Radio:Fada Bullet

First introduced in the late 1930s, when Art Deco styles dominated American design, this 1946 FADA "Bullet" tabletop radio became one of the most popular radios in America after World War II. Its asymmetrical design - rounded on one end, squared on the other - and streamlined horizontal lines made it a favorite with highly mobile Americans who liked its modern look. Manufacturers sold millions of portable radios annually between 1946 and 1954, when the first transistor radio appeared on the market, and annual sales reached nearly three million in 1946 and 1947 alone. Revolutions in plastic production and advances in technology in the 1930s had made it possible for radio manufacturers to produce smaller radios in seemingly infinite colors and varieties. FADA promoted the Bullet by emphasizing its stylish array of colors, including some two-toned patterns, and the portability suggested by the handle on top.