Travler 55C42

When I first saw this design, I wasn't sure what to think.

One of the best looking radios comes from Travler: the T-204. In my opinion, it looks like the quintessential mid century modern radio. The fact that it could easily be mistaken for a present day reproduction is a testimony to its timeless design.

On the other hand, the 55C42 is busy and incohesive to me. The curves and contours just don't flow like T-204. Although 55C42 has many good ideas when you consider them separately, it looks busy and pretentious overall.

Radio designs should be considered in the context of its time period. Radio companies were looking at the broader market to try to understand what consumers would buy. 

Automobile designs are also a good reflection of market sensibilities.

One example is Lincoln Continental. Even though they're one year apart, the 1957 Lincoln Continental looks vastly different from the 1958. Sure, both might be considered beautiful depending who you ask.

Well, you decide.

1957 Lincoln Continental

1958 Lincoln Continental

If you ask me, one embodies a vision and the other just had a lot of contours and chrome. 

The Travler 55C42 and the 1958 Lincoln are analogous to me. The asymmetry and multitude of contours, curves, and shapes is incohesive. A visual anarchy.

Whereas, the Travler T-204 (below) is more like the 1957 Lincoln Continental. Both make a simple and concise visual statement. Both look fresh and relevant while being reminicent of their time. That's class! 

 Travler 55C42 grows on you

I have come to see and appreciate what makes 55C42 beautiful and unique. 

Front profile:

The radio front side scallop inward from top and bottom. The Admiral Model 251 is similar. Coincidentally, this Admiral is also from 1954 to 1955. 

Another radio with a large tuning knob is the RCA Victor 6-X-8B Wilshire with its palm sized tuning knob sitting on top. 

Everything gets its own square. Clock is square. Logo gets its own raised square. Controls panel volume knob, clock, and logo, all contained within a square. The grill: made up of multitude of little squares.

Another design which relishes the square is RCA's "Glendon." See how many squares!

The bowed bottom edge seems to put the whole radio on a pedestal. Very unique to the Travler 55C42. I don't think I've seen it on any other radio design from the 50s.

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How do you define what you really like?

Do you define it as something you like at first sight or something you grow to like?

I know when I first saw the 1957 Lincoln, I thought it was one of the best looking cars to come out of Detroit among all cars ever made during any time period. I felt the same way about Travler T-204.

When I first saw 1958 Lincoln, I thought it was an abomination. I felt the same about Travler 55C42. Again, at first glance.

Over time, I grew to like 1958 Lincoln more than 1957 Lincoln. Same with Travler 55C42. I started to move away from 1957 Lincoln and Travler T-204, because everyone else also prefers Lincoln 1957 and Travler T-204. 

I grew to like 1958 Lincoln and Travler 55C42 more than 1957 Lincoln and Travler T-204 not because of what it was, but because of what it wasn't.

Overall, am I probably over thinking all of this? Definitely.