It was quickly followed by Plaskon, which could produce colors such as white, beige and red. Bakelite was the first type of plastic to appear as a radio, in the early 1930s. These include Bakelite, Plaskon and Catalin. This advertisement from the issue of Life magazine advertises the perks of a new transistor radio, which at that point was the most popular radio type. When it comes to mid century radios, there are two types you’ll want to keep an eye out for: plastic and transistor. “These radios were icons of technological triumph and dominated the market until the late 1960s.” This 1946 Catalin radio was called “The Temple,” and is a Fada, model 652. “The bulky tube radios disappeared and were replaced with smaller transistor radios that could fit in a shirt pocket or purse,” says Camil Moujabar of Midcentury Radios. In the 1950s, the invention of the transistor changed the face of the radio. The Akkord Peggie was the first transistor radio sold in Germany, 1957.
While they were available in the ’30s, the post-war versions were smaller and easier to transport.
#Motorola all transistor radio portable#
It was during the ’40s that portable radios also became more popular. “The independence of design is very often missing from today’s mass-produced and mass-marketed items,” says Paul Sanders, who restores radios from the 1930s and ’40s.Īs more materials became available after the war, radios began transitioning from wood to metal and plastics. Many collectors consider this the “Golden Era” of radios because of their handcrafted beauty. At this point, most radios were large-they served as pieces of furniture and weren’t portable. To talk about mid century radios, we have to start before WWII in the Great Depression. Photo courtesy of Paul Sanders of Paul Sanders Classic Radios. This General Electric table radio from 1946 bridges the gap between the Art Deco look and the clean lines of mid century style. Here’s a brief history and some go-to tips for collecting. The mid century radio-iconic to the era, it’s a perfect item to start collecting as an MCM enthusiast.
Plastic or wood, tabletop or pocket-sized, mid century radios, like this 1949 Motorola Model 68X-11Q Bakelite tube radio, are a colorful and fun collectible to bring home.
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