They are from left to right - Model 30 in a Pooley cabinet with an H horn sitting on top (just for looks as the Pooley has a built-in horn). On the woman's right is another 30 in a different Pooley cabinet. The girl is operating a Model 35 with H horn; on the floor is a Model 30 in a normal cabinet; on the right is a Model 32 in still another type of Pooley cabinet; on the table is another Model 32, this one in the normal cabinet. I would think the picture dates before 1928, since they are all battery sets produced before 1928.

The equipment displayed in this window was, in 1928, the ultimate in home entertainment. This was your wide-screen, high-definition, cable-delivered, surround-sound television. Commercial radio broadcasting in North America had only been in existence for just over 7 years and was still a new, exciting and constantly-developing medium. No doubt a lot of time, effort and money when into this dramatic display.

Bruce

So would those be mannequins or live models in the window?

After seeing the manufacture of these radios (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) it is very gratifying to view them in such an elegant display.

Atwater Kent Radio is an excellent comprehensive web site with photos, brochures, schematics, etc... Most of those pictured here seem to be from the model 40 line.

[Dave, thanks for the close-up. I'm very impressed with the quality of the mannequins for their time. The woman does look a bit more porcelain in greater detail. - PER]

Note the artwork on the wall -- an older man playing a violin with a young girl at a piano keyboard. A subtle message that society has moved on from "self-entertainment" to a more technical age, perhaps?

That is one "serious" window display, one of the most impressive I have ever seen. Not very often I say this, but I would actually love to have seen this photo in color.