THE TRANSISTOR RADIO DIRECTORY

(First issue April 2, 1998; last revision March 2, 2023)

by Aldo Andreani  email


Transistor and its history

http://semiconductormuseum.com/Museum_Index.htm

transistormuseum@aol.com (Transistor museum)

http://sites.google.com/site/transistorhistory/Home

by Mark P D Burgess

http://web.archive.org/web/20120308034329/http://transistorhistory.50webs.com/

r.mcgarrah@ieee.org (Bob McGarrah)

http://www.101science.com/transistor.htm

Transistor identification chart and elements of electronics: LEDodd@aol.com (Larry Dodd)

http://about.att.com/innovationblog/history_technology

The invention of transistor: ATT labs. Webmaster@research.att.com (ATT labs)

http://www.ck722museum.com/

transistormuseum@aol.com (Jack Ward)

http://www.eca.de/?lang=en

Search for transistors

https://web.archive.org/web/20180616194532/http://www.gladlylearn.com/AmateurRadio/AmateurRadio.htm

Free download of booklets about the first Sylvania and Raytheon transistors (Brian): for Sylvania see also https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Company-Publications/SYLVANIA%20NEWS/Sylvania-28-Uses-For-Junction-Transistors.pdf and for Raytheon https://www.cigref.fr/archives/histoire-cigref/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Raytheon-Transistor-Applications.pdf

http://www.nteinc.com/Web_pgs/device_list.html

Transistor cross reference search and datasheets: literature@nteinc.com

http://www.oldradioworld.de/transi.htm

Collecting transistors: wumpus@oldradioworld.de (Rainer Steinfuehr) http://www.welt-der-alten-radios.de/geschichte-erste-transistorradios-293.html

http://www.pbs.org/transistor/

The invention of transistor: PBS. bhammer@aip.org

http://www.research.philips.com/

http://www.plasticlogic.com/

Will organic TFT (Thin Film Transistor) be the future of this device? info@plasticlogic.com

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/SonyHistory/

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/index.html

Sony History

http://www.wylie.org.uk/technology/technology.htm

Collecting transistors:  100546.2477@compuserve.com (Andrew Wylie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9xUQWo4vN0

A video about the history of transistor


Chip and its history

http://antiquetech.com/

webmaster@anitquetech.com

http://www.alldatasheet.com/

http://www.chipdocs.com/

http://www.datasheet4u.com/

http://www.datasheetarchive.com/

http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/

http://www.digchip.com/

http://www.eem.com/

Search engines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_of_the_integrated_circuit

The inventors


The first transistor radio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor_radio

Wikipedia

http://smithsonianchips.si.edu/texas/ti_003.htm

TI number G00083 at the National Museum of American History: one of the first transistor radios following Regency

http://tenwatts.blogspot.com/search/label/transistor%20radio

Arcane Radio Trivia

http://vintageradio.com/blog/?p=109

The 1952 RCA prototype

http://web.archive.org/web/20060905002846/http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/recording/transistor.html

Considerations about the first transistor radio. Steve Schoenherr has retired from the University of San Diego. The above address shows how was his transistor radio page in 2006

http://www.benduhn.homepage.t-online.de/denk/summary.html

http://www.benduhn.homepage.t-online.de/denk/denk.html

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Denk

The first non-commercial solid-state radio is dated Feb. 1948: Benduhn@t-online.de (Heiko Benduhn)

http://www.digibarn.com/friends/chuck-colby/historic/transistor-radio.html

TR-2, the first transistor radio by Chuck Colby

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Engineering/Electronics/history/TransistorEra.htm

by Bev Parker

https://web.archive.org/web/20180912165752/http://www.mequonsteve.com/regency/

An interactive site on the Regency TR1 by Steve Reyer who passed away in 2018 https://www.collectornet.net/regency/

https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/the_transistor_radio

An article by Sarah Lowrey

http://www.regencytr1.com/

Regency TR1, the first commercial transistor radio. You can even find the original patent and the circuit diagram:  dpies@gte.net (Don Pies, son of John who was one the co-founders of I.D.E.A./Regency)

http://www.ti.com/

Texas Instruments (joint venture with Regency) produced the first commercial transistor radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=kKln6zTy4C8

Assembling the Regency TR1


Auctions and trading

www.ebay.com/sch/Transistor-Radios-/932/i.html

www.etsy.com


Transistor radios

http://antiqueradio.org/transistors.htm

Phil says: "I don't really seek out transistor radios, but every once in a while one of them finds me": philnelson@antiqueradio.org

http://classicradiogallery.com/transistor.html

boz@rushmore.com (Merrill L. Mabbs)

http://digilander.libero.it/marcomorigi/

marco.morigi@libero.it

http://home.arcor.de/wmohl/index.html    http://www.ukwfm.de/

European sets. walter.mohl@t-online.de (Walter Mohl)

https://it.pinterest.com/robcill/novelty-radios/

novelty radios

http://jeanluc.fournier.pagesperso-orange.fr/sixties/sixties_accueil.htm

fournier.jeanluc@wanadoo.fr

https://webspace.science.uu.nl/~tel00101/FotoAlbum/RadioCorner/index.htm

Gerard Tel's collection: gerard@cs.uu.nl

http://radio.gort.dk/

asgerhunov@forum.dk

http://radio54.altervista.org/

A very interesting site including the history of Zenith Transoceanic radios: radio-54@tiscali.it (Antonio Fautilli)

https://web.archive.org/web/20150802085125/http://s206301103.websitehome.co.uk/index.htm

By Enrico Tedeschi who passed away in 2014 https://www.ebnonline.com/electronics-through-the-ages-a-history-of-vintage-technology-in-pictures/    https://epsnews.com/2017/02/02/electronics-through-the-ages-a-history-of-vintage-technology-in-pictures/

https://sites.google.com/site/johnengsdeadtechrescue/home?authuser=0

John Eng: jengmail@yahoo.com

http://tabiwallah.com/radiowallah/

wallah@gol.com: Alan Kastner, King of the TR-6

http://web.archive.org/web/20130129181126/http://transistorhistory.50webs.com/

r.mcgarrah@ieee.org (Bob McGarrah)

http://vintageradio.me.uk/

mauricewoodhead@aol.com

http://web.archive.org/web/19990202221255/http://www.conknet.com/~m_bunis/

Marty Bunis is well known for his books. The above address shows how was his site in 1999

http://www.abetterpage.com/wt/index.html   The old site http://www.abetterpage.com/transistors/trans/1trans.html is still reachable.

A very large and comprehensive site on collectible transistor radios: worldtransistors@gmail.com (Bob Davidson)

http://web.archive.org/web/20090519094901/http://www.alltransistor.it/homepage.htm

Since Jan.2003, an Italian site written in English too: lellosalvatore@inwind.it (Lello Salvatore)

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/TransistorRadios/

COUPE28@aol.com

http://www.angelfire.com/music/TransistorMemories/

Dave Long

http://www.antiqueradios.com/

Famous for its forums: one of them is dedicated to vintage transistor radios.  alan@antiqueradios.com

http://www.classic-worldband.com/index.html

Grundig Satellit.    otterbec@online.no

http://www.datastress.com/~mario/radio/types.php?group=L&type=L0X20T&brand=Philips

Philips radios by Mario

http://www.decoradios.com/

steve@decoradios.com (Steve T. Davis)

http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~srs/Antiques/      https://www.radiosrs.net/Antiques/index.php

srs@umich.edu (Steve)

http://www.ericwrobbel.com/

Eric Wrobbel who, according to Enrico Tedeschi, is "arguably the most famous transistor radio collector in the world" eric@ericwrobbel.com

https://www.flickr.com/photos/51764518@N02/albums/72157629842242169/ 

https://www.pinterest.it/pin/91197961189819498/?lp=true

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Radio_receiver_collection_by_Joe_Haupt_(from_Flickr_stream)

The collection of Joe Haupt

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobconnolly/albums/72157715640415087/

By Bob Connolly   bob.chris@actrix.co.nz

http://www.flickr.com/photos/transistor_radios/

An interesting interactive site. michaeljack@sympatico.ca (Michael Jack)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/56298549@N06/

Pete's Radioworld

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93914970@N02/   http://www.youtube.com/user/50sTransistorRadios

Pictures by "50sTransistorRadios"

http://www.garysradios.com/

By Gary Ball (labyrag)

http://www.craft-3.sakura.ne.jp/

craft_3@yahoo.co.jp

http://www.hoenmeuffels.nl/oldradios/4trans.html

Piet died on Sept. 27, 2000 see http://www.hoenmeuffels.nl/oldradios/

http://www.homestead.com/kd4hsh/1transistor.html

One-transistor cathedral radio project. kd4hsh@juno.com (Robert Lozier)

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/Radio/Radios/index.html

Roger McGuinn

http://www.ilpiera.it/radio/

Davide Pierantoni: Sony radios

http://www.jamesbutters.com/index.htm

esquire10@rocketmail.com (James J Butters)

http://www.japanradiomuseum.jp/index-e.html

okabe@japanradiomuseum.jp

http://www.jtl.us/joesradiopage/

jt_lynn@yahoo.com (Joe Lynn)

http://www.leradiodisophie.it/

webmaster@leradiodisophie.it

http://www.museopelagalli.com/

A wonderful museum just in my town. The whole history of the radio is treated and the final section is dedicated to transistor radio. You should come to Bologna and visit the museum: info@museopelagalli.com

http://www.noveltyradio.com/

Gary Arnold. Novelty Radios:  gary@noveltyradio.com

http://www.oldradios.com/

George Kaczowka's collection and his radios for sale: gsk@oldradios.com   gsk@star.net

http://www.oldradioworld.de/xportabl.htm   http://www.welt-der-alten-radios.de/

A German collection: wumpus@oldradioworld.de (Rainer Steinfuehr)

http://www.pakratz.com/transistors.html

fredh@pakratz.com (Fred Hoffmann)

http://www.preservingarvin.com/

All you want to know about Arvin radios (rubleld@yahoo.com)

http://www.radioattic.com/

Lot of photos: webmaster@radioattic.com (Steve Adams)

http://www.radioattic.com/attic.htm?sellerId=3

dmradios@aol.com (Don Maurer)

http://www.radioking.at/my-collection.htm

koenig@radioking.at (Dieter König)

http://www.radiolaguy.com/

radios@radiolaguy.com (Radiola Guy)

http://www.radiodiluciano.it/

lucianoscudeler@gmail.com

http://www.radiomuseum.org/

Lot of members from lot of countries

http://www.radiomuseum-radiowelt.at/

Peter & Doris Roggenhofer in Innsbruck radiomuseum.roggenhofer@chello.at

http://www.radiophile.com/

john@radiophile.com (John Pelham)

http://www.reocities.com/CapeCanaveral/8443/

http://digilander.libero.it/chopin.i/radio/index.html

Luca Rossi

http://www.richardsradios.co.uk/more.html

radio@richardsradios.co.uk

http://www.rmrl.de/   https://www.radiomuseum-rottenburg.de/

The Radio Museum Rottenburg   info@radiomuseum-rottenburg.de

http://www.roetta.it/ik3hia/index.htm

roetta.lucio@iol.it (Lucio Roetta)

https://web.archive.org/web/20090806052230/http://ronmansfield.com/

http://www.childhoodradio.com/                                                                                                                                                                                     

ronmansfield@earthlink.net (Ron Mansfield)

http://www.somerset.net/arm/fm_only_intro.html    https://web.archive.org/web/20170521121514/https://www.somerset.net/arm/fm_only_intro.html    https://mwsherman.com/fmonly/fm_only_intro.html

FM only radios: arm@gnode.org (Andrew R. Mitz)  m@mwsherman.com

http://sparcradio.ca/

info@sparcradio.ca

http://www.tektron-italia.com/

sales@tektron-italia.com

http://www.tomania1953.com/

At the end of every page you'll find a form for contacting Tom

http://www.tompolk.com/radios/radios.html

Tom Polk

https://web.archive.org/web/20160112162549/http://transistor.org/

Sarah Lowrey's collection: sarah@transistor.org

http://www.tuttaunaltraradio.it/

Headquarters in Montanaso Lombardo (Lodi)

http://www.vintage-electronics.com/

John Kendall. Radios for sale: JEK@vintage-electronics.com

http://www.wa2ise.com/radios/trp.html

wa2ise@ix.netcom.com

http://xoomer.virgilio.it/endonofr/collections.htm

Ennio D'Onofrio: endonof@tin.it


Other oriental sites

http://radiokobo.sakura.ne.jp/G/tr-radio1/sony.html

https://www.biglobe.ne.jp/?hp404

http://kuromonokaden.com/post-1046/


Journal and books (see also above: Eric Wrobbel, Marty Bunis, Enrico Tedeschi)

http://www.amazon.com/

Search for transistor books: info@amazon.com

http://antiqueradio4.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

arc@antiqueradio.com (Antique Radio Classified)

http://www.antiqueradio.it

info@antiqueradio.it

http://www.bookfinder.com/

This link will guide you to find the book you are looking for (used or new) in the store where it is available.

Feedback: http://www.bookfinder.com/interact/comments/

http://www.booksprice.com

lucy@booksprice.com

http://www.krausebooks.com/

Krause Publications

http://www.oldradios.com/tn/

Transistor Network: 1996-97 archive of an old journal dedicated to transistor radio collectors. rmorison@suwanneevalley.net. (Robert P. Morrison)

http://www.tubesandmore.com/

info@tubesandmore.com (Antique Electronic Supply)


Batteries

https://data.energizer.com/

http://web.archive.org/web/20031204154227/http://data.energizer.com/datasheets/contents/discontinued_battery_index.htm

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/eveready_energizer_battery_discont.html


Spare parts

http://www.pispola.com

info@pispola.com

http://www.tubesandmore.com/

info@tubesandmore.com (Antique Electronic Supply)

Repair and Restoration 

http://tomsradiorepair.bizland.com/

tsenne@live.com

http://www.radio-workshop.co.uk/

UK website by Ray (website@radio-workshop.co.uk)

http://www.vintage-radio.com/repair-restore-information/

UK website by Paul Stenning (more for tube than transistor radios)


Circuit diagrams and manuals

https://elektrotanya.com/

Hungarian website that helps you to save the Earth from electronic waste

http://servicemanuals.net/

It's very easy to search and to buy. Help at http://servicemanuals.net/contact.aspx

http://users.libero.it/antonelliana/

antonelliana@inwind.it

http://web.tiscali.it/techservs/formskem.htm

http://www.diagram.com.ua/english/

http://www.eserviceinfo.com/ 

Free download without registration

http://www.freeservicemanuals.info/en/

http://www.hifiengine.com/

http://www.justradios.com/transistors.html

justradios@yahoo.com

http://www.kevinchant.com/

Free download without registration

https://www.manualsparadise.com/

http://www.radiolocman.com/

rlocman@rlocman.com.ru

http://www.radiotechniek.nl/

Webmaster@radiotechniek.nl

https://www.robertsradiotechnical.co.uk/

schematics@roberts-radios.co.uk (Robert W. Thompson)

http://www.rsp-italy.it/Electronics/Radio%20Schematics/index.htm

free download without registration  http://www.rsp-italy.it/contact_eml.htm

http://www.samswebsite.com/photofacts.html

customercare1@samswebsite.com

http://www.schaltungsdienst.de/   https://sdl-online.de/dokumentationen/

Info@Schaltungsdienst.de

http://www.service-data.com/

sales@service-data.com

http://web.archive.org/web/20130413081858/http://www.transoceanic.nostalgiaair.org/

Circuit diagrams of Zenith transoceanic radios

http://www.umberto-alessio.it/Radio%20Schematics/index.html

umberto_alessio@libero.it

http://www.user-service-manuals.com/

http://www.vintage-electronics.com/

JEK@vintage-electronics.com (John Kendall)


Others

Transistor radios may be songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ILhVI7zUAE

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beachboys/magictransistorradio.html

http://www.classic-country-song-lyrics.com/tinybluetransistorradiolyricschords.html

and Transistor Radio is a rock band:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/transistor-radio-mn0000867905


Beyond the transistor: Italian sites

http://digilander.libero.it/oldradios/

http://www.air-radio.it/

http://www.antiqueradio.it/

http://www.ari-bo.it/

https://radiomarconi1895.altervista.org/

Comitato Guglielmo Marconi

https://www.bertibenis.it/

http://www.carlobramantiradio.it/ricerca_ditte.htm

Historical news

http://www.emiliofarano.it/

Emilio Farano website

https://www.fgm.it/en/museum-en.html

Fondazione Guglielmo Marconi

 https://www.museomarconi.it/ 

Museo Marconi a Villa Griffone

http://www.franconervegna.it/

http://www.introni.it/

Free download of old magazines about electronics

http://www.marcomanfredini.it/radio/index.php

http://www.pispola.com

http://www.radiomuseo.it/

http://www.radiopistoia.com/

https://www.radiorurale.it/

http://www.tektron-italia.com/

http://www.rsp-italy.it/

Free download of old magazines, schematics and books about electronics

https://sites.google.com/site/electronsfading/

"Elettroni al tramonto" and its important forum "Elettroni da salvare" https://elettronialtramonto.forumfree.it/

https://www.youreporter.it/foto_il_museo_di_radio_d_epoca_di_fernando_tamburini_a_bologna/

Il museo di Fernando Tamburini


History of this page

July 2009

The new address is

http://sites.google.com/site/aldoandr/

July 2000

At the new address (http://www.geocities.com/aldoandr/transistor.html) the page will be updated more frequently than before. The sites considered important references for the transistor radio are now bold.

Settembre 99, Gennaio 2000, Giugno 2000

Aggiornamenti

Giugno 99

Ho aggiunto la sezione AUCTIONS; le aste sono molto utili per iniziare o far crescere una collezione: per le radio e-Bay e' il massimo. Non era semplice mantenere aggiornati anche i siti dedicati alle radio a valvole e ho deciso di toglierli.

Febbraio 99

Dal momento che la maggior parte dei siti e' in inglese, i pochi commenti ai link sono ora in inglese.

Gennaio 99

Ho aggiunto la sezione TRANSISTOR dove ho riportato i siti che trattano prevalentemente di radio a transistor, cioe' quelli che visito piu' spesso.

Luglio 98

Per chi vuole dare un'occhiata a quello che Internet ci offre sul collezionismo delle radio (sia a valvole che a transistor), ho preparato un elenco di indirizzi. Ho pensato a lungo quale fosse il modo migliore di classificarli: l'ideale sarebbe dividere le valvole dai transistor, i musei dai collezionisti privati, chi vende da chi compra....ma poi ho incontrato siti così completi e complessi che si chiamano fuori da qualunque classificazione. Allora non ho trovato niente di meglio che usare l'ordine alfabetico: ognuno poi, dopo una rapida occhiata, si renderà meglio conto di quelli che fanno al caso suo. All'inizio ho riportato un sito utile per chi cerca schemi elettrici, poi i siti italiani fra i quali ho messo anche quello di Enrico Tedeschi che, pur vivendo a Brighton insieme alla sua invidiabile collezione, ha un nome che tradisce le origini, delle quali certamente non si dimenticherà se vi rivolgerete a lui in italiano per qualche informazione.

Aprile 98

Amare la radio (the English translation is contained in this article)

Amo lo radio perchè non invecchia mai: sarà bello il grammofono a tromba ma sa riprodurre solo e sempre gli stessi brani; se invece prendi una radio di cinquant'anni fa, riproduce esattamente quello che senti su una radio ultramoderna. Dici che é diversa la qualità dell'ascolto? Questo è un dettaglio! Amo la radio perchè nessun sonnifero é più potente della televisione: proprio per questo a volte può essere molto utile, ma a piccole dosi. E passare dall'amore per la radio intesa come ascolto del tuo programma preferito all'amore per l'apparecchio che ti rende possibile questo ascolto, é stato un passo brevissimo. E così amo la radio anche perché é un oggetto misterioso: la guardo ancora con gli occhi del bambino che vorrebbe aprirla per cercarci dentro l'omino che sta parlando. Questo amore é cominciato con i miei primi passi (quando mi sono diretto subito verso la monumentale radio ufficiale della casa premendo contemporaneamente tutti cinque i tasti -fono, OM, OC, OL, MF- e costringendo mio padre a chiamare il tecnico) ed é diventato passione irrefrenabile in occasione del colpo di fulmine: era la primavera del '59 quando un amico di mio fratello si presenta a casa per mostrargli una Sony TR610 appena acquistata. La scintilla scocca immediata. Una radio che funziona senza spina, senza terra e senza antenna: un vero miracolo! Io ero più piccolo di loro e 30.000 lire (di allora) non erano certo alla mia portata. Adesso la pagherei volentieri quella cifra ma credo che non basti più e poi non é così facile trovare chi la vende. Solo adesso mi rendo conto che non sono stato abbastanza attento. Sapevo bene che esisteva il collezionismo delle radio a valvole, alimentato anche dagli splendidi mobili di cui sono dotate, ma pensavo che fosse troppo presto per cominciare a parlare di collezionismo di radio a transistor. Invece Internet mi ha aperto gli occhi: sono passati quarant'anni da quel colpo di fulmine e il collezionismo delle prime radio a transistor é cominciato da un pezzo. Questo é il motivo per cui non posso permettermi di avvicinarmi ai primi esemplari ma se posso cerco di sottrarre all'amaro destino del bidone della spazzatura tutti quegli apparecchi, anche recenti, su cui magari basta un piccolo intervento perchè la voce riappaia. Ridare voce ad una radio abbandonata é per me una grossa soddisfazione anche se mi costa molto tempo (perchè non é il mio mestiere) e se il pezzo non raggiungerà mai un valore di mercato.

Chi vuole contribuire ad arricchire questa lista, può scrivermi all'indirizzo e-mail riportato all'inizio di questa pagina.

Grazie, Aldo Andreani