Item 2024-007/013 (03) - Bean Radio

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Bean Radio

General material designation

  • Object

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Item

Reference code

2024-007/013 (03)

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1960 (Creation)
    Creator
    Philips Electronic Industries Ltd.

Physical description area

Physical description

1 radio ; 11.2 x 14 x 31.5 cm

Title proper of publisher's series

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Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

Administrative history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Custodial history

Acquired by the Design Exchange from Cora Golden; Toronto, Ontario; 2001-01-22; gift.

Scope and content

Oblong pinkish brown radio with top grill and white convex front grill, dial and on-off button.

Notes area

Physical condition

injection-moulded styrene; electrical element; electrical cord

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

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    Script of material

      Location of originals

      Availability of other formats

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      General note

      In 1961, Interplas, an international plastic show in London, England, named the radio the best Canadian design. (Germany was awarded for a pocket radiogram designed by Max Braun). Ducharme says this transistor radio was the "last radio made in Canada". Designed in 1960, when Ducharme was chief designer in the consumer electronics division of Philips, it earns its name from its bean-like shape. A rare departure for the risk-adverse company, the tooling alone cost $200,000. Luckily, buyers appreciated its quirky charm, and bought 40,000 units -- a remarkable volume in a maturing and fragmented market. After this model, Philips, Sylvania, and all other Canadian manufacturers conceded the transistor radio market to offshore competitors. It was injection moulded, in Philips' Leaside plant, from high impact, heat resistant Styrene.

      Accompanying material

      Sticker on the bottom of the unit that reads "Caution- This receiver should be adequately ventilated. A minimum clearance of 3in. is recommended between the top of receiver and any obstruction"; "Union Made Brotherhood of Electrical Workers International" sticker on the bottom of the unit; blue and stained-white circular sticker depicting a maple leaf; c65679195

      Physical description

      poor

      Alternative identifier(s)

      xDX Project

      2022.YU.xDX.00050

      DX accession number

      5120

      Standard number

      Standard number

      Access points

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      Control area

      Status

      Final

      Level of detail

      Full

      Dates of creation, revision and deletion

      2025-01-05. Anna St.Onge. Creation. Based on descriptions previously created by Aviva Weisman and Matthew Alexander.

      Language of description

      • English

      Sources

      Accession area