A hundred years ago today, the December 19, 1922, issue of The Rock Island Argus and Daily Union carried this ad for Franc’s Furniture Store, featuring a complete radio set for only $15, which could be paid just $2 down and $1 per week.  It was assembled and guaranteed by the S&M Radio Shop of neighboring Davenport, Iowa.

The set, the “Little Aristocrat,” featured a mahogeny case, and included detector, headphones, antenna wire, and insulator.  It was touted as having a range of 100 miles, and would pull in station WOC, which was then licensed to the Palmer School of Chiropractic.  The set was billed as an ideal eleventh hour Christmas present.