What Is a Radio Hat?

The radio cap is a portable radio integrated into a sun hat, which can receive radio stations within a radius of 32 kilometers. As early as 1949, it was proposed under the title of "Mars Guest Hat Radio" and it cost $ 7.95. With vigorous publicity, the radio hat became the arcade of the time in the United States.

The radio at this time usually consists of

In March 1949, Victor Hoeflich held a press conference to introduce the "Martian Radio Hat". Hoeflich knew that a photo would tell the story, so he had several teenagers making broadcast caps for journalists and photographers. Soon, pictures and news stories appeared on the coast of the newspaper. Articles usually include photos of the young lady in a hat and six stories. The broadcast cap is also widely reported in magazines.

Radio hats are sold in department stores and mail orders. The Van Nuys service station chain in California sells hats as a promotional item to customers who buy gasoline. Massive publicity did not lead to lasting sales. Advertising for the radio cap stopped broadcasting in early 1950. In an interview in 1956, Hoeflich stated that the company still received orders for hats, although it has been out of production for a long time.

Radio electronics editor Hugo Gernsback was impressed with the radio hat. The June 1949 issue of a two-page article described the radio's circuit and structure.