Updated March 18, 2026.
Recently here at the office we were talking about the development of two way radios, and how they used to always be called Walkie Talkies. I mentioned that the correct term was Handie-Talkie from radios used in World War 2. I thought it would be fun to blog a bit on what we turned up as we talked about this (though I know a lot of you probably know all about their history and development!)
The first two way radios were called Walkie-Talkies and were made by Gavin Manufacturing Company (They later became Motorola) in 1940. They were backpack radios made for the allied forces in World War 2. Also, Alfred J.Gross developed a lot of the same ideas in 1934 through 1941, and created a small two way radio for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services. Another inventor working in radios at the same time named Donald Hings developed several portable two way radios he called packsets.
What most people would call a Walkie Talkie was developed at about the same time as its larger backpack cousin. They were portable, handheld units called Handie-Talkies. Motorola eventually trademarked Handie-Talkie and "HT". This is where the term "HT" for portable radios came from.
After the war, surplus radios made their way into the civilian market. The common civilian term for hand held two way radios term changed to Walkie Talkie.
The early wartime radios were impressive for their time, but they were also large, heavy and fairly limited in capability. Battery life was short and the range depended greatly on terrain and antenna placement. Still, the ability to send voice messages instantly over the air without wires was revolutionary. For soldiers in the field, these radios dramatically improved coordination and situational awareness.
As technology advanced through the 1950s and 1960s, radios became smaller, more reliable and easier to use. Transistors replaced vacuum tubes, which allowed manufacturers to dramatically reduce the size and power consumption of portable radios. This helped pave the way for the handheld two way radios that police officers, firefighters and businesses began using every day.
Eventually two way radios made their way into consumer products as well. By the 1970s and 1980s, toy walkie talkies and simple personal radios became common gifts for kids and outdoor enthusiasts. While these early consumer models were fairly basic, they introduced a whole new generation to the fun and usefulness of two way radio communication.
Today’s handheld radios are far more advanced than those early Handie-Talkies used during World War II. Modern radios are smaller, clearer and packed with features like weather alerts, privacy codes and rechargeable batteries. Even so, the basic idea remains the same as it was more than eighty years ago: press a button, talk, and instantly communicate with someone nearby.
Check back in a few days for another look at the development and history of the Walkie-Talkie!
(Updated 6/24: Read the rest of the article on the development of the walkie-talkie!)
2 Comments
2 Item(s)