A LITTLE HISTORY
After World War II, in the search to produce yet smaller radio receivers, Bell Laboratories of the USA, secretly developed what it callet the "Germanium Junction Transistor".
By 1957 it was ready, with an announcement made through the media in 1958.
Now, Bell Labs was looking for anyone who would pay a U$25,000.00 fee for the license to produce the transistors.
Texas Instruments, (TI) a growing company was the first to accept the offer, and in 3 years, after extensive further testing, it was ready.
Now, someone who would produce the radios was needed, and I.D.E.A. Co. of Indianapolis, IN was the first taker.
By the 1954 Christmas holidays, the first pocket-sized radios were released
for sale.
The model name was REGENCY TR-1.
REGENCY Mod TR-1
The first transistor pocket radio in the world
First launched in New York and Los Angeles in November 1954, it was an immediate success, reaching the 100.000 mark just in the first year of sales!This set was fed by a 22 1/2-Volt battery and the circuits are composed by four germanium transistors.
Conditioned in a plastic box, covered by a leather case. It featured an earphone plug and tunes to the MW Band, from 535 to 1630 kHz.
It was sold for the price of U$ 49,95.
Collectors will pay upwards to U$ 1,000.00 today! .
HITACHI Mod WH-822H "KELLY"
A pocket transistor radio made in Japan, it works with four 1.5-Volt batteries, eight germanium transistors.Tunes to the MW Band, from 535 to 1605 kHz, plus SW, from 6 to 18 mHz. Plastic box covered in a black leather case. It provides for an external antenna and two earphones connections. Telescopic antenna, which is concealed under the leather case.
MINERVA Minx Type 571
The industry Minerva began the production of radios in 1919, and since 1968 it was incorporated by Grunding.A portable radio, 6 germanium transistors Made in Austria manufactured in 1959, fed by one 6 Volt battery, tunes to MW, from 200 to 580 mts.
MITSUBISHI Mod 8X 584A
Pocket transistor radio, made in Japan. Operates with four 1.5-Volt batteries, eight germanium transistors. Conditioned in a red plastic box, in a brown leather case.Tunes to MW, from 535 to 1605 kHz, and SW, from 3.8 to 12 mHz. It provides for the connection of an earplug. Telescopic antenna, Treble/Bass controls. "Bandspread" fine tuning control for SW listening.
SPICA Mod ST 600
Manufactured in Japan at the end of the 1960. Works with four AA batteries and six germanium transistors. Plastic box covered by a brown leather case. Earphone connection provided. Tunes to MW, from 550 to 1600 kHz.This set was one of the first transistor sets built in Japan, and exported in great numbers.
It was very popular in Brazil, due to its compact size .
ZENITH ROYAL 500
Manufactured in 1955, this was the first pocket radio built by Zenith.Works with seven transistors and tunes to MW, from 550 to 1600 kHz. Its Nylon box in a leather case, is nearly indestructible.
The earphone can be stored away in the leather cover. It displays excellent sensitivity.
As an innovation, it featured transistors that were mounted in sockets. Another of its novelties, was the tunig control via a "demultiplier"(Vernier), to facilitate station tuning.
This fellow is my bedside companion, up to these days! .
Grundig Model 1059
Manufactured by German Grundig in 1959, this radio is considered one of the countless Clones of Zenith Royal 500. Circuit composed of 6 transistors of germanium. Tunes in OM, of 550 kHz. to 1650 kHz.
SANDHURST Mod STW-601
Pocket awakening clock Radio , tunes OM of 535 kHz to 1605 kHz.Fed by a battery of 9 volts, the circuit is composed of 7 germanium transistors.
PENNEYS Mod 6TP-555
Pocket radio manufactured in Japan by Penncrest in 1962, tunes OM of 540 kHz to 1600 kHz.Fed by a battery of 9 volts, the circuit is composed of 6 germanium transistors .
TRUETONE Mod 3902
One of the first pocket radios manufactured in the USA by TRAV-LER for Western Auto in 1955, tunes OM of 540 kHz to 1620 kHz.Fed by a special battery of 9 volts (today, the battery type used in this radio it doesn't exist more ), the circuit is composed of 5 germanium transistors .
In full time of the cold war, where a supposition conflict involving the USA and Russia could unchain to 3a world war, the industries of radio of the américa placed two marks in the dial of the radios manufactured in the decade of 50, where the listener could tune in the stations that would aid him in case of nuclear attack. The dial came marked with two small triangles located close of the 620kHz and 1200 kHz.
WILCO Mod 360
Pocket radio manufactured in Japan by Wilco in 1964, tunes OM of 550 kHz to 1600 kHz. Fed by two piles of 1,5 volts, the circuit is composed of 6 germanium transistors .In function of the low feeding tension, this type of radio as well as many, they were used glued to the heard due to the little volume supplied to the peaker.