a compound suitable for moulding complex shapes in high-speed industrial processes. Bequeathed by Mr David Rush.(pre October 2000)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr David Rush
Object history
Bequeathed by David Rush [81/695].
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Subjects depicted
Summary
Radio broadcasting was made possible in the UK in 1920 by Marconi’s experimental radio station in Essex. The station was based in an ex-army hut in Writtle and daily half-hour broadcasts of news and light entertainment were made. Marconi brought together the work of many earlier pioneers to create broadcast radio, including Michael Faraday, James Clark Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz.

Radio became a popular form of entertainment through developments such as the founding of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), the widespread use of short-wave radio in the mid 1920s and an increase in the number of broadcasting stations throughout the country.

This is an early example of a mass-produced mains table model, with an integrated speaker, housed in a plastic cabinet. The plastic is Bakelite, made from phenol-formaldehyde, a compound suitable for moulding complex shapes in high-speed industrial processes.
Bibliographic references
  • p.98 Hawes, Robert and Sassower, Gad. Bakelite Radios (Edison, New Jersey, 1996)
  • p.74 Hawes, Robert, Radio Art (London, 1991)
Collection
Accession number
W.25-1981

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Record createdApril 2, 2001
Record URL
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