Rubber Musical Instruments

A rare—and rarer still, fully functional—mid-century modern Hoffman Radio Corp. model A-309 tabletop tube radio designed in 1946 by Charles and Ray Eames, and produced in association with Evans Products Company in 1946–47. Bentwood case with waterfall top and slightly sloped sides fabricated by the Charles Eames-helmed Evans Molded Plywood Products Division. Clad in combed oak veneer with original semi-opaque warm blonde lacquer finish. Back-lit glass dial face is screen printed on the front with crisp off-white AM band frequency numbers that are cleverly drop-shadowed in orange from the back. The back is also screen printed with an olive, green, and orange striped design and green tuning pips. Metal frame with brass finish and embossed Hoffman nameplate below. Original speaker grill cover is off-white woven cotton with a distinctive atomic-style brass finish metal decoration across the face. Dark khaki-colored painted trim around the grill is accented by the same around the bottom of the case. At bottom left and right corners of the grill are Bakelite on/off/volume and tuning knobs in a light tan and cream marbled color complimentary to the case and grill. Though it can occasionally be a bit temperamental—as vintage tube radios often are—when given ample time to warm up (the longer the better), one can smoothly dial in stations within range and hear them coming in loud and clear, or at least as clear as AM radio reception typical allows. Video of it in action can be shared upon request. Original paperboard back retains UL and Hoffman Radio Corp. labels, with the latter listing model number and specs. “INSPECTED” is stamped on the back and the edge of the case. Taped to the inside of the back is a detailed electrical and tube schematic. We’re unsure whether this was originally stapled to the underside of the radio as seen with other examples of this model online, or if it’s an additional schematic that was originally always affixed somewhere inside, thus meaning the one that was on the bottom of our example is no longer extant. The Eames’ radio...

The Brionvega RR-126 is an icon of Pop design. It was conceived as an anthropomorphic ‘musical pet’, with speakers for ears and control dials for its face. It could be moved around e...