GE General Electric Mod H-500 Antique Deco Marbled Bakelite Tube Radio From 1939 For Sale

MODEL, YEAR, FEATURES: This unusually shaped Deco tube radio was made by GE in 1939 at a time when many radios were like sculpted works of art to display in the home. The Model H-500 is known for its unusual central lighted thumb wheel tuning knob. It brightly lights the way in a dimly lit room, and one photo captures the effect well. The louvered Bakelite cabinet has an attractive marbled appearance. Controls are simple Volume and Tuning on this five tube set that stands just shoulder high to an old 6.5 Oz Coke bottle. The loop antenna on this radio is housed and protected with a Bakelite shell that’s easily removed to expose the electronics. This 78 year old set looks fascinating from any angle, and is in fine working condition after a recent servicing.

CONDITION, SERVICING, PERFORMANCE: Not a nick, chip, crack, scratch, or mar on the detailed marbled Bakelite cabinet, and photos will represent it well. The shallow removable Bakelite shell on the back side has a skillfully repaired crack on one side pointed out in one photo. The station thumb wheel dial turns easily, and the pilot light illuminates it brightly. Part of the dial scale graphics on the wheel have discolored over the decades (see photo), but are still quite legible. Electronics were carefully gone through with old wax / foil capacitors replaced along with the electrolytic filters and a worn tube as well. Tuning mechanism was lubed, radio was cleaned, and given an alignment and extensive operation. The tubes are still commonly found, and the setnow plays across the AM band with good reception, picking up all our local stations free of hum or distortion and with good tone from the original undamaged speaker. The loop antenna is in fine condition, and there’s a terminal on it for connecting an external aerial wire if needed. Power cord was replaced with a safe pliable one. This late depression era Deco Made in USA tube radio is ready to proudly display and play and will be packed with care.

DIMENSIONS, SHIPPING: Cabinet measures 9.1 inches wide, stands just 5.7 in. tall, and is 6 in. deep from front of volume knob to the back of the shell; old 6.5 Oz Coke bottle in photo will give better sense of scale and show reflective surfaces. I’ve shipped well over a thousand delicate tube radios all over the world for the past 17 years on with fine packing materials and methods, so no worries. Silvertone radio will be sent off on the day or day after payment is received..