In 1955, Raytheon's 8-TR-1 was priced at $80 (equivalent to $764 today). These later examples command top dollar on Ebay. There will be no turning back from the appeal of these mid-century, technical and artistic marvels. By 1959, in the United States market, there were more than six million transistor radio sets produced by Japanese companies that represented $62 million in revenue. The model number is ***** and it was manufactured by Gabriel Toy Company in New York. Speakers on each end, 23 1/2 L. i have a Windsor Transistor Radio- model 2628 AM/FM and i cannot find any information on it—-can you please help? It used the nine-volt battery, which would become the standard for transistor radios. it is a wonderful little radio .bud no doubt could not compete with cheep Japanese products . Radios made in Hong Kong during the mid to late 60’s are not highly desirable. It does work. I realize that a collector [20], In August 1955, while still a small company, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation introduced their TR-55 five-transistor radio under the new brand name Sony. Sticker says made in the Philippines. When I saw photos of the Toshiba TR-193 "Lace" transistor radio… I was more pleased when I got it home to find, that at night, it easily picked up international cities like Moscow, Rome (Vatican city), China, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Yugoslavia, London, Iceland, etc. It was a beautiful radio that I pined for for months as a model sat in a glass enclosed retailer in the neighborhood along North Prospect Road. [11] When it was released in 1954, the Regency TR-1 cost $49.95 (equivalent to $476 today) and sold about 150,000 units. The year had to be circa 1964 or 1966. Dec 23, 2019 - Explore g valdes's board "Transistor Radios" on Pinterest. This type of device is a popular choice with listeners who are dissatisfied with terrestrial music radio because of a limited selection of music and reception problems. Also, the brown leather case and earphones w/case and a battery!!! [11] Within five years, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation grew from seven employees to approximately five hundred. An early handwired 500 will fetch more money than the later versions. Raytheon and Zenith Electronics transistor radios soon followed and were priced even higher. built home television antenna boosters. Sorry about the rambling butI hoped you would appreciate the little true story. They can be found on Ebay ranging in price from $300 to $1000 depending on color. Your email (will not be published) (required), Vintage Transistor Radios of the 1950s and 60s, The Birth and Evolution of Victor Victrola Antique Phonographs, Transistor Radios: 1954-1968 (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Norman Smith, Zenith Transistor Radios: Evolution of a Classic by Norman R. Smith, Transistor Radios: A Collector’s Encyclopedia and Price Guide by D. R. Lane and Robert A. I was surprised to see the variety of transistor radios that had been made by so many manufacturers. Ref: History Channel Modern Marvels. These novelty radios are now bought and sold as collectors' items amongst modern-day collectors. Thanks for any pointing. Model R-979. Through this book, I … Since the transistor's base element draws current, its input impedance is low in contrast to the high input impedance of the vacuum tubes. Initially import restrictions kept Japanese sets out of Britain, but all that changed in 1960. [5], There are many claimants to the title of the first company to produce practical transistor radios, often incorrectly attributed to Sony (originally Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation). Like the TR-1 it was offered in four colors: lemon, green, red, and black. By painting all artwork on the inside of the clear plastic dial cover, there would be no wear or damage to the most attractive features of the radio. Does anyone know where I can get the equivalent for the Mercury Cell Type P-640 batteries? It does not work but i wonder what the history of this radio is. However, transistor radios are still popular for news, talk radio, weather, live sporting events, and emergency alert applications. [11] The Regency TR-1 was announced on October 18, 1954, by the Regency Division of I.D.E.A., was put on sale in November 1954 and was the first practical transistor radio made in any significant numbers. I have a Silvertone 6 Transistor radio. Cicena Dream Breaker AM/FM Cassette Player - Radio with Alarm Retro Vintage! These radios would either have Boy’s Radio or Two Transistors prominently and proudly displayed on the cabinet. [25] With the visible success of the TR-63, Japanese competitors such as Toshiba and Sharp Corporation joined the market. [27], Sony's TR-63, released in December 1957, cost $39.95 (equivalent to $364 today). Sony had started manufacturing in the Republic of Ireland and a new agre… RCA had demonstrated a prototype transistor radio as early as 1952, and it is likely that they and the other radio makers were planning transistor radios of their own, but Texas Instruments and Regency Division of I.D.E.A., were the first to offer a production model starting in October 1954. Chapter4: Ibuka's First Visit to the United States", "The 7 Step Formula Sony Used to Get Back On Top After a Lost Decade", "Broadcast Band – All Transistor Wrist Radio", "Regency's Development of the TR-1 Transistor Radio" website, Web site about the first transistor radio, "GE First Transistor Radio to Smithsonian, The First Transistor Radios—1950s, pictured, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transistor_radio&oldid=992146462, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2010, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 December 2020, at 19:17. Be prepared to spend more if you find one in it’s original box. Perhaps in another ten years these radios will become “collectible.” However, if you see one and you like it….buy it and enjoy it! 7 bids. It was also the first Japanese radio to be imported into the U.S. (several other early Sony radios were sold in Canada in 1956). The more basic ivory and grey cabinets will fetch less money than the “mandarin” red and black. Texas Instruments had demonstrated all-transistor AM (amplitude modulation) radios as early as May 25, 1954,[6][7] but their performance was well below that of equivalent vacuum tube models. If you buy one transistor radio it will most likely grow to two, then three. By comparison, the transistor radio could fit in a pocket and weighed half a pound or less, and was powered by standard flashlight batteries or a single compact 9-volt battery. I can’t find much at all on this. Does anyone know where a battery of this description may be purchased? During times of emergencies, all stations except the CONELRAD stations at 640 and 1240 AM would cease operations (note that some Japanese radios made by Sharp and Hitachi during the late 50’s left out the CD marks). [8] It was built with four of Intermetall's hand-made transistors, based upon the 1948 invention of the "Transistor"-germanium point-contact transistor by Herbert Mataré and Heinrich Welker. In many cases, the cabinets were identical to “real” radios with 6 transistors. My parents had an old Audition transistor radio…the one that is built into a wood cabinet and the entire thing is made to look like an old fashioned, Early American style wall telephone. never been able to find anything similar and don’t know any details about it. Of course condition is key in valuing a radio as well. Boy’s Radios show up often on eBay and range in value from $25 to $70. In July 1955, the first positive review of a transistor radio appeared in the Consumer Reports that said, "The transistors in this set have not been used in an effort to build the smallest radio on the market, and good performance has not been sacrificed." Two companies working together, Texas Instruments of Dallas, and Industrial Development Engineering Associates (I.D.E.A.) I just got a “INCOMICA seven transistor radio”. I found a video on Google stating it was made from mid to late 60’s. Thank you for your time and wonderful info. What year was it made. Perhaps you recently saw a picture of a cool looking pocket radio from the early 1960’s and were reminded of your carefree, youthful days? Advances in silicon development in the 1970s led to metal oxide … [11], Chrysler and Philco announced that they had developed and produced the world's first all-transistor car radio in the April 28th 1955 edition of the Wall Street Journal. Once Sony opened the U.S. market, other names like Toshiba, Hitachi, Sharp, Standard, Sanyo, Matsushita (Panasonic), Mitsubishi, Aiwa, Realtone, Global, and Zephyr arrived on North American shores and attracted the youth market with their smaller, more affordable and more colorful pocket radios. VINTAGE 1950s ZENITH " GOLDEN TRIANGLE " OLD ANTIQUE TRANSISTOR CLOCK RADIO. In addition to its smaller size, the TR-63 had a small tuning capacitor and required a new battery design to produce the proper voltage. The two companies worked together on the TR-1, looking to grow revenue… American made radios tend to be slightly larger than their Japanese counterparts. Collectible pocket radios from 1955 to 1963 are real gems for collectors since they are often labeled as the first generation of transistor pocket radios. It may be a few years until you find one but think of the fun you’ll have searching and the money you’ll save. They can be found at flea markets or online auctions ranging in price from $10 to $50. It takes battery 6422 which is 9 volts the length of a AA, and slightly larger in diameter. However, as with the early Texas Instruments units (and others) only prototypes were ever built; it was never put into commercial production. Cool 50’s shades like robin’s egg/powder blue, seafoam green and bright red or yellow command higher prices. Transistors offered many improvements over the vacuum tube: They were smaller, used much less power, and were more reliable. The simultaneous arrival of imported pocket radio and rock n’ roll conspired to change the electronics industry forever! Improving upon the ideas, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation made its first functional transistor radio in 1954. Before spending too much money I recommend you take some time, do your homework and educate yourself. Model # TN 201. Hello and thank you for such a great site. In 1959 the MOSFET was introduced and in 2020 it is still the dominant transistor type in use, with an estimated total of 13 sextillion (1.3 × 10 22) MOSFETs manufactured between 1960 and 2018. You may never encounter one of these in all your years of collecting. It was a sacrifice for him, and I’ve no doubt of it. It's never been used and is still in the box. [15][16][17][18], While on a trip to the United States in 1952, Masaru Ibuka, founder of Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation (now Sony), discovered that AT&T was about to make licensing available for the transistor. The TR-1 and TR-1G used an odd 22.5 volt battery which can be found in limited quantities today but are pricey. Let us know. This process also gave the radio a three dimensional appearance. Having been interested in radios for a very long time now .I have now got over fifty of them in my bedroom . So I sorta uh kinda uh hounded my dad about the good GEs. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up Although the main focus of this article is to broaden your knowledge base, make sure you don’t just collect for investment or get caught up in only possessing what are considered “must haves”. So, before zI could (was allowed) to open the box, my dad leaned so he couldn’t be overheared and said “it’s a damn GE.” Finally bottom line I’m looking for one. It’s an immediate favorite. Some collectors refuse to buy damaged radios. [14] Chrysler made the all-transistor car radio, Mopar model 914HR, available as an "option" in fall 1955 for its new line of 1956 Chrysler and Imperial cars, which hit the showroom floor on October 21, 1955. The radio was designed by the firm of Painter, Teague and Petertil whose final design … If you want to identify an item, try posting it in our Show & Tell gallery. Value / idea! Have fun and buy radios that appeal to your personal tastes. any idea the value of a “world-tone 8 transistor radio…model HR-802″…in original unused packaging and box. One of the most popular and attractive coat pocket radios were/are the Emerson’s 888 series. The time spent restoring and repairing is very rewarding and it’s much easier on the pocket book! Billions of transistor radios are estimated to have been sold worldwide between the 1950s and 2012. Sparton of Canada LTD, London Ontario (Sparks-Worthington) made radios in the Canada and US for many years. any value cant find anything on it. Thank you so much. The fifth generation Zenith 500 was the 500H. Gold on white, black accents, bright red and powder blue along with geometric shapes like starbursts, chevrons, jet wings, diamonds and parallel lines make reverse painted radios visually stunning and highly sought after by collectors. Shop for transistor radio at Best Buy. I have tried to learn how much such a radio would have cost, but it is of no consequence. See more ideas about Transistors, Transistor radio, Vintage radio. In February 1955, the second transistor radio, the 8-TP-1, was introduced by Raytheon. It was only sold domestically in Japan while 50 units were imported in Canada by General Distributors (GENDIS). Shown below are transistor radios that are part of electronics history. My Mother had a Silvertone and that round 9v battery was hard to find even back then. Most U.S. radios would be considered “coatpocket” sized – too big for your shirtpocket but too small to be classified as a portable. $49.95. (A damaged radio will most often realize half of its book or auction value) There are several products on the market like plastic repair kits, polishes, cleaners and electronic replacements to bring a radio back to life if you so desire. So, is this a case of an English or American company using the cheaper labor of Japan? A workable all-transistor radio was demonstrated in August 1953 at the Düsseldorf Radio Fair by the German firm Intermetall. I have an ELF 6 transistor radio in excellent condition that still works fine on the standard rectangular 9V battery. $12.85 shipping. … CD stood for Civil Defense and was taken very seriously in the 50’s and 60’s due to the communist “red scare.”. [23], The TR-63 was the first transistor radio to sell in the millions, leading to the mass-market penetration of transistor radios. Does anyone have any info on a “IVY LEAGUER” 7 Transistor Radio any info would be greatly appreciated. The 9-volt battery was introduced for powering transistor radios. may not want to do that. Transistor radio mini-history ... should appear in all the transistor radios made up to 1963. I still come across new and puzzling problems. Here is a rare Canadian Transistor Radio … The influence of the transistor radio during this period is shown by its appearance in popular films, songs, and books of the time, such as the movie Lolita. Although Japanese manufacturers were a bit behind the American companies in producing transistor radios they quickly caught up and exceeded expectations. I have one particular one . The first transistor radio hit the consumer market on October 18, 1954. I cannot find any info on an “Audition model 8F3” transistor radio. Previously, Texas Instruments was producing instrumentation for the oil industry and locating devices for the U.S. Navy and I.D.E.A. AM FM Portable Radio Battery Operated Radio by 4X D Cell Batteries Or AC Power Transistor Radio with and Big Speaker, Standard Earphone Jack, High/Low Tone Mode, Large Knob 4.5 out of 5 stars … I can say, though, that I am making a good profit from transistor radio servicing. Ending Dec 6 at 7:17PM PST 3d 14h. I suggest spending some time on the internet or scanning the pages of the few transistor radio price guides to research makes and models. But YORK, is it not derived from the old city of York, England? had their radios made in Japan. early transistor radio with alligator clips which I guess were there to aid in reception? of Indianapolis, Indiana, were behind the unveiling of the Regency TR-1, the world's first commercially produced transistor radio. I have a Philco Transistor with the leather carrying case and strap in mint condition. American companies were the first out of the solid-state-radio gate with the release of the Regency TR-1 on Oct 18, 1954 (it sold well into 1955 and 1956 as the re-designed TR-1G and TR-4). Radios made in America between 1955 and 1960 and those manufactured in Japan until 1963 also demand a higher price compared to other types of vintage transistor radios. If you can solder and tell positive from negative you can convert it. Well, be warned! There is a little wood wear to the bottom inside of it, the phone “cord” has a little fraying on it, and the phone “earpiece” has some paint wear on it. The President of I.D.E.A. My father must have spent close to half his weekly salary to purchase a pocket transistor radio, with beautiful leather case, for me in the late 1950s. Thanks. "Charlie the Tuna-shaped" radios could be purchased from Star-Kist for an insignificant amount of money giving their company visibility amongst the public. Vintage Portable Radio, National Panasonic R-1045, Transistor Radio, Pocket Radio Receiver, Made in Japan, 70s DejaVuShopGifts. Reverse (back) painting was a very popular method of ornamenting transistor radios between 1958 and 1962. built home television antenna boosters. Transistor radios were extremely successful because of three social forces — a large number of young people due to the post–World War II baby boom, a public with disposable income amidst a period of prosperity, and the growing popularity of rock 'n' roll music. [10] It also allowed "instant-on" operation, since there were no filaments to heat up. As a transistor radio collector I think it’s important to have one example of this historic radio in your collection. Bell Laboratories demonstrated the first transistor on December 23, 1947. at the time, Ed Tudor, jumped at the opportunity to manufacture the TR-1, predicting sales of the transistor radios at "20 million radios in three years". A common type now is the portable digital audio player. [citation needed], The pocket size of transistor radios sparked a change in popular music listening habits, allowing people to listen to music anywhere they went. If you’re into high performance you may want to consider this one. [19] For several months Ibuka traveled around the United States borrowing ideas from the American transistor manufacturers. Generally, the most collectable and historic transistor radios are those made in Japan from 1956 to 1963 and America from 1955-60. At the time Sony was a brand name, the company itself was called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo. Do you know approximately what this would be worth? Even Japanese radios without reverse painting are highly collectible. Vacuum tubes were also inefficient and fragile compared to transistors and had a limited lifetime. I wish I had been smart enough to encourage him to teach me… so much more …. He was assigned the project due to his experience with radio engineering in World War II.) They predate eBay and the quoted prices are often higher than present day values. As a result, the sound quality was much better than the TR-1. Regency TR-1 release. It has AM and FM bands. Wanted: Any info on a Philco Ford All Transistor wooden radio. Approximately 100,000 units of the TR-63 were imported in 1957. [9], The use of transistors instead of vacuum tubes as the amplifier elements meant that the device was much smaller, required far less power to operate than a tube radio, and was more resistant to physical shock. The mass-market success of the smaller and cheaper Sony TR-63, released in 1957, led to the transistor radio becoming the most popular electronic communication device of the 1960s and 1970s. Only one in five transistors that were produced worked as expected (only a 20% yield) and as a result the price remained extremely high. In my travels I’d say that over half of all the radios I encounter were made in Hong Kong. Several TR-63s appear each year on eBay but expect to pay top dollar for one. It has a large oval speaker and is considered to be the best sounding/performing portable transistor radio ever. None of the major radio makers including RCA, GE, Philco, and Emerson were interested. Classic American-made Emerson 888 Pioneer red 1958 transistor radio $95.00 SOLD Extraordinary Toshiba 6TP-309 transistor radio, stunning design, Japan $ 225.00 SOLD Vintage MISTER THIN transistor radio … One acts as a combination mixer-oscillator, one as an audio amplifier, and two as intermediate-frequency amplifiers. [11] Following the success of the TR-63 Sony continued to make their transistor radios smaller. The transistor — a revolutionary solid-state device capable of amplification — had been invented back in 1947, but its actual application to mass-produced consumer items had been limited, as production of transistors had yet to be perfected, so their cost remained high. It was the start … channel transistor type 30. marked CHANNEL SOMERSET ENGLAND . Maybe it was the pastel colors or atomic aged designs that caught your eye? Bill C. Hello, I have a small red transistor radio, the brand is “Internet” I’m trying to figure out its age and value. i’d love to get my hands on one some day. It used a round 9V battery. Generally, the most collectable and historic transistor radios are those made in Japan from 1956 to 1963 and America from 1955-60. The typical portable tube radio of the fifties was about the size and weight of a lunchbox and contained several heavy, non-rechargeable batteries — one or more so-called "A" batteries to heat the tube filaments and a large 45- to 90-volt "B" battery to power the signal circuits. From shop DejaVuShopGifts. And is there any value to these radios. They could no longer compete with the lower prices and more attractive designs coming from Asia. I had a wester two way radio it was the best I herd they sold the styanic digram to some in cal. Early Zenith radios like the Royal 500 series are also worthy of having in a collection. In 1955, the Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Company of Japan changed its name and quickly began importing transistor radios under its new SONY name. The need for a low voltage high current source to power the filaments of the tubes and high voltage for the anode potential typically required two batteries. These radios can be found in abundance today and range in price from $50 to $150 depending on condition and color. you slid it apart to open it so you could see the dials and speaker. Timeline of pocket/transistor radios:--1945—1958--1959—1967 This timeline includes not only transistor radios but also a number of crystal and subminiature tube radios that were relevant to the early years of transistor radio production, especially pocket-sized radios. “The transistor radio remains one of the most popular communications devices. [3] The scientific team at Bell Laboratories responsible for the solid-state amplifier included William Shockley, Walter Houser Brattain, and John Bardeen. Some estimates suggest that there are more than seven billion transistor radios in existence. Black and ivory cabinets are considered less attractive by some and may reduce a radio’s value on the collector’s market. Released in 1957, it was considered the world’s first, truly pocket-sized radio and was the first to utilize all miniature components. They might have been dropped, left in the sun, damaged while trying to replace the batteries or just plain neglected by their owners. They were marketed as “toys” rather than electronic devices thus stepping around the taxes! The radio works very well and is in beautiful condition minus the tip of the antenna missing. [11] By 1962, the TR-63 cost as low as $15 (equivalent to $127 today),[24] which led to American manufacturers dropping prices of transistor radios down to $15 as well.[11]. If you care to research this fascinating hobby further there are many great resources on the internet. The depth and palette of colors were quite breathtaking. <>Excellent 1958 Sony TR-86 Transistor Radio-In Leather Case-In Box-Serviced NR< $102.50. Sure, you’ll want some key radios but make sure you collect what you like. Many were taken to picnics, ballgames, schools and other social outings. Previously, Texas Instruments was producing instrumentation for the oil industry and locating devices for the U.S. Navy and I.D.E.A. I came across a Bunasonic radio (not transistor) so not sure if you can help me. Finding a US made transistor radio from 1963 is pretty uncommon. my dad got it at some shop on canal street in new york. These marks were meant to ... ELectromagnetic RADiations) was a typical example of the Civil Defence system still… There are a few exceptions which I will talk about shortly. Gone were the fancy colors, atomic age designs, chrome and reverse painted dials. It is estimated that only 5,000 to 10,000 units were produced. Most often I pass them up unless the price tag is $5 to $10. many thanks! Panasonic released several radios that are highly collectable today such as the Panapet and Toot-A-Loop. Sony and Toshiba enter the U.S. market. It requires 2 UM-5, 1.5V batteries (Eveready 904). During the 1970’s, radio design experienced a renaissance. The two companies worked together on the TR-1, looking to grow revenues for their respective companies by breaking into this new product area. These radios can be found in great numbers today, and are terrific looking and often reasonably priced (typically from $20 to $100 depending on condition). There is room enough in the battery compartment for a standard rectangular 9v battery. I have a federal BLUE transistor radio in the box excellent condition, model no.004 works well. What should I sell them for or just throw them away? Being totally blind it’s difficult to further describe it, but it said GE Deluxe 7 transistor on the front, with I believe silver coloring bordering the nominal tuning dial directly tuned from wheel. [26] The transistor radio went on to become the most popular electronic communication device of the 1960s and 1970s. I own a three star deluxe all transistor radio. Michael, I do have one question. Others, like myself, are not troubled by buying less than perfect examples. Even giants like Zenith, RCA, Motorola, Philco, and G.E. Love the comments!! The first Japanese transistor ever released was Sony’s TR-55. Many were also larger, leather-clad portable sets like the Zenith Royal 750 and Raytheon 8TP-1. Those in mint condition will realize higher amounts. This would have put a dent in Japanese radio sales – forcing retail prices to climb. [12] Billboard reported in 1954 that "the radio has only four transistors. The radio does not go on, but I am quite sure it would work again for someone who knows some basic tinkering skills. These pocket radios experienced very active lives during the 1950’s and 60’s. Billions of transistor radios are estimated to have been sold worldwide between the 1950s and 2012. The radio uses a 9-volt battery that is no longer made… Lane, Collector’s Guide to Transistor Radios: Identification and Values, and a wonderful series of smaller booklets by Eric Wrobbel found at http://www.ericwrobbel.com/. Here also are some books that may be of help: Do you have an article you’d like us to publish as a guest column in The Collectors Weekly? of Indianapolis, Indiana, were behind the unveiling of the Regency TR-1, the world's first commercially produced transistor radio. Other collectible American-made radios are from RCA, G.E., Admiral, Motorola, Magnavox, Philco, Raytheon, Arvin, Sylvania and Emerson etc. Great site and comments In your travels you may even encounter pocket radios called “Boy’s Radios”. Even examples with cracks or chips can fetch $400.