Why the radio is one of history’s most important inventions

Clive Martin, CNN
3 minute read
Published 6:48 AM EDT, Thu July 27, 2017
This Crosley radio might look retro now, but at the time it was the height of chic, taking influence from the automobile.
E15WE Radio (1953) by Crosley Radio Corporation —
This Crosley radio might look retro now, but at the time it was the height of chic, taking influence from the automobile.
Cooper Hewitt
This pioneering 1930's classic was inspired the great skyscrapers being built in American cities at the time, a mini Empire State Building for your living room.
Skyscraper Radio (1935) by Air-King Products Company, Inc. —
This pioneering 1930's classic was inspired the great skyscrapers being built in American cities at the time, a mini Empire State Building for your living room.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Matt Flynn
By the 1990s a radio had to be discreet and portable to compete in the post-Walkman market, as this conical, Philippe Starck-overseen device from 1994 shows.
Oye Oye Radio (ca. 1994) by SABA —
By the 1990s a radio had to be discreet and portable to compete in the post-Walkman market, as this conical, Philippe Starck-overseen device from 1994 shows.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Matt Flynn
When it first came out in 1962, this radio/phonograph was widely advertised as the smallest and lightest of its type.
TPR-61 Portable Phonograph Radio (ca. 1962) by TACT Denki Co., Ltd. —
When it first came out in 1962, this radio/phonograph was widely advertised as the smallest and lightest of its type.
Cooper Hewitt/Matt Flynn
By the mid-20th century the automobile had become commonplace in American lives. This radio, from famed brand Crosley, reflected the nation's growing love affair with the car with its hubcap-inspired dials.
Model D25WE Radio (1952) by Crosley Radio Corporation —
By the mid-20th century the automobile had become commonplace in American lives. This radio, from famed brand Crosley, reflected the nation's growing love affair with the car with its hubcap-inspired dials.
Cooper Hewitt/Matt Flynn
As the technology around radios began to stall, aesthetic became more important than introducing new features. French brand Lexon introduced this radio in 1997, which breathed new life into the medium with its retro design and waterproof material.
Tykho Radio (1997) by Lexon —
As the technology around radios began to stall, aesthetic became more important than introducing new features. French brand Lexon introduced this radio in 1997, which breathed new life into the medium with its retro design and waterproof material.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Demian Cacciolo
Henry Dreyfuss was one of the great designers of his time, giving the world everything from telephones to trains and New York skyscrapers. His 1948 radio was popular in a time before televisions were widely owned.
Sunburst Radio (ca. 1948) by Radio Corporation of America, RCA Victor Division —
Henry Dreyfuss was one of the great designers of his time, giving the world everything from telephones to trains and New York skyscrapers. His 1948 radio was popular in a time before televisions were widely owned.
Allison Hale/Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design/photographer Matt Flynn
As televisions and computers became common in the average home, designers created ever-more striking radios in order to find their place in people's houses. This Philippe Starck and Jerome Olivet collaboration looked back to both classic radio design and the avant garde for inspiration.
Moosk Radio (1996) by Thomson Consumer Electronics —
As televisions and computers became common in the average home, designers created ever-more striking radios in order to find their place in people's houses. This Philippe Starck and Jerome Olivet collaboration looked back to both classic radio design and the avant garde for inspiration.
Cooper Hewitt
When French designer Matali Crasset took on the radio she said she wanted to "make the pleasure of sound visible," as evidenced in this strange contraption from the mid 1990s.
Sound Station Radio (1995) by Lexon and Matali Crasset —
When French designer Matali Crasset took on the radio she said she wanted to "make the pleasure of sound visible," as evidenced in this strange contraption from the mid 1990s.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Matt Flynn
Of course, radios are not just for entertainment, they can be a vital tool when power failures and communication blackouts occur. This pioneering radio is totally self-powered, operating without batteries and featuring walkie talkie and flashlight functions.
FR 600 Radio (2008) by Etón Corporation —
Of course, radios are not just for entertainment, they can be a vital tool when power failures and communication blackouts occur. This pioneering radio is totally self-powered, operating without batteries and featuring walkie talkie and flashlight functions.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Demian Cacciolo
In the 1980s, unusual shapes were all the rage, as this collector's item from Arco shows.
Arco Radio (1985-90) by Arco —
In the 1980s, unusual shapes were all the rage, as this collector's item from Arco shows.
Cooper Hewitt
As transistors became increasingly smaller, so did radios themselves. This tiny offering from US giants Radio Shack may have been something of a novelty, but it showed just how far radio had come from the skyscrapers of the 1930s.
Palm-Size AM/FM Radio Radio (1990s) by Radio Shack —
As transistors became increasingly smaller, so did radios themselves. This tiny offering from US giants Radio Shack may have been something of a novelty, but it showed just how far radio had come from the skyscrapers of the 1930s.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Matt Flynn
The trend for portable radios was kick-started by the first generation of transistors, like this iconic device from Sony.
TR-620 Portable Radio (1960) by Sony Corporation —
The trend for portable radios was kick-started by the first generation of transistors, like this iconic device from Sony.
Cooper Hewitt/photo by Demian Cacciolo
Though it might look like just another 1930s radio, this German model comes with a sinister history. Designed by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, they were specifically made to broadcast the Fuhrer's speeches into the homes of ordinary Germans. The dials only indicated the stations that Goebbels wanted the public to hear.
Volksempfänger VE 301 DYN Radio (ca. 1938) by Telefunken and Hornyphon —
Though it might look like just another 1930s radio, this German model comes with a sinister history. Designed by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, they were specifically made to broadcast the Fuhrer's speeches into the homes of ordinary Germans. The dials only indicated the stations that Goebbels wanted the public to hear.
Cooper Hewitt
This earlier version shows the scope of Nazi interest in radio, and the power it had over the public at the time.
Volksempfänger Radio (ca. 1933) by DeTeWe —
This earlier version shows the scope of Nazi interest in radio, and the power it had over the public at the time.
Cooper Hewitt
Before car manufacturers starting installing radios in their vehicles, this early portable radio was marketed to drivers, and could be carried or mounted in a car.
T 52 Clairtone Portable Radio (1961) by Braun AG —
Before car manufacturers starting installing radios in their vehicles, this early portable radio