We have always considered and collected these commercial masks and helmets as industries tribal art. Examples can be elegant in their simplicity or bazaar and complex. They are always unique, suprising and filled with personality.
Compact Murdock Loose Coupler
Early 20th-Century Loose Coupler Receiver – Wm. J. Murdock Co., Chelsea, MA. This vintage loose coupler radio receiver, likely manufactured in the 1910s–1920s by the Wm. J. Murdock Co., features a classic two-coil tuning system with a sliding secondary for adjustable coupling. Mounted on a polished hardwood base, it includes original Murdock components and a precision tuning dial. Some wire windings are loose due to age, but the unit remains largely intact and visually striking. A rare and authentic example of early wireless technology, this piece reflects the ingenuity of the spark-gap era. Ideal for collectors, educators, or museum display, it embodies the hands-on spirit of radio experimentation before the rise of vacuum tube circuits... 9" x 13.5"... $450
