Saturday, 4 March 2017

..an 1970 live album by Melanie Safka

Channeling the spirit of the 1960's, hippies, incense and flower power was American singer-songwriter Melanie Anne Safka, who famously performed in the pouring rain aged just 22 at the 1969 Woodstock festival, for which she was paid $750.

Her hits included "Ruby Tuesday", "Brand New Key", "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", and this song performed against the backdrop of the Vietnam War.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPPEkuPOd_s





Monday, 27 February 2017

..a Bush DAC11 Radio





This is a professionally refurbished 1950's Bush DAC11 valve radio, of a type once owned by my family.

This particular brand of radio was introduced by Bush in June 1949, and was sold for the sum of £17.13s.6d (£17.67) plus Purchase Tax, the forerunner to Value Added Tax. Purchase Tax varied from item to item, and was higher on goods considered luxuries. One source suggests the final selling price for this radio was around £22.




The radio came in two versions, namely an AC model, and the AC/DC model seen here, the difference between the internal set-up being described as very small.

The sets are not rare or valuable, and often come for sale, though it is wise, if bought at auction, to have the set professionally checked. Bakelite radios tend to be more popular with collectors, and command slightly better prices than those with wooden cabinets such as this one.