History of Radio Radio had its practical beginning in 1920, when the first commercial station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA, went on the air and announced the returns of the Harding-Cox Presidential election. All radio sets at that time were battery operated. The bother and mess of battery power was a problem, and by the late 1920`s as more and more homes had electricity, the first electric sets appeared on the market (1928). By the end of the decade, 618 stations were in business, and networks were regularly broadcasting from coast to coast. The radio became a very important part of daily life in the United States during the 1930’s. In 1930, about 12 million US households owned a radio, but by 1939, that number had increased to 28 million. Radios were an important part of households during this time as the radio offered news, entertainment, family togetherness and it sustained a link with a larger community. As the 1930’s progressed and more and more households purchased radios, the styling and design of the radio became more important. Not only did Americans want something to hear, they also wanted something that was visually pleasing. The radio that was once used as a household utensil was becoming a fashion statement. During the 30’s, the automobile and airplane industry, as well as the Art Deco movement, heavily influenced radio designers. The result was streamlined cabinets, distinctly automotive grills and architecturally influenced designs. With the advent of these new and innovative motifs, also came innovation in cabinet materials. In addition to the traditional wood, plastic, bakelite and catalin, were some of the new materials introduced in the manufacturing of radio cabinets. The prices also dropped with the introduction of inexpensive small ("Midget") radios and the concept of radio for every room.