HORACE HURM M.P. 3 (MICRODION PLIANT) FRENCH RADIO For Sale

I believe this is the first time one of these radios has been offered on and may be the last as these are some of the rarest radios in the world. Horace Hurm was a French inventor, artist, magician, entomologist, musician. He lived from 1880 to 1958 and was born and lived most of his life in Montmartre, Paris. He grew up and was friends with such famous people as the Pathe brothers, and was friends with the Lumiere brothers, and Georges Melies. The Lumiere brother's cinematograph was manufactured by an M. Tabary who became friends with Horace and became his precision engineer in charge of setting his radios. In 1900 he attended the World's Fair in Paris and was inspired by art from Japan in regards to miniaturization and would influence his creation of the miniature Microdion line. In 1910 he created a miniature crystal detector called the Ondophone which won a gold medal at the Concours Lepine that year. In 1915 he took up entomology and stated insects could communicate with their antennas just like radio transmitters and receivers. The structure of insects became his next inspiration for the creation of his Microdions. In 1921 he invented the Microdion and between 1921 and 1924 he developed and commercialized the Microdion series MP1, MP2, MP3, and MP4.Unfortunately Horace Hurm was well ahead of his time producing radios without wooden cabinets, which was the norm at the time, and had created black, skeletal, insect-like radios which the public did not appreciate so his radios did not sell well despite being more affordable than the competition. So this led to their immense rarity because the amount produced was low. Horace Hurm was awarded the "Legion d'Honneur" which is the highest distinction given to a civilian in France.The MP3 is one of Horace Hurm's iconic radios and is considered by many to be a work of art. I think of Horace Hurm's designs as "Steampunk 100 years before its time". This MP3 comes with period correct tubes for display. I have an advertisement showing the MP3 with tubes like the ones that come with this, however, the ad is NOT included with this sale. I was told this radio is still functional once you get some good tubes for it but I have never tested it. This comes with three of Hurm's unique ring coils that he called Neo-selfs. I have an advertisement showing the MP3 with these coils but the ad is also NOT part of the sale. These coils are moveable and are used for inductive tuning and response while the miniature variable capacitors provide capacitive tuning. This is a TRF radio with regeneration. This radio is sold as is. Don't miss this opportunity to own one of these rare radios.