Radiograms

Doesn't look like anything special so don't get worked up about value! The 'F' on the tuning scale suggests 'Ferranti' which were OK in general. It has FM so that dates it to post 1954 (I guess around 1956 - 58) and a standard BSR record player deck. You might get £50 for it if someone likes the style but most radiograms are difficult to get rid of because of their size....they don't fit well in modern homes.

Hi, thanks for the reply!

I didn't think it was worth much, I guess I just wanted to make sure as I have a soft spot for old things and don't like to see them neglected. Unfortunately space is an issue so unless I can recondition it and convince my flatmate it's the bees knees it looks like it's going on freecycle or to the local antique dealer 🙁

S

It's a Ferranti 455.  Built in 1955 or 56.

...and last of the 'real' Ferrantis I believe, before Ekco got their mitts on the company 😉

Well I'm probably going to get flamed for this but it might as well be said.

You've already been told this set as it stands is likely to get no interest due to few being interested in a large lump and that's a very accurate appraisal. Those that are in the market, look for makes with better aesthetics and to be honest late 60's and early 70s are much more in vogue at present with the masses.

However what you may not be aware of and has not been mentioned yet, the parts are worth more than the whole. You have a push pull set up in there meaning on the chassis you have two EL84 output valves, a nice  transformer and a GZ32 rectifier. A Garrard deck ( see below) and two whopping 8" Goodman speakers. All of which have a market and will be of interest.  you would be advised to open up the back (with the set uplugged) to verify all the above items are intact and are as I describe.

Do the e-bay research, you will see if the valves are in good condition they will collectively and likely, fetch more than £50. Then the deck and speakers will fetch a good few quid and shoudn't hang about, leaving you to have a bonfire with the cabinet or sell on as an ever popular up-cycle project to the trendy types. Fish tank, retro drinks bar rabbit hutch etc to name but a few.

If you sell it to a local dealer they may end giving you £20 (if he's feeling generous) and doing what I've just detailed. Cut out the middle man and get the profit for yourself. Harsh, yes, reality, yes, would you be the first, no and at the end of the day, its nothing special as it stands.

The reality I'm afraid is nobody here is going to buy it as a whole unit to save, I would be very happy to be proved wrong but I think its a safe bet.

I'll hide behind the sofa now as the lynch mob with burning torches will no doubt have me but "I do not speak with forked tongue."

Despite the fact I said to myself when I got rid of the fair few radiograms I had that I wasn't buying any more ?  well I have. although they are only bush ones, SRG142, SG55 and a few others. that's the limit though as they do take a lot of space up and are difficult to move without damn near rupturing myself every time and the fact theres no more space to put them has thankfully stopped me in my tracks ? .

Cheers

Neil.

Radiograms, the aspirational item of the 50’s and early 60’s, besides the tv and the car. Nice piece of furniture in the living room and some sounded good too, please every member of the family.

Like Chris I will go hide behind the sofa. 

To sum up, the parts are worth much more than the whole.

They sound great, they were well made, the record deck is a fair quality.

But brown furniture is presently worth nothing, an old valve radiogram even less.

Running shoes on, I'm off.

My Gran had one until the mid 1980s, which had a slim-ish case on legs. 

It was replaced by an Amstrad Stereo system that seemed state of the art in comparison to a 7 year old me.