Radio Days

August 13, 1927, Menasha Record

Giveaways have always been a big draw for retailers.  I wonder how much attention was caused by this promotion.  Radio was still not as popular as one would think but it was finding its way and was just changing from being a hobbyist's medium to a mass medium.  Notice how there are no speakers associated with this model; headphones were required to get any sound out of it.  In time, radio would assume the form we all remember...large floor consoles and table top versions with cloth covered speakers.  That was what pushed radio over the top- the ability to buy a ready made set, take it home, plug it in and turn it on.  But this item up for grabs, this was somewhat reminiscent of hobbyist's radio as we know it.  Still, if you didn't mind being tied to the headphones, you had yourself a free radio.