Compact table radio with circular housing made of green Bakelite (a moldable plastic material), resting on two angled feet at its base. At the center of the radio, the circular loudspeaker is protected with a brown fabric and a grille of three vertical metal rods. Above the loudspeaker, the station dial scale, for medium and long waves, is shaped as a semi-circle. Below the loudspeaker, three circular control knobs reinforce the geometric design of the essential components.

See more objects with the tag circular, bakelite, sound, listening, color, radio.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
1932	Work on this object began.
2015	We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Model AD-65 Radio Radio, 1932

This is a radio. It was designed by Wells Wintemute Coates and manufactured by E.K. Cole, Ltd.. It is dated 1932. Its medium is bakelite (tm), steel, textile materials. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

The first radio broadcasts, starting in 1920, enabled technology to enter the living room with music, news, and performance. Wells Coates won E. K. Cole's competition to design a radio in modern taste with this circular model in Bakelite, exploiting its potential for color and form

This object was donated by George R. Kravis II. It is credited Gift of George R. Kravis II.

Here we have a boxy black radio with a minimal design. It has rounded edges and tapers inward toward the bottom with decorative gold accent that runs along the base. Like a 3-d trapezoid, the radio angles inward toward the top. In the front, it has four gold wheel dials (two on each side) to the left and right of a golden, central, circular speaker. Around the speaker is a window with black numbers on a gold background arranged like a ray, to indicate the tuner station. Framing the speaker and window is a simple gold band with vertical lines.

Sunburst Radio
molded plastic, cast gilt-metal, chrome.
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
1996-72-1

Lantern Slide, Universal Wheel
cut paper on wood frame.
Museum purchase through gift of Mary Hearn Greims and George A. Hearn and....
1937-18-26

Volksempfänger ("People's Receiver") VE 301 Radio
bakelite (tm), textiles.
Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor.
1986-99-7

Our curators have highlighted 4 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Model 114 Desk Lamp Lamp
aluminum, bakelite (tm), metal, lamp cord.
Gift of George R. Kravis II.
2015-5-11

Patriot Radio
cast phenolic resin (opalon), molded urea plastic, molded cellulose acetate,....
Gift of George R. Kravis II.
2014-10-1

The front view of a pale yellow ziggurat and rectangular compression molded plastic radio of 1935, known as the Skyscraper radio. This art deco radio reflects an Egyptian stepped up architectural motif that leads to a narrowed and flattened roof where the speaker of the radio is housed with six slats and covered with a textured and woven fabric for improved sound effect. The front of the radio features a central panel of molded plaskon with a cascade of seven vertical striations alluding to a waterfall design. Four horizontal striations of molded plaskon emanate on either side of the central panel, close to the base, and on each of its sides sit a tuning knob of metal and white. The cascading central panel holds two important and decorative features of the radio. Toward the top is a glass enclosed rectangular metal framed insert with a depiction of two world globes complete with stars and squiggly lines as cloud formations in a dark outline. The name “Air King”, the Brooklyn based manufacturer of the radio is printed above. At the center and below the insert, there is a ziggurat metal plaque with four nail heads and four striations. Within this plaque is the radio dial, comprised of three concentric circles in glossy black with white edging. The outer rim shows four digit numbers, with tiny intervals of lines (frequency markers) in white for fine tuning, in the mid circle are two digit numbers with frequency markers and with the word megacycles, also in white. In the inner circle and displayed for ornament, is a white seated figure of Atlas holding up the world. Intersecting the Atlas figure is the main tuning needle (depicted as a airplane style needle) pointing to the numbers and tuning marks located at the circumference. Below his feet is printed the name, “Atlas”. All is enclosed behind a circle of glass. Attached at the metal base of the disk is the central tuning knob in metal and white.

Skyscraper Radio, 1935
compression-molded plaskon, metal, glass, woven textile.
Gift of George R. Kravis II.
2018-22-20

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 38.7 × 38.1 × 22.9 cm (15 1/4 in. × 15 in. × 9 in.)

Cite this object as

Model AD-65 Radio Radio, 1932; Designed by Wells Wintemute Coates (Canadian, 1895–1958); Manufactured by E.K. Cole, Ltd.; bakelite (tm), steel, textile materials; H x W x D: 38.7 × 38.1 × 22.9 cm (15 1/4 in. × 15 in. × 9 in.); Gift of George R. Kravis II; 2018-22-40-a,b

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/BKmEr/
Accession Number 2018-22-40-a,b
Object ID 404536685