'Tomato Can' radio microphone presented to Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C., Oct. 28. The 'Tomato Can' radio microphone which was used to broadcast the Harding-Cox election returns on November 2, 1920, is one of a series of historic microphone presented recently to the Smithsonian Institution. The 'Tomato Can' is the actual instrument used in the broadcast from station KDKA, Pittsburgh, which is generally considered the first announced broadcast and the world's beginning of broadcasting. Fred C. Reed, Senior Scientific Aide at the Smithsonian, is pictured with the historic mike, 10/28/38