Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - January 13, 1985
By Walt Sanders
Vigo County Historical Society

'Nameless' radio assembled here

The Allison-Pickett Co. of Terre Haute assembled radio kits purchased from the Bremer-Tully Co. of Chicago and sold them at their store on Seventh Street, east of Ohio.

Paul Pickett opened the store in 1924, and Allison worked for him until 1925 when he became a partner. The kits were assembled by Hernam McMasters from 1924 through 1926. The front panels were also ordered from Bremer-Tully with Allison-Pickett engraving. Some of the panels also included the Bremer-Tully logo. The cabinets were purchased locally.

The set pictured above is the "Historical Treasure of the Week" from the Vigo County Historical Society. The only other Allison-Pickett set known is in the private collection of a Terre Haute resident. It has Terre Haute, Ind., included in the Allison-Pickett logo, which indicates several orders were made from Bremer-Tully. McMasters thought Allison-Pickett sold more than 25 sets.

In 1926. Allison formed a new company with Noel Whitney, and their store was opened in the Indiana Theater building in Terre Haute. McMasters went with them until 1928 when he went to work for the Jensen Brothers Co.

The circuit for this kit radio was developed by Bremer-Tully in late 1923, and, for its day, was an outstanding performer.

The company ran a contest to name its new circuit, calling it the "nameless" until the winner was determined. But they liked the name "Nameless so well they decided to use it. To avoid a lawsuit, a winner of the contest was named, but the kits were advertised and sold as the Bremer-Tully Nameless set. So, the company logo includes the word "Nameless."