Portable Music

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This group of artifacts challenges our notion of what "portable music" has meant, from the early 20th-century to present day. Some objects may seem familiar--some may seem laughably large to be considered "portable" today. An evolution of listening styles is also present: from the open channels of radio for news and top-40 music--to formats like the LP and MP3 that allowed people to take control of their listening experience, minus the DJ.

First Portable Superheterodyne Radio Receiver, Made by Edwin Howard Armstrong, 1923 - 2

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Operadio 2 Portable Broadcast Receiver, 1923-1927

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Pocket Radio, circa 1925

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Crosley Portable Radio, Model E10-307M, 1949-1950

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RCA 45 rpm Record Player, Model 6-JY-1C, 1949-1951

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Magnavox Transistor Radio, Model AM-2, 1956

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Zenith "Zenette" Transistor Radio, 1960-1963

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Zenith Portable Phonograph, Model FP-6VA, circa 1962

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Playtape Cartridge Tape Player, Model 1320, 1966-1968

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Elgin Portable 8 Track AM FM Stereo Player, Model RT-5530, circa 1972

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Zenith "My Radio" Pendant Transistor Radio, circa 1970 - 1

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Sony Integrated Circuit Portable Radio, Model ICR-100, circa 1972

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Big Bird Radio, 1976-1978

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Sony Walkman II, circa 1982 - 1

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Sharp QT 50 Portable Radio Cassette Player, 1986 - 1

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Sony SRF-39FP AM/FM Prison Radio, circa 2000

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iPod nano MP3 Player & Earbuds, circa 2008

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iPhone, 2007 - 1

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