Valveman

2003, 39 minutes

Dramatised Documentary

"Valveman" is the true story of Gerald Wells who, from his very early years, was obsessed with radios and electricity. Such was his obsession that during World War II, when he was about ten years old, he was caught stealing from a radio shop and also looting a bombed out property. Brought before a juvenile court, he was sentenced to three years in an approved school, where the staff only encouraged his interest! I played the magistrate who sent him down. Today, at his home in Dulwich, Gerald Wells owns reputedly the largest collection of radios, valves and early television sets in Europe and runs it as a museum open to the public. I understand that this film was produced to show to visitors to his museum.

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