Workers don't earn a lot: In 1950, a radio mechanic at Grundig earns DM 1.-- per hour, in 1954 DM 1.40/hour. But their earnings steadily go up, they can afford things. A VHF radio is soon to replace the old box which, in turn, is handed down to the children. A small third radio set finds its way into the kitchen so that housewives can listen to radio whilst doing their household chores...

The latest fashion is the music cabinet containing a radio unit, record player, tape-recorder and integrated drinks bar - not particularly cheap but a first-class object of prestige. The new long-playing records and singles offer more comfort and longer playing compared to the old shellac records-soon taking over as from 1953.

Mobility is the next step: Entertainment is provided by portable radios in the swimming pool and on holiday. They are real trend-setters in matters of design, mainly stemming from America. Who can afford it buys a car-if possible with a car radio.

But the big innovation is yet to come: Television. On 23 December, 1952, the new mass medium television goes on air on a regular basis. Radio broadcasting now has a serious competitor - some already see the end of radio.

Sound quality is now an important factor in broadcasting. VHF -»The Wave of Joy«- and its frequency modulation (FM) offers big advantages in comparison with amplitude modulation (AM) used for medium and long-waves. In the mid-50s, the »3D sound« arrives on the market, radios are equipped with loudspeakers on their side together with treble sound.

But this is still mono sound. In 1957/58, stereophonic sound conquered the record player market - also changing the design of the units: Loudspeakers are the first to leave the common housing...