1940s Radios - Portable Alphabetical by brand Click on a radio for an enlarged view...

 

Closed: Admiral 29-G5 "Bantam" (1941) Here's a nicely swirled portable with a leather handle and leatherette covering. This is an early camera-style set. Incidentally, you can see a similar radio in the second half of the movie "Shadow of the Thin Man" (1941). Our hero, Nick Charles, goes to investigate an apartment, having arrived in a "Zenith" taxicab. The landlady there is carrying one of these radios. During her conversation with Nick, she turns it on and off several times by opening and closing the door, and has timed the commercials perfectly so she can listen exclusively to her program. Unfortunately, the batteries in her set run out just at the most exciting point in the show...a crime drama, what else?

 

Crosley 45-BV "Commuter" (1940s?) A very cool portable radio, with a case of two-toned aluminum. The plastic lid, shown open, contains the antenna. Gray leather handle. The raised words "Crosley Commuter" are pressed out of the aluminum face.

 

With Box: Emerson 558 (1948) It's always nice to find a radio with an original box like this Emerson portable.

 

Garod 4A1b (1947) This little portable has swirled green plastic with an alligator texture. The face is clear plastic, reverse-painted in gold, and the antenna is sealed inside the lid.

 

Motorola 68L11 (1948) Another strange radio from Motorola: the hard, outer shell is made of plastic-coated cloth, and the thumbwheel tuning knob slides a cloth, numbered tape back and forth inside the clear plastic handle. Runs from AC or battery.

 

Sonora KG-80 "Candid" (1940) "Sonora engineers have again blazed a glorious new trail..." starts the ad copy for this early portable radio, billed as the "truly personal" radio because it was small enough to carry around like a camera. "In its sleek molded cabinet of black Durez and nickel plated trim, the 'Candid' will certainly appeal to moderns." Well, it appealed to me, although I wish I could've bought it at the 1940 selling price of $10.73 (complete with tubes and batteries).

 

Truetone D-3809 (1948) This nice portable belonged to a great-aunt in the family of the contributor's wife and is still in excellent condition. Contributed by Howard T. Perry.

 

Zenith 4G800 "Zenette" (1948) This pretty radio in maroon plastic can run from either AC or battery. The top folds down over the grille, and there's an expansion handle on top for carrying.

 

Reverse: Zenith 6G601M (1941) A portable AC/DC/Battery radio with a sailboat grille. The reverse picture shows the back open so you can see the Zenith "Wavemagnet" antenna; this antenna could be removed from inside the case and attached to a window with suction cups, then swiveled for best reception. You can also see this set's original instruction booklet in the picture.

 

Zenith K401 (1940s?) This portable radio is molded entirely of clear plastic which is reverse-painted in red and chrome; very striking.

Copyright © by Don Adamson. All Rights Reserved.