Design Classic — Mario Bellini’s Penny (1966)

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Penny is a portable vinyl player, commissioned by the Italian company Irradio and designed by Mario Bellini in 1966. It became an iconic product for both its innovative function, as Penny was the first of its kind, and its charming design, often associated with the Pop style.

Technically speaking, Penny is a small device able to reproduce 45 RPM vinyl records and emit sounds through speakers situated on its top. The tone and the volume could be modulated by using a black knob on the front side, which also featured the disk ejection button. This small portable vinyl player was powered by 6 batteries 1.5V, or through a 220V cable.