Not all families could afford to own a radio during the Great Depression. Some compromised by building their own "crystal" radio sets, like the one pictured here.
Crystal sets used mineral chips and a wire antenna to tune into radio signals. The strength of the sound and clarity depended upon sensitive headphones and how close the listener was to the radio station broadcasting the signal.
Creator: Federal Telephone and Telegraph Co.
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society
Dates: 1915–1925
Identifer: accession 67.230.197.C,A.
