Industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes was hired at Plaskon to create new designs for scales, but he also initiated research to develop a new lightweight material to replace the porcelain enamel used to coat metal scales. Bennet soon opted for entirely plastic housing for the scales, and developed prototypes in black Bakelite that he tested in stores.

Bel Geddes also designed the telephone indicator for Bates Manufacturing Company in 1935. In 1941 the Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corp. introduced its campact radio Model 400, known as “The Patriot, ” designed by Bel Geddes in patriotic red, white and blue colors. It became one of Emerson’s most popular radios. The grille resembled strips on a American flag and stars were molded onto the tuning knobs.

See:

“Emerson’s Plastics Story,” Modern Plastics (April 1950), 114-116, 212.