The Szarotka portable mono radio receiver is the first radio of this type to be mass-produced in Poland after the War. In terms of components and the electrical system it is a superheterodyne – a receiver that uses vacuum tubes to play, transforming radio waves into electrical signals. The device has a built-in ferrite antenna. Thanks to its dimensions and small weight, the radio was a faithful companion on travels, during walks, and on picnics. The design of the portable Szarotka radio was created in 1956 by the design team at Zakłady Radiowe im. Marcina Kasprzaka in Warsaw, modelled on the tourist radio Grazietta 541B manufactured under licence from the Austrian Siemens company. The Szarotka is powered from batteries or the mains, through a power supply unit in the form of a base with special pins. It is equipped with a leather case with a shoulder strap. When powered from batteries, the radio can operate for between 25 and 30 hours. Initially, the Szarotka was produced as a two-band radio, offering medium and long-wave reception. A fragment of the shortwave band was added later, making it a three-band radio, which allowed it to be distinguished from the Austrian original, which could only receive medium wave. This convenience allowed the listeners to receive Radio Luxembourg – which was illegal in Poland – and listen to pop music from outside of the Communist bloc.
The radio was manufactured in three colour versions: cream, mustard and coral. In terms of appearance and the shape of its housing it does not depart from the original Grazietta 541B. At the top of the front wall there is an elongated scale with a magic eye tube on the left, and the Tonsil GD 9/0,5 magnetoelectric speaker installed below, behind an openwork cover of slightly protruding bands of plastic. The body of the device was enclosed on the side and from below with a metal band holding the front and back panel. On the top there is a retractable handle for carrying the device. On the right-hand side is a switch and a volume knob, while on the top there are band switching buttons and switches for power supply modes – normal and energy saving.

Authors: Piotr Turowski, Filip Wróblewski