Bakelite table radios, valve sets, Art Deco receivers, Braun design classics, Roberts portables. Working or non-working. Each assessed individually — maker, model, condition, and genuine collector demand.
Vintage radios span a wide range of values — from modest domestic sets to genuinely rare Ekco circular models. We know the difference and explain it in writing. Free insured postage. Written valuation per radio. Paid in 72 hours.
The vintage radio market has a clear hierarchy of desirable makes and models. These are the categories where we have genuine buying interest — and where we understand the collector market well enough to make a fair offer.
The circular AD65 and AD75, the classic moulded cabinets of the 1930s and 1940s. Ekco's Bakelite designs by Wells Coates are the most collected of all British radios. Colour (brown, black, cream, ivory) affects value; original condition is paramount.
Distinctive geometric Bakelite cabinets from the 1930s, designed with a modernist sensibility unusual for domestic electronics of the period. The A4 and A10 models are particularly sought after. Murphy valves sets from the 1950s also have collector interest.
The DAC90A and similar post-war Bakelite sets are widely collected. Bush produced some of the most handsome domestic radios of the 1940s and 1950s — clean lines, quality Bakelite mouldings, and often good working condition given the robust design.
Dieter Rams-designed radios and hi-fi from the late 1950s through 1970s — the SK4 'Snow White's Coffin', SK2, PC3, and later audio components. Braun represents the intersection of vintage electronics and high-design collecting. Condition of the casing and controls is critical.
British valve sets with distinctive cabinet designs. The Pye 'rising sun' grille models are particularly well-known among collectors. McMichael also produced fine Art Deco cabinetry in both Bakelite and wood veneer.
Roberts Rambler and similar portable radios from the 1950s and 1960s — leather-cased, often with original case and strap — are collected both as design objects and as working vintage electronics. Genuine pre-transistor valve portables are rarer and more sought after.
Working status matters, but it is not everything. For decorative Bakelite sets collected primarily for display, the condition of the cabinet, dial, and knobs is often more important than whether the set plays. A cracked dial glass or chipped Bakelite on a rare model reduces value more than a non-working chassis on an intact cabinet.
For valve sets collected by hi-fi enthusiasts, working status is more significant — but even non-working valve radios are of interest to restorers who expect to work on the chassis. We assess both cabinet condition and functional status and reflect both in our written offer.
Front, rear, top, and close-ups of any damage, repairs, or unusual features. The model number plate on the rear is important. Email us if you want a preliminary view before sending.
We send a free prepaid, tracked and insured label. Your radio is insured from the moment the courier scans the parcel.
Your parcel is opened on camera before any specialist handles it. The condition of the cabinet and dial is documented publicly.
Maker, model, condition, and working status all reflected in writing. Accept what you want to sell; we return the rest free. Paid in 72 hours or +3%.
Call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk.
Get your free pack →The key factors are maker and model, design quality, period, condition, and working status. Art Deco Bakelite radios from the 1930s and 1940s by Ekco, Murphy, and Bush are actively collected. Braun Dieter Rams-designed pieces are very sought after. Rare models in fine original condition command the highest premiums.
Not necessarily. For Art Deco Bakelite pieces collected primarily for display, cabinet condition matters more than function. Many collectors restore sets themselves. Working status is more significant for valve sets bought by hi-fi enthusiasts, but even non-working examples are considered.
It depends on severity and location. A hairline crack on the rear panel of a desirable model has modest impact; a crack through the front cabinet or dial surround reduces value more significantly. We assess condition honestly and reflect it accurately in our offer.
For British Bakelite, Ekco circular models are the most desirable, followed by Murphy and Bush. For continental makes, Braun (especially Dieter Rams designs) is very actively collected. Pye, McMichael, and early Roberts portables also have collector interest.
Yes. We assess each set individually and offer accordingly. Photograph each radio and email us if you want a preliminary view before committing to postage. We are transparent about which models are of most interest.
Within 72 hours of your parcel going live on YouTube — guaranteed. If we miss that window, we add 3% to your total.
Maker identified, model attributed, condition assessed, collector demand checked. Written offer per radio. Open live on YouTube. Paid within 72 hours.