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Space Age Design

Midcentury Futuristic  Atomic  Googie  Jet Age

Radios & Televisions

Television was new and exciting, reaching mass production around 1950.  The big news in radios was the invention of the transister radio.  This was a portable battery operated radio that could be taken anywhere.  Some could fit in a pocket.  The Japanese dominated the transister market and had some very Space Age designs.  Most table top radios were Amercian.  The major American brands of the period included; GE, Motorola, Westinghouse, Arvin, Zenith, Emerson, RCA, Silvertone (Sears) and Philco.  Most of these same brands also made TVs.  The remote control was new in the Space Age.  Also in this section are Walkie Talkies which started out in World War II, but by the 1960s were used commercially and personnally.  

Ivy Leaguer 7 Transister radio.  Measures 6 5/8" wide.  Wonderful set of different angles, colors, textures and curves all in a small transister radio.  1950s era and American made.




Toshiba Model 10TL-429F, AM/FM 10 Transister portable radio.  Made in Japan, probably mid-1960s.

GE Transister Radio, 6 3/4" wide.

6 Motorola portable radios circa 1956.  These had 4 vacuum tubes and a fabric covered metal case. The handle rotated and served as the antenna.  These came many colors and designs but were usually 12" wide.  Motorola was an early radio manufacturer making its first radio in 1930 and is still in business.

5 Transister radios.  1) Magnivox Model AM-60, 4 1/4" tall, made in Japan.  2)  JVC Nivico 6 Transister. 4 1/4" tall, made in Japan.  3)  Marlboro advertising transister radio made in Taiwan.  These were otherwise unmarked as to manufacturer and were also made in Japan and Hong Kong.  4) Benida  Model 6TR-270 radio, 4" tall, by Shirasuna Denki of Japan.  5) Sonatone 10 Transister Radio by Dreamland Electronics of Hong Kong, 4" tall.

Channel Master Model 6511 6 Transister radio.  Dated 1961 and 12" wide.  Made by Sanyo of Japan in the late 1950s.

Arvin Model 50 R 67 Bone White clock radio with alarm.  Measures 15 1/2" wide.  Arvin was based in Columbus, IN.

This is a 1 channel radio shaped like a microphone.  Made as a promotional item for a radio station by Universal Publishers of Chicago.   13 1/2" tall.

JVC Model 3100D TV, clock & timer.  Folds down to a cone shape.  Late 1960s.  Made in Japan and 14 1/2" tall.
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Admiral Model P19 D 23 portable TV, circa 1958.  These often sat on a wire stand.  This one 13 1/4" tall, 16" wide and 13 " deep.  Two tone like the cars of the era.


Zenith "Space Commander" Six Hundred remote control.  Commands were: lower, higher, on/off and mute. Mid 1960s.  Calling Star Command...

GE Coaxial TV.  Has a 21" screen.  Space Age classic, everything has a bend or bulge or angle.  In a Danish modern style cabinet.

The amazing Kuba Komet.  Manufactured by the KUBA Corporation from 1957 to 1962 in Wolfenbuttel, West Germany.  Weighed 289 pounds.  Included a record player, and an am/fm radio.  The top swiveled.  Some even have a sound recorder.  

Sony Model TV-790 Transister Portable TV.  Measures 11 x 8 1/4 x 7".  Late 1960s. 

Weltron Model 2001 8 Track Stereo with am/fm with two speakers.  Looked like a spaceman in a space helmut.  Though early 1970s, still very Space Age.  Had 25 transisters.


Midland 2 Channel walkie talkie.  Dated 1966 and 7" tall.  Midland still makes walkie talkies.

Ross Electronics walkie talkie with battery indicator.  7" tall.  Made in Japan.

Viscount Transceiver model WT-1122 walkie talkie.  Made in Japan.  

Mayfair 9 Transister walkie talkie by Tokai Wireless Co., Japan.

Vista Globe Transistor Model NTR-6G Radio, made in Japan and 8 1/2" tall. 

RCA TV ad in the December, 1955 Better Homes magazine.

​RCA Victor Levermatic radio clock, 12/14" wide.

RCA Victor radio.  Looks like it wears a helmut from the side.