AWA - Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd opened shop in 1913. It's founder Ernest Fisk had been a shipboard radio operator for Marconi.

Their first bakelite cabinet was the stunning C87 a 4 valve TRF model of 1932-33 Advertised as "the largest synthetic moulding ever made in Australia" the cabinet is 41cm or 16 inches tall dwarfing the Air King of the same year that Sideli describes as "the largest moulded plastic product ever attempted" nice try Uncle Sam.

Made of a bakelite mix described as "Kaleidostone" it has to be seen to be believed. This is an extremely rare radio, its size and delicate moulding meant many rejects in the factory. It's enormous weight (10kilos) and delicate case meant few have survived in pristine condition.

The most famous AWA radio is the Radiolette "Skyscraper" or "Empire State"which is clearly similar to the Air King although the ziggurat design almost certainly derived from an earlier AWA wooden cased Radiolette the model 27.

Made in a much thicker bakelite and in far greater numbers the "skyscraper" is more common than the earlier Radiolettes but is none the less rare and very hard to find in "grained ivory" and almost impossible to find in "jade green" Having the full set of colours is a must for any collector.