1940 General Electric tri-fold type catalog brochure showcasing its new models from that time. The brochure has a fold-out structure so that there is a half-poster side, a full fold-out poster side, and three individual folded panels.

GE_Radios_Promotional_Brochure_Barnard_Sumner_Putnam.jpg

The brochure is stamped as having been provided to customers of Barnard, Sumner & Putnam Co. likely of Worcester, Massachusetts. The Stamp reads "Electrical Appliance Dept. Dial 4-4121 3rd Floor Barnard, Sumner & Putnam Co."

The 3-panel is about 10" wide x 6.5" tall. Half-foldout size is 10" wide x 13" tall. Fully folded out is 20" wide x 13" tall.

The brochure is printed in brown ink on somewhat glossy white paper. One of the themes or slogans of that time is "PLUS VALUE" and that logo appears throughout the brochure.

The lead single panel reads:

"NEW 1940 GENERAL ELECTRIC RADIOS - SUPER BEAM-A-SCOPE - No Aerial! No Ground Connections! TELEVISION - Audio or Phonograph KEY - MORE FEATURES... TUBES... PERFORMANCE... BEAUTY"

The back panel is stamped with the department store information and also reads:

"See The GE 'House of Magic' - New York - San Francisco - 13-9623 - 750-M-6-39 - WHEN REPLACING RADIO TUBES SPECIFY GE PRE-TESTED RADIO TUBES"

The other back panel shows off a series of "Carryabout" portable radios:

"Take Your Programs With You Wherever You Go! NO AERIAL! NO GROUND! NO CONNECTIONS OF ANY KIND! SELF-CONTAINED POWER SUPPLY!"

And includes specifications for models HB-402, HB-403, GB-400 and the HB-408 Radio-Phonograph.

The inside 3-panel foldout asks the buyer "Before You Buy Any Radio":

"X-RAY IT INSIDE AND OUT FOR THESE PLUS-VALUE FEATURES:

New Super Beam-A-Scope - New Television Audio or Phonograph Key - New Dynapower Speaker - New Super-powered Receiver Chassis - New G-E Tone Selector - New Floodlighted Station Finder - New Sight Angle Visualux Dial - New Feathertouch Tuning - New Improved Tone Monitor Circuit - Glamorous Cabinet Styling - ONLY G-E RADIO HAS THEM ALL"

The half-poster (6-panel) foldout shows off four of the floor or cabinet models, "More For Your Radio Dollar". Models H-87, H-77, H-116 and H-625.

The full poster (12-panel) center foldout features some table models, record players, and radio-phonograph combinations. Table models H-400, H-500, H-510, H-520, H-600, H-634, H-640, H-73, H-610, H-620, H-630, H-631, H-632, H-633, and GB-401, a Farm Battery Operated Radio.

The record players include models GM-11 and HM-3. They are advertised as "WIRELESS RECORD PLAYER - NO WIRES, NO CONNECTIONS TO RADIO"

For the Radio-Phonograph Combinations, there are models H-78, H-118, H-79 and H-638.

There's also an automobile mode: GA-62.

The slogan at the bottom of the center foldout intones: "LET YOUR EARS AND EYES DECIDE"

Resources that may fill out the history or context of this piece:

The Collector's Guide to Antique Radios by Marty and Sue Bunis

Adventures in Electronics publ. by General Electric

General Electric Radio Service Notes for 1935-1939 publ. by General Electric

Radio Service Guide Volume III: 1946 to 1961 publ. by General Electric

THE ABC'S of Radio, Written So You Can Understand It publ. by General Electric

America's Largest Electrical Workshop publ. by General Electric

Most-Often-Needed General Electric Radio Diagrams and Servicing Information by M. N. Beitman