Atwater Kent Model 20 (1924)

Atwater Kent Company History

The Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company operated from 1902-1936. Their first radio models were nicknamed "breadboards" and the first 7 were released in 1923. In 1921, the company founder Arthur Atwater Kent patented a modern version of the automobile ignition coil. In 1925, Atwater Kent became the largest maker of radios in the United States. The company was at its peak in 1929, and had 12,000 employees. During the Great Depression, Atwater Kent adjusted from high-priced radio sets to more affordable tabletop radios. Kent closed his last radio factory in 1936.

Atwater Kent Model 20

The Atwater Kent Model 20, introduced in 1924, signaled a major shift for the company away from open, parts-on-a-board layouts to the popular "casket" style. This new design housed its high-quality parts inside a handsome, dark mahogany-stained wooden cabinet. This five-tube radio featured a distinct front panel with three large tuning dials. To bring in a clear station, the operator had to carefully twist and line up all three dials at the same time. Known for its exceptional reliability and nicknamed the "Big 20," the radio was powerful enough to blast music through a separate, large horn speaker, making it a proud centerpiece in many 1920s American living rooms.

Donation: John & Carol Babina Jr.