A Hat That Could Tune AM Radio
In 1949, the “Man-from-Mars Radio Hat” hit stores across the United States. Developed by Victor Hoeflich of the American Merri-Lei Corporation, it placed a fully functional AM radio into a pith helmet. It featured two vacuum tubes, a loop antenna, and visible tuning knob.
Launched with Coast-to-Coast Publicity
Hoeflich unveiled the invention in March 1949, inviting the press to photograph teenagers modeling the hat. It appeared in newspapers, Life, Time, and Popular Mechanics. The hat, sold in eight colors, retailed for $7.95 and promised to receive stations within a 20-mile radius.
Powered by Vacuum Tubes and Batteries
The circuit used a 1S5 and 3V4 vacuum tube and a loop antenna built into the hat. Its internal batteries provided 1.5 and 22.5 volts, giving up to 20 hours of listening time. Users heard the signal through a wired earphone clipped to either side of the helmet.
Gone Within a Year, Remembered for Decades
Despite intense media coverage, sales didn’t last. Advertisements stopped by 1950, but Hoeflich said orders continued years later. The June 1949 cover of Radio-Electronics featured future actress Hope Lange wearing a Lipstick Red model—preserving the hat’s brief moment in the spotlight.
