A hundred years ago today, the December 3, 1921 issue of the Washington Evening Star carried this ad for Radio Receiving and Transmitting Apparatus, “an ideal Xmas gift.” Receiving sets started at $7.50, which works out to about $116 in 2021 dollars, according to this online inflation calculator.

The ad was for White & Boyer, 812 13th St. NW, Washington.  Like many early radio retailers, the company was also a radio station, transmitting music on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7:30 to 9:45 PM. Shortly after this ad appeared, the station’s call sign changed from 3NR to WJH.