Stranger Things | Russian Walkie Talkie (Grondo-R)

Aug 8

3 min read

Walkie talkies are one of the most recognisable recurring props in Stranger Things. Introduced prominently in Season 1, the walkie-talkies are frequently used by Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will as they communicate across Hawkins. They become particularly important as the group begins investigating Will's disappearance and the strange events surrounding the Upside Down. They become part of the visual language of the series and seeing the boys carrying their walkies immediately reinforces their adventurous, DIY approach to solving problems and reflects the technology available to teenagers during the 1980s.

The walkie talkie we see most during the show is the Realistic TRC-214, a CB-style radio manufactured by RadioShack's Realistic brand. Its substantial casing, external antenna, physical controls and unmistakable 1980s appearance make it a natural fit for the show's period and

is a genuine period piece rather than a modern radio made to look old, helping the production capture the technology and visual character of the early-to-mid 1980s.

In Season 4, we see another model walkie on our screen which is used by the Russian guards in the Kamchatka prison storyline, Grondo-R, which have a heavy military feel. Its appearance immediately separates it from the more familiar American walkie talkies seen throughout the earlier seasons, helping reinforce the change in setting and the Soviet environment surrounding the particular storyline in this season.

Visually, the Grondo-R has a heavy, utilitarian appearance. The dark casing, large speaker grille, physical controls and Cyrillic markings give it the appearance of equipment designed for practical use rather than consumer convenience. Even small details, such as the carrying strap and worn exterior, contribute to the industrial aesthetic of the Russian storyline. Rather than feeling like a modern communications device, the Grondo-R fits naturally into the deliberately dated and functional world established by the production.

From a prop-collecting perspective, what makes examples such as this particularly interesting is their visual connection to one of the most distinctive elements of Season 4. The Cyrillic markings and unusual construction immediately distinguish the Grondo-R from the walkie talkies associated with the usual Hawkins characters.

The Grondo-R may not be one of the instantly recognisable props associated with Stranger Things, but its presence contributes to the authenticity of the Russian storyline. It is a good example of how seemingly ordinary pieces of equipment can help establish a production's setting, period and atmosphere.

On this particular Grondo-R that we have from the show, we can see signs of wear due to the usage on set and during shooting of the Kamchatka storyline. We can see a number of markings on the walkie, from scratching on the rear battery casing, scratchings on the left corner of the front face and dents and scratching on the bottom edge.

We feel that these markings from production remind us of the chaos that unfolded in Kamchatka, where communication and coordination are important parts of the environment surrounding Hopper and the prison personnel, but also when a Demogorgon is on a rampage throughout the facility itself in a very intense battle scene between prisoners and monster.

The Grondo-R is exactly the kind of prop that works well within our Vault Archives: a relatively understated piece of production equipment that becomes much more interesting when its connection to the world of Stranger Things is explored.

Another one of our favourite items to enter our Vault from the Stranger Things universe.