One hundred years ago, this young British woman is listening to a program on a portable radio especially designed for use on picnics, courtesy of plans in the June 1925 issue of Wireless Magazine.

The design criteria were that the set would be totally self-contained, of minimal weight and size, and ease of operation. Finally, the appearance had to be such that it could be taken into the most exquisitely furnished room without looking out of place.

For the last point, the case was made of 3/8 inch mahogany. That mahogany also concealed a frame aerial, and there was a compartment for stowing the headphones when not in use. The circuit itself used one tube.

The set was tested (and presumably the picture above is)  at the seaside town of Eastbourne. The signal from London, 65 miles away, was heard faintly, but Bournemouth, 120 miles away came in strongly. In the evening, the set pulled in Newcastle, 340 miles away. Even with two sets of headphones, every word from the announcer was audible.

From London, Paris could be pulled in distinctly, and Bournemouth could be heard every evening.

As a final test, the set was taken to the vault of a bank in Kensington, 40 feet underground and partly covered in steel. But the set was able to pull in 2LO strongly enough to operate three pairs of headphones.