
1925. "Atwater Kent at test table." Namesake of the Atwater Kent radio empire at his Philadelphia factory. View full size. National Photo Company Collection.
I hope to see more AK pictures like this posted soon. I'm going to buy some prints of some, if not all of them. Just can't decide what size I want.
Today that young man behind Mr. Atwater would surely have a ponytail. Hair parted in the middle today means there's a lot more hair hanging down the back. Of course, any number of "older" guys have a VERY wide part down the middle of their head to go along with their pony tail. How did Springsteen put it? Oh, yeah, glory days. Which brings to mind, sadly, the recent demise of the hippy dippy weatherman, George Carlin. What that has to do with Mr. Atwater posing with his workforce, I haven't a clue.
There aren't any speakers visible so I imagine they were looking at their instruments to test the finished radio. On the bottom of each set would have been a tag with a number of who inspected the set. At least there is on mine.
Looks like a line of Model 20s being built...
http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/atwater_20c_compact_20_c_7570.html
If they are testing those radios aurally I have to wonder what that room sounded like, with all those guys switching around the dial making Theremin-like noises and static between tuning in to the handful of radio stations available. Maybe they made no sound at all and relied on gauges. I'd rather imagine cacophony, though.
[Each bench has a large thingamajig with dials. - Dave]