Top 10 Most Polarizing Radio Designs

 

Love It or Hate It

No 10. Crosley 54G Buddy Boy (1931) Kinda odd, kinda scary we start our list with the "Buddy Boy" made by Crosley in 1931. This ornate and over the top radio is reminiscent of golden harps. Perhaps it would fit in with the decor at Dracula's Castle? You decide...

No 9. Depression Era Mini Tombstone 1935 Emerson Model 108 The classic "Tombstone" is a must on a list like this. From the outset radios were called names like "tombstone" or "casket" or even "coffin." Radios that stood upright, a little taller and little more dark. These radios held pride of place in the home and took up a lot of valuable room.

No 8. Console type - Quintessential Love It or Hate It type of radio. As an example, the 1931 Kolster K-80 High Boy Like we mentioned earlier this wood radio takes up a lot of space and comes with turned legs. Though today we might wonder "what is that?" if we saw it in the room, this antique electronic piece screamed style and class from the 1930s home. You won't see one on our site because shipping this beast would be an absolute nightmare in this day and age.

No 7. The 1931 Kadette H Do you see a pattern emerging here? Another beauty from 1931 featuring more dark ornate Bakelite. Don't get me wrong I'm fan, though looking at it makes me feel a little like I'm in a church and on a day like this .. it is more of an "Exorcist" kind of church...

No 6. The 1928 Day-Fan 5069 Another carved wood beauty from the golden age of radio. This Day-Fan fits neatly in a box, hence it's "casket" nickname. Personally, I feel it might be better suited to holding my grandma's ashes than ... well you know.

No 5. Airline 62-636 (1937) Moving to 1937 we see another boxy silhouette in popular black bakelite. I also enjoy how the tuning dial looks like a rotary telephone dial. "Hello!" WHICH DO YOU LOVE?

No 4. Spruce Green 1956 Zenith Model A615F Changing it up a little we move to the 1950s with this green mid-century monster. Though all the rage today, the mid-century modern design aesthetic was considered old and out of touch a decade ago. The era was full of flashy modern naivate and cock-eyed optimism and this design speaks to that. Big and boxy, this modern shell is made of light weight green plastic with a bold tuning dial. Full of heady promise, this design will certainly turn most heads. WHICH DO YOU HATE?

No 3. The Clarion Jr. AC-60 Now, we return to 1930 for this "Cathedral" style carved wood radio. This Clarion "Jr." radio cost just a mere $63.30 in 1930 according to the Radio Collector`s Guide 1921-1932. Accounting for inflation, today that would cost you $1,056.69. Is it worth it? You be the judge. Me? I'd be elated if I ever found one.

No 2. 1958 Philco Predicta The Predicta is one of the most recognizable industrial designs of the 20th Century. Featuring a separate swivel display, it was marketed by Philco (Philadelphia Storage Battery Company) as the technology of tomorrow. I include it on this list as a nod to the Sci Fi design motifs of the 1950s.

No 1. 1958 "headless" Philco Predicta Sleepy Hollow, the town where Icabod Crane was terrorized by a ghostly figure on a black horse on Halloween is not too far from here. We nicknamed this one the Headless Predicta because well ...