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R-72 Toot-a-Loop Portable Radio Radio
This is a radio. It was designed by Daisuke Kajiwara and manufactured by National Panasonic Radio. We acquired it in 2007. Its medium is plastic (abs), metal, electronic components. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.
The Panasonic R-72 transistor radio, also known as the Toot a loop, is a wonderful example of pop art inspired design. Departing from the square box format, this portable is shaped like a donut with an off-center hole, designed to be worn on the wrist. Simply by twisting the swivel joint at the thinnest point, the radio forms an “S” shape, with the circular station dial at the top and the speaker at the bottom. This example in red is characteristic of the bright hues available in this model.
The R-72 would fill a gap in the museum’s collection of radios, which has, at the time of acquisition, much stronger representation in table top models (1930s–1960s), with only a few examples of portable transistor types in the box format and two 1980s examples in unusual shapes by Philippe Starck. Mid-20th-century consumer electronics is an area of collection interest.
This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Staying in the Loop.
This object was donated by Jacqueline Loewe Fowler.
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- polished anodized aluminum, arsenic-free glass, molded polycarbonate resin.
- Gift of Apple.
- 2010-34-6
- Staircase Model (France)
- cherry (wood), walnut.
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- 2007-45-8
- Phonola Radio
- bakelite (tm), metal.
- Gift of George R. Kravis II.
- 2018-22-79
Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Videosphere Model 3240 Portable Television Portable Television
- plastic, acrylic, metal, chrome-plated metal.
- Gift of George R. Kravis II.
- 2018-22-51
- Signature Princess Telephone
- compression-molded abs plastic, metal, electronic components.
- Gift of AT&T.
- 1994-50-1
- T 52 Portable Radio Radio
- plastic, metal, electronic components.
- Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor.
- 1986-99-23
Cite this object as
R-72 Toot-a-Loop Portable Radio Radio; Designed by Daisuke Kajiwara (Japanese); Manufactured by National Panasonic Radio (Japan); Japan; plastic (abs), metal, electronic components; 2007-37-5
