General Electric A-70 (1935-1937)

General Electric A-70 "Flat-Top Cathedral" Radio

The General Electric A-70, introduced in 1935, was a premium tabletop radio that stood out for its unique, upright "tombstone" shape. It marked GE's bold move into using modern metal vacuum tubes instead of traditional glass ones. As the inventor of this metal tube technology, GE packed seven of them into the radio's advanced internal circuitry, allowing families to tune into three different radio bands, including two dedicated to international shortwave stations. The radio featured a cool, futuristic dial that mechanically rotated to show a completely new set of numbers whenever you switched channels. It also had a smart, two-speed tuning knob: you could spin it quickly to jump across the dial, or switch to a "low gear" to precisely lock onto a fuzzy station. Encased in a stately 20-inch polished walnut cabinet with elegant bronze trim, it was designed to be both a top-tier music player and a beautiful piece of Art Deco living room decor.

Donation: John & Carol Babina Jr.