Fidelity RAD 24 - British Made - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

howard · 22nd Nov 2005, 1:56 pm

Hello,

Ive just acquired a mint Fidelity RAD 24 radio with a label still attached proudly displaying 'British Made Fidelity Radio'. Am I right in thinking this was one of the last Fidelity radios made in the UK ?

Ive heard one or two folk cracking jokes about these late Fidelity radios, fit only for the bathroom etc

but I think its a 'fab' 1960s design, and Im pleased to be the new owner of this British Made radio

Howard

PS: Tis a bit tacky but I dont care

Stewart · 22nd Nov 2005, 2:25 pm

Cracking jokes? Hmm, well yes, I have been guilty of that - it is easy to pick holes in many Fidelity products!

That said Howard, you might just have the last laugh; after all just look at what has become valuable and collectable from ealier times...

Think basic round Ekco or Philco "peoples' set" Versus some fine RGD et al
or crude Dansette record player Versus a Hacker.

The time may yet come when people gather round and gaze in wonder at an Amstrad tower system discovered up in grandma's loft....

Go for it Howard - and there's no shame in tacky (or am I just trying to justify some of the things in my own collection...?)

howard · 22nd Nov 2005, 4:18 pm

Hello Stewart,

Youre right, Dansette record players are a bit tacky and do fetch silly prices, up to £250 on eBay, whereas sturdy old Hackers fetch a fraction of those prices. Its quite a nice design this Fidelity, and one glance at it and I think most folk would recognise it as a 60s-70s radio but its nowhere near the build quality of a Bush, Roberts or Hacker of that time .... I suspect though that theyre already a lot rarer than those cos collectors have turned their noses up at them and so theyve all been chucked in the bin, so who knows, it may well become a very desirable collectible quite soon

Howard

ianj · 23rd Nov 2005, 8:02 pm

these trannies are still being junked by the dozen every day in the UK-Fidelity may well become collectable through eventual rarity--but they were not particulary cheap at the time(70s) as you could have bought an ITT or a Bush for the same money, and had a much better set.............they tended to be sold by the Catalogue brigade, and Co-ops etc. A big selling point with the range was a trawler band, or fm band, etc. big and flashy...............works every time.........................(!) ianj

22nd Nov 2005, 1:56 pm	#1
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Fidelity RAD 24 - British Made Hello, Ive just acquired a mint Fidelity RAD 24 radio with a label still attached proudly displaying 'British Made Fidelity Radio'. Am I right in thinking this was one of the last Fidelity radios made in the UK ? Ive heard one or two folk cracking jokes about these late Fidelity radios, fit only for the bathroom etc but I think its a 'fab' 1960s design, and Im pleased to be the new owner of this British Made radio Howard PS: Tis a bit tacky but I dont care Attached Thumbnails Last edited by howard; 22nd Nov 2005 at 2:04 pm.

22nd Nov 2005, 2:25 pm	#2
Stewart Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: N.E. Surrey, UK. Posts: 361	Re: Fidelity RAD 24 - British Made Cracking jokes? Hmm, well yes, I have been guilty of that - it is easy to pick holes in many Fidelity products! That said Howard, you might just have the last laugh; after all just look at what has become valuable and collectable from ealier times... Think basic round Ekco or Philco "peoples' set" Versus some fine RGD et al or crude Dansette record player Versus a Hacker. The time may yet come when people gather round and gaze in wonder at an Amstrad tower system discovered up in grandma's loft.... Go for it Howard - and there's no shame in tacky (or am I just trying to justify some of the things in my own collection...?)

22nd Nov 2005, 4:18 pm	#3
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: Fidelity RAD 24 - British Made Hello Stewart, Youre right, Dansette record players are a bit tacky and do fetch silly prices, up to £250 on eBay, whereas sturdy old Hackers fetch a fraction of those prices. Its quite a nice design this Fidelity, and one glance at it and I think most folk would recognise it as a 60s-70s radio but its nowhere near the build quality of a Bush, Roberts or Hacker of that time .... I suspect though that theyre already a lot rarer than those cos collectors have turned their noses up at them and so theyve all been chucked in the bin, so who knows, it may well become a very desirable collectible quite soon Howard Last edited by howard; 22nd Nov 2005 at 4:34 pm.

23rd Nov 2005, 8:02 pm	#4
ianj Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 525	Re: Fidelity RAD 24 - British Made these trannies are still being junked by the dozen every day in the UK-Fidelity may well become collectable through eventual rarity--but they were not particulary cheap at the time(70s) as you could have bought an ITT or a Bush for the same money, and had a much better set.............they tended to be sold by the Catalogue brigade, and Co-ops etc. A big selling point with the range was a trawler band, or fm band, etc. big and flashy...............works every time.........................(!) ianj