1960's Goodbye Vacuum Tubes and the End of "Made in USA".
Page 2
Page 2
Japanese Imported Tube Radios
Japanese Imported Tube Radios
Japanese Made Table Radios
Japanese Made Table Radios
Toshiba 5YC-606 (1959-60) AM/SW. Japan Toshiba was a very established Japanese Electronics Company, that made components and finished products. They were one of the first Japanese companies to be licensed by AT&T to make transistors.
Japan's version of the All American 5 Radio. The cabinet style was very popular in Japan, showing the more modern space age look.
BELOW: Original parts layout before parts replacement. The chassis is roughly 60% the size of USA radios.
Lloyds TM78 (1962-63) FM/AM Twin Speaker, Made in Japan for Lloyd's Electronics Chicago. Notice the Japanese version of space age style cabinet. The circuitry is similar to US made transformerless FM/AM tube radios.
BELOW: Original parts layout. Notice that the Lloyd's does not use paper capacitors like the Toshiba.
Panasonic 748 FM/AM "Personal" (1962-63). Matsushita Electric LTD, Japan. 6 tube transformerless set. Panasonic (National) was a major Japanese electronics corporation that imported extensively to North America. Today it is one of the largest Japanese manufacturers.
Japanese chassis were often "anodized" to reduce corrosion. Below a mixture of technologies. Carbon molded and dog bone resistors. Encapsulated paper and ceramic disk capacitors.
Japanese Made Midget Radios
Japanese Made Midget Radios
1961 Delmonico (JVC) NT-5 (6" W X 4" H X 4" D) AA5 Tube Set. Delmonico International Corp., 42-24 Orchard Street, Long Island City, NY
Most were using conventional circuits. The Japanese packed parts so tightly that the radios were very difficult to service. Since they sold for as little as $5, cheaper to throw away
BELOW: Components were packed tightly, heat dissipation was a problem. Some sets had metal heat deflectors to spread the heat to avoid overheating and cabinet deformation. This Delmonico uses a bakelite cabinet which can tolerate heat better than sets that used polystyrene.
To save space and cost, many of the midget sets use a LC tuned circuit and a IF transformer. Cheaper but there is a loss in IF amplifier gain and intereference rejection.
Zephyr 5005 (Early 1960s due to addition of AC cord interlock). Sansei Electronics Industry Co LTD, Tokyo Japan. Built on printed wired board. Unlike the other midget sets shown this one incorporates a second IF transformer, resulting in better performance. Uses a 3.5-inch speaker and radio measures 8 x 4.5 x 3.5 inches. Radio came in many cabinet colors.
ABOVE: Complete radio to be assembled back together. BELOW: Radio checkout before assembly. Nice tube glow of AA5 tubes: L-R 35W4, 50C5, 12AV6, 12BA6 and 12BE6 tubes with "TEN" label (Kobe Kogyo Corporation)
In Japanese Midget Radios, everything is small including the wire gauge used for assembly. Below is a comparison between a conventional AC plug and cord and one from a Japanese Midghet Radio.
Left is a conventional AC cord and plug and Right is a Japanese Midget AC plug and cord.
Audition: Sold by Woolworth and Woolco Stores circa 1962-64 (6" W X 4" H X 4" D) AA5 Tube Set.
Very generic set. Collectors often find similar style cabinets with different names like Star-lite, Peerless and Holson. These sets often came in different color cabinets. Unfortunately few remain intact as the cabinets would be deformed by the heat.
Very generic set. Collectors often find similar style cabinets with different names like Star-lite, Peerless and Holson. These sets often came in different color cabinets. Unfortunately few remain intact as the cabinets would be deformed by the heat.
Stuffed and crammed wiring. Used encapsulated capacitors and dog-bone style resistors (rare for both and not seen in 1960s USA models).
Had to replace every encapsulated capacitors as they were all open.
BELOW: As tight as can be for a tube set. Same dimensions as the Delmonico but the speaker is even smaller. A 3 1/2 inch speaker is used. Has a "tinny" sound.
Zephyr 5005 Printed Wired Board Layout (Component side and Printed Wired side)
Radio Complete
Larger Japanese Made Radios and Receivers
Larger Japanese Made Radios and Receivers
Realtone Corporation was founded in 1956 by Saul Ashkenazi and Ely Ashkenazi. Introduced the Soundesign brand of high-end audio components in 1963, and the company changed its name to Soundesign in 1968. The company was renamed to its current name SDI Technologies in 1994
Realtone 5223 FM/AM Multiplex Stereo Receiver (Japan) 1963??.
Has inputs for tape and phonograph. 4 watts per channel with 6BM8 tubes. Uses horizontal magic eye tube for tuning (6RE13). 12 Tubes used- 6AQ8, 3- 6BA6, 6BE6, 6AL5, 2- 6BL8, 2- 6BM8, 6CA4 and 6RE13 (alt EM84/6E2).
Has inputs for tape and phonograph. 4 watts per channel with 6BM8 tubes. Uses horizontal magic eye tube for tuning (6RE13). 12 Tubes used- 6AQ8, 3- 6BA6, 6BE6, 6AL5, 2- 6BL8, 2- 6BM8, 6CA4 and 6RE13 (alt EM84/6E2).
LEFT: UNDERNEATH
RIGHT: TOP OF CHASSIS
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