Emerson Model 558 Tube Portable (1949)

This pre-transistor portable would fit in a big coat pocket, but certainly not in your shirt. It was made in 1948 and it features a wonderfully compact internal design. The case flips open when you release a thin brass catch. Like other fliptops of this vintage, opening the top automatically turns the radio on.

My brother-in-law gave me this radio. Because of the cramped internal layout and thin casing, these radios were subject to warping from overheating. This one's in nice shape, but watch out for that when looking at radios of this type.

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