Name/Title
Cathedral Case RadioEntry/Object ID
2016.7.1Description
Tabletop radio made of wood with gray metal knobs. It is constructed of two types of walnut and trimmed with zebra wood. The wood is ornately carved on the front sides. The speaker spans the top half of the front of the radio, and the control panel is mounted on the bottom half. The control panel showcases the maker's logo. The backing of the radio is absent, revealing the interior mechanisms as well as an additional maker's label.Context
By 1925, the Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, created by American inventor Arthur Atwater Kent Sr. (1873-1949), was the largest maker of radios in the United States. Along with radio producing, the company was well-known for their radio music program, "The Atwater Kent Hour," which broadcasted from 1926 until 1934 on popular stations such as CBS and NBC. Atwater Kent radios were of very good quality, with some remaining in pristine operation today. Similarly sized models to this one became popular during the Great Depression due to their relative affordability. This particular model, Model 80, sold for $62.80 when released in the summer of 1931. Due to the arch shape of the radio, this style is commonly referred to as a cathedral or tombstone radio.Made/Created
Manufacturer
Atwater Kent Manufacturing CompanyDate made
circa 1931Notes
Atwater Kent Cathedral Type Wood Case Radio Model 80.Dimensions
Height
18-3/4 inWidth
16 inDepth
10 in
