Although most well known for the mass production of radios, the creation of WLW, The Nation’s Station and the 500,000 watt tower he constructed that transmitted FDR’s Fireside Chats, Powel Crosley also became known for a multitude of additional ventures.
Dubbing himself the man of 50 jobs in 50 years, Crosley amazed the masses with his various inventions, such as The Shelvador – a refrigeration unit that introduced the new concept of door shelving units, The Musicone – an instrument used to amplify the entire range of the human voice, The Moonbeam – Crosley’s self-designed airplane, The Roamio – the first car radio, The Icy-Ball – a chemical-mechanical ice box that served rural areas lacking electricity, The Reado – a facsimile system that transmitted words and pictures via radio waves, The Koolrest – a bed cooling system, The X-er-vac – a machine that stimulated the scalp in an effort to counter baldness, and The Go-bi-bi – a go-kart/stroller type contraption for young children, to name a few.
As a Cincinnati native, he intervened when the Cincinnati Reds declared bankruptcy and acquired the team ensuring the Reds remain in Cincinnati. In 1930 he constructed Crosley Field, which remained home field for the Cincinnati Reds’ until 1970. Crosley is also credited with producing the first nighttime baseball game with the power of 615 lamps and he broadcast the first live baseball game on WLW-TV, the Crosley television broadcasting division.
The Crosley name lives on with meticulously detailed replicas available in the Elctronics section of the Architecturals.net Restoration Center. The Crosley Collection includes radios, turntables, jukeboxes, music boxes, telephones and more. Rich lines, retro designs and authentic crafting have made Crosley today’s premier vintage electronics manufacturer. True to the Crosley tradition, these replicas are as fabulous as they are functional, providing a delightful dose of nostalgia.