Eighty-five years ago this month, the October 1939 issue of Radio Craft featured the Motorola Model 41-S “Sporter,” weighing in at only 6-1/2 pounds. The antenna was an integral part of the shoulder strap, and the four-tube set was much to be desired. Publisher Hugo Gernsback had recently predicted that “when we go down to about 5 or 6 lbs.–a not impossible figure–we will have a receiver of much greater popularity,” and that time had come.

The article concluded with the further prediction: “Radio-Craft predicts that, now that radio sets are within sight of being really PORTABLE–so that milady can carry them a block without gasping for breath–the battery portable is destined to “go places” not
only in design, but also commercially!”