Founded in 1932 by good friends Harry Roberts and Leslie Bidmead, Roberts Radio began handcrafting portable radios, initially producing just three radios a week.

The development of portable radios in the 1950s was largely due advances in the transistor. Despite having to compete with the rapid growth of television, particularly in the evening, portables were increasingly used to provide ambient entertainment. The Roberts RT1 was first released in April 1958 and its battery economy was a key selling point. Roberts engineers fitted the set with an Ever Ready PP8 which lasted for two years with average use and incorporated a loudspeaker with an unusually high density of 13,000 Gauss to maintain volume without distortion. This set however, was not Roberts Radio's first transister model, this was a special commission from the Radio Industry Council for Queen Elizabeth II.

RT1 sets were shown in publicity photographs encased in different materials, from jewel encrusted suede and leopard skin to mink to project the radio as a glamorous accessory. This set's marbled vinyl design reflects Robert's strategy, designed to appeal to consumers who wished to furnish their homes with stylish, contemporary objects.