Cathedral radios evoke a time when Americans, worn down by the Great Depression, would gather around the household
radio to hear consoling words from
President Franklin D. Roosevelt during one of his many fireside chats. For many American families, the ceremony surrounding these broadcasts was a bit like going to church, but the “cathedral” moniker came solely from the radio’s design, which echoed the ornate, arching facades of Europe’s grandest houses of worship. That’s a bit ironic, though, since cathedral radios were noteworthy for their petite profile (they were designed for
tabletops) compared to most
console and tombstone radios of the day (which sat on the floor). They were also more affordable than their larger counterparts. In other words, the only thing expensive about cathedral radios was their look.
One of the biggest manufacturers of vintage cathedral radios in the 1930s was
Philco, whose Model 20 was even smaller than its Model 90. The
Crosley Wigit from 1931 is also widely sought by collectors, thanks to its very small size and carved, Gothic-style face. Other manufactures included
Atwater Kent,
Emerson,
Zenith, Echophone, General Electric, and Willard.
Cathedral radios evoke a time when Americans, worn down by the Great Depression, would gather around the household
radio to hear consoling words from
President Franklin D. Roosevelt during one of his many fireside chats. For many American families, the ceremony surrounding these broadcasts was a bit like going to church, but the “cathedral” moniker came solely from the radio’s design, which echoed the ornate, arching facades of Europe’s grandest houses of worship. That’s a bit ironic, though, since cathedral radios were noteworthy for their petite profile (they were designed for
tabletops) compared to most
console and tombstone radios of the day (which sat on the floor). They were also more affordable than their larger counterparts. In other words, the only thing expensive about cathedral radios was their look.
One of the biggest manufacturers of vintage cathedral radios in the 1930s was
Philco, whose Model 20 was even smaller than its Model 90. The
Crosley Wigit from 1931 is also widely sought by collectors, thanks to its very small size and carved, Gothic-style face. Other manufactures included
Atwater Kent,
Emerson,
Zenith, Echophone, General Electric, and Willard.