Every Home Had Them In The 60s — Now It's The Mid-Century Decor Bringing Music Back To Homes

Thrift store decor isn't always about how things look in your home — some vintage finds also have practical functions. Consider the usefulness of collectible Pyrex cookware, vintage wooden cigar boxes, or a sturdy cast iron frying pan. Tried and true vintage brands worth looking for include makers of electronics, specifically radios from the 1960s. These mid-century gems are not only uniquely stylish, but many well-made radios still function just fine and will let you play music in any room in your home.

The advent of streaming and use of Bluetooth in cars has altered our use of traditional technologies, but lovers of vintage electronics find that old-fashioned radios often hold up after many years and can pick up local stations. Pocket-size transistor radios were first made available to the public in 1954, starting with the Regency TR-1. Portable radios became more widespread in the 1960s, helped along by the increased popularity of FM radio, and by the 1970s, small transistors and radio-cassette tape players were everywhere. The most collectible transistor radios are those made in Japan from 1956 to 1963 or made in America from 1955 to 1960, but thanks to the fact that transistor radios became hugely popular as the 1960s progressed, many brands are still available for inveterate thrifters.

In addition to being collectible, these old-fashioned radios are wonderfully functional, too. Having a vintage radio in your kitchen or a 1960s-era clock radio in your bedroom instead of an alarm clock is a charming way to add some mid-century modern design to your home, celebrate classic brands, and enjoy durable products.

There are many quality transistor radios from the 1960s available on eBay, at thrift shops, from flea markets, and at estate sales. You can find both cordless and plug-in styles, and many included alarm clock functions so you could have the radio provide your morning wake-up call. The visual aesthetics of this era of radios are very eclectic, ranging from antique-looking radios with wooden consoles and fabric-covered speakers to more modern-looking plastic models in various colors, so you can easily find one to fit your style. 

While some radios in the 1960s were designed by established American or Japanese electronics companies like RCA, Zenith, Toshiba, or Magnavox, this form of home entertainment was so popular that many more general manufacturers, like General Electric and Sears, started adding radios to their repertoire. Some of the more common brands of transistor radios from the 1960s that found listed recently on eBay include Magnavox, Sears Silvertone, General Electric, RCA, Zenith, Philco, and Olympic. 

Before buying a vintage radio online, confirm that it's actually working and ask the seller questions. If you're shopping for vintage electronics at a thrift shop or estate sale, ask if it's been tested and is in working condition — often it will have a label saying so. If you find a 1960s radio you want to buy in a shop or sale, ask to plug it in and try it out. Battery-operated radios are more tricky to test, as there may be a range of battery sizes used. Regardless, it's certainly worth an attempt to avoid disappointment down the line.