President and founder of the Atwater Kent Radio Co., Atwater Kent manufactured the open set radio, nicknamed a “breadboard,” for which he is known today. Such radios were constructed on attractive wooden planks lacking a case, which allowed them to reveal their superior quality components. At one point, during the 1920s, Kent’s company was considered to be the world’s radio leader. Kent’s radio show, The Atwater Kent Hour, was also one of the mediums most popular shows. During the 1930s Kent brought out about 15 new radio models each year, including consoles, compacts and auto radios. The Depression had a major adverse impact on Kent’s radio business, and after trying cost-cutting measures, Kent closed his Philadelphia plant in 1936, rather than sacrifice quality. Kent also was involved with developing standards for the radio industry as an activist in the engineering department of the Radio Manufacturer’s Association (RMA), which later became EIA. He also served on the RMA board of directors.