![]() ![]() As a transistor radio collector I think it’s important to have one example of this historic radio in your collection. The diode here is a silver can marked simply as "DR". American companies were the first out of the solid-state-radio gate with the release of the Regency TR-1 on (it sold well into 19 as the re-designed TR-1G and TR-4). All four transistors here are marked with the TI logo on one face and the number 535 on the other face, plus the mysterious painted color-coding on top of each transistor. The tuning cap has a date code of 536 (week 36 of 1955, early September '55). The diode here is a small silver can marked "DR117".ģ) A Bulova 250 version made by Regency. The transistors in this unit are marked both by numbers on one face and color-coded paint on top (dark green: 517 yellow with dark blue dot: unreadable red with dark blue dot: unreadable black with red dot: 516). Note that the serial number on this example is already over 60,000. Here, the tuning cap has a date code of 506 (week 6 of 1955, the second week of February '55). The diode in this unit is a typical bright red Raytheon epoxy diode with a partial designation of "K 513", which seems pretty obviously to have been, "CK513", though I haven't been able to find any such number as belonging to a Raytheon diode - all sources I've found give "CK513" as just an undescribed semiconductor from an undesignated manufacturer.Ģ) A later version (green cabinet here), free of the dimple problem and allowing for a larger label on the inside back cabinet face. A classic Emerson transistor radio, circa 1958 'A transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver that uses transistor-based circuitry. The transistors here are unmarked other than for the TI logo on one face of each transistor and painting on top of each transistor (dark green, yellow with a blue dot, 2x brown with a white dot). By the time I got one in about 1972, the price was down to 1.99, and that was after inflation. The same basic circuit was used in many inexpensive transistor AM radios. And as you can see from the chassis photo below, the tuning cap problem had been resolved by the time this unit was assembled, even though the tuning cap itself has a very early date code of 445 (week 45 of 1954: the first week of November '54). Over the years, the price of transistor portables came down dramatically. Three versions of the TR-1 are shown here:ġ) One of the earlier TR-1s (ivory cabinet here) with a very low serial number just over 14,000 - this has the hollowed-out "dimple" depression on the inside back cabinet face made necessary to accommodate the set screw head found on the first version of the tuning capacitor used in the TR-1, and because of this a small label was used that would not interfere with the dimple. The world's first commercially-produced transistor radio - released in October, 1954 Manufactured by Regency Division, Industrial Development Engineering Associates (I.D.E.A.), Indianapolis, Indiana The radio came in six standard colors: black, white, cloud gray, mandarin red, mottled mahogany, and jade green (see Figure 1 ). It utilized a 22.5 V battery, which to my knowledge was the only fully transistorized radio to ever use this battery. Shirt pocket radio, thermoplastic cabinetĥ x 3 x 1 1/4 inches / 127 x 76 x 31.8 mmįour transistors (Texas Instruments, TI210, 2x TI222, TI223 + one diode (various manufacturers), superheterodyne circuit About the Regency TR-1 The TR-1 cost 49.95 a princely sum back then. 6-1/2"W x 4"H x 2"D.Transistor Radios Around the World Home - Timeline - Radios by Countryīefore '54 - North America - Western Europe - Japan and Pacific - East Bloc and USSR The correct large 9 volt battery is not made anymore, but today's smaller 9 volt batteries work just fine. The radio pulled stations (softly) when 9 volts were applied to it. The logo, dial and volume knob are nice and complete. Even the back hinged area and tabs are nice. The exterior is made of genuine top grain cowhide and is in very good preserved condition. It was released shortly after the introduction of the famous TR-1, the world's first transistor radio. It was first produced in 1954, and featured here in Popular Mechanics, January 1955. This five-transistor radio was originally sold for $54.95 in 1956 and is a true piece of transistor radio history. Shown here is the first commercially manufactured transistor radio, the Regency TR-1. It was equipped with 4 germanium bipolar transistors instead of tubes, but could not ac. This is the first Regency transistor radio to be offered for sale on the Radio Attic in at least six years. Here is an early vintage pocket radio (Regency TR-1G) with a labelled diagram of components and circuit. The Regency TR-1 was the worlds first commercial transistor radio. I am pleased to offer this rare Regency leather portable transistor radio. ![]()
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