Traditionally, the March issue of Popular Mechanics carried a radio project dubbed the “Little Giant,” a project aimed at advancing students who could make something serving a useful purpose. The March 1952 issue carried on the tradition with the set shown here. It was the customary five-tube superheterodyne, but it also included an intercom.

The magazine noted that a good radio combined with an intercom was an instrument of pleasure as well as utility. It could allow you to listen to the radio in two places, or it could be used as a monitor to send programs to or listen in to the kids in the nursery.

All of the controls were on the master station. The remote consisted of just a speaker, which also doubled as the microphone.