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)
transistormuseum@aol.com (Jack Ward)
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/
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
webmaster@anitquetech.com
http://www.datasheetarchive.com/
http://www.datasheetcatalog.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
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)
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
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
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)
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
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
steve@decoradios.com (Steve T. Davis)
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~srs/Antiques/ https://www.radiosrs.net/Antiques/index.php
srs@umich.edu (Steve)
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
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"
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
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
Gary Arnold. Novelty Radios: gary@noveltyradio.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)
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)
radios@radiolaguy.com (Radiola Guy)
lucianoscudeler@gmail.com
Lot of members from lot of countries
http://www.radiomuseum-radiowelt.at/
Peter & Doris Roggenhofer in Innsbruck radiomuseum.roggenhofer@chello.at
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
info@sparcradio.ca
http://www.tektron-italia.com/
sales@tektron-italia.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)
Search for transistor books: info@amazon.com
http://antiqueradio4.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
arc@antiqueradio.com (Antique Radio Classified)
info@antiqueradio.it
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/
lucy@booksprice.com
Krause Publications
Transistor Network: 1996-97 archive of an old journal dedicated to transistor radio collectors. rmorison@suwanneevalley.net. (Robert P. Morrison)
info@tubesandmore.com (Antique Electronic Supply)
Batteries
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/eveready_energizer_battery_discont.html
Spare parts
info@pispola.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
Hungarian website that helps you to save the Earth from electronic waste
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/
Free download without registration
http://www.freeservicemanuals.info/en/
http://www.justradios.com/transistors.html
justradios@yahoo.com
Free download without registration
https://www.manualsparadise.com/
rlocman@rlocman.com.ru
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
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/
https://radiomarconi1895.altervista.org/
Comitato Guglielmo Marconi
http://www.carlobramantiradio.it/ricerca_ditte.htm
Historical news
Emilio Farano website
https://www.fgm.it/en/museum-en.html
Fondazione Guglielmo Marconi
Museo Marconi a Villa Griffone
Free download of old magazines about electronics
http://www.marcomanfredini.it/radio/index.php
http://www.tektron-italia.com/
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