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Emerson DX356 radio
Emerson DX356 radio

Emerson DX356 radio

Object number1996.051.0002
Date1941
ClassificationsArtifacts
ObjectRadio
Credit LineThom Dublin Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumWood, Metal
Dimensions10 1/2 x 16 1/4 x 9 in. (26.7 x 41.3 x 22.9 cm)
Collections
DescriptionEmerson radio, model DX356 from the Texas School Book Depository building. The radio has a wood cabinet with two baffles over the speaker grille on the left side and a square dial display with four knobs below on the right side. The dial cover has slipped and is slightly off-center. The back of the radio is open. A tag on the back reads: "Serial No. DX - 3840662 ETR 105 to 125 volts 60 cycles 60 watts" The inside is stamped: "MODEL DX356" The numbers "46306" and "36541" are written in black grease pencil on the underside and on the back of the inside of the radio.
Curatorial Commentary

This model was produced in 1940 and early 1941 and, like the Monroe calculator in the Dublin collection (1996.051.0001), was found in a pile of discarded equipment outside the Texas School Book Depository sometime in the 1970s.

The radio appears to have been an expensive, rather advanced model.  The user could select from standard AM stations, two shortwave channels or the local police radio band.  Shortwave was used for radio communications over extremely long distances up to halfway around the world, whereas the police band allowed one to listen in on talk between or among law enforcement agents and headquarters.  It's unfortunate we don't know which office had such a fancy radio or why.  - Gary Mack, Curator