Catalin Radios

In the late 1920s, a group of German scientists created a dye for a new type of resin, harder and shinier than Bakelite (which was one of many patented resins, including Beetle and Plaskon). The American Catalin Corporation bought the rights to produce it, and their square, Art Deco-style radios became a hit.

Because Catalin was a solid resin with no reinforcement, cracks were common, making surviving pieces highly collectible. Also, many of the vibrant colors have faded, due to the lack of UV light protection in the resin.