ITEM DESCRIPTION:

The first bottle radio to be distributed as a promotional item was this Coca-Cola bottle radio manufactured by the Crosley Radio Corporation in 1933. Composed of a hard plastic called Durez (a cousin of Bakelite), it stands 23 1/2 inches high and weighs almost 15 pounds. These radios were given to customers in the hope that they would be displayed prominently in the retail outlet, creating an additional advertising opportunity. The radios originally were sold to the bottlers for $18.75 each, a significant sum in the 1930s. Only high volume retail outlets were beneficiaries of this promotional item. A few small scratches on the case with one tiny chip where the two sides meet are the only issues we see with this great radio. The Coca-Cola script letters show their age, with minimal paint loss. The painted cap has some paint loss around the top edge. The cord appears to be original, but there are some broken wires inside the bottle, so we did not test this piece. Today, these radios are highly collectible for samples in good condition due to the fragile material they were made of. 18131-QEUT