1950s General Radio Bakelite Bluetooth Speaker

This 1950s General Radio Bakelite valve radio was originally made in France as a domestic tabletop set for everyday broadcasts.

I’ve repurposed it as a Bluetooth speaker, keeping the original cabinet, dial and knobs in place so it still looks and feels like the original radio. The valve electronics are no longer in use, and it now runs on a 12V power supply with both Bluetooth and an auxiliary input for wired playback. There is also soft LED lighting behind the dial which brings out the original scale when it’s on.

The Bakelite case has the usual light wear you’d expect for its age, which I’ve left rather than trying to make it look new. It still uses the original internal speaker, which gives a warm, clear sound that suits everyday listening.

Overall it’s still very much a 1950s French-made radio in appearance, just adapted to be practical to use now.