1924 Talking Book Crystal Radio
$350.00
Ships Worldwide.
We’ve always liked things that appear to be something they aren’t.
Decades before Maxwell Smart was making long distance calls into a phone disguised as a shoe, we had people taking pictures with cameras disguised as pocket watches; playing recorded music on phonographs disguised as lamps, drinking nightcaps from bars disguised as radios; and — as you can see here — listening to broadcasts on radios disguised as books.
The Talking Book concealed within its covers a complete crystal radio, with headphones and connecting wires for both a ground and an antenna. When closed, it could easily be squeezed between copies of Great Expectations and Tess of The D’Urbervilles, and your houseguests would be none the wiser.
Condition is quite good throughout, particularly given the novel nature of the appliance (sorry). There are some areas of light wear, but nothing significant or distracting. The radio is clean, and the cardboard is in good shape. The original fixed crystal cartridge is still nestled securely in the clips. Direction sheet affixed to the interior of the front cover is clean and legible. Tuning coil is complete and securely wrapped around the form. Ground and antenna connections are full length, with their original clips still intact, and no damage or splices. There’s a small chip in one of bakelite earpieces, but the headset is otherwise like new.
A very uncommon radio, and a book that can be read with your eyes closed.
SOLD
