Seventy years ago this month, the August 1951 issue of Radio Television Retailing reminded dealers that there was money to be made by selling clock radios, an item that readily sold to people in all income brackets.

The clock radio “looks just like any other table model set” to the customer, so some salesmanship was required. The salesman needed to be thoroughly familiar with the product, and emphasize the low price for something that could serve as a fine radio, an alarm clock, a timekeeper, and in many cases, an automatic outlet.

The magazine suggested that direct mail might be a profitable way to sell. Select customers could be sent a mailing offering a set on approval, and once in the home, the customer was very likely to keep the set.