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.
Ezrf. Bowman’s Sons – Watchmakers Crystal Set
This is a rare and beautifully preserved example of an early 20th-century Watchmakers Crystal Radio Set, manufactured by Ezra F. Bowman’s Sons of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around 1917. Designed for precision and reliability, this set features a striking cylindrical loose coupler with a sliding coil, a W.M. Murdock variable condenser, and a classic cat’s whisker crystal detector mounted on a polished wooden base. Its brass nameplate, clearly marked with the maker’s details, and high-quality components reflect the craftsmanship and innovation of early wireless technology. A remarkable piece of radio history, the Watchmakers Crystal Radio Set exemplifies the transition from scientific instrumentation to consumer electronics and remains a prized collectible for enthusiasts of antique wireless equipment…. 12.25 x 16.5″… $1200
