Eighty years ago, this intriguing room could be found at Allied Radio in Chicago. Here, the Hi-Fi enthusiast interested in the very best equipment could be given a demonstration showing exactly how different pieces of equipment would sound together. Around the room were various tuners, amplifiers, preamplifiers, cartridges, tape machines, and other devices. From the console, different elements could be switched into and out of the circuit, and the discerning listener would be able to pick out exactly the right combination that met their needs.

The photo appeared on the cover of Radio & Television News, November 1950, which also included an article going into the room’s technical details.