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USA Brand Transistor Radios 1959-1960's
Sony TR-63 (not in my collection)
In 1957, a small Japanense electronics company SONY marketed the TR-63 in the U.S. In a few years radio manufacturers in the U.S. either got out of the radio business or started importing parts, assemblies or the whole radio with their name on it. The only major manufacturer, Zenith fought the change until they too gave in by the mid 1960's. Why Japanese companies were able to take over was the ability to market their radios at a lower price. Americans for a while refuse to buy imported products because early products were poor quality and cheap copies of American models. As Japanese manufacturers started to go on their own and mature the trend reversed. This was especially noted in automobiles.
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USA Radios Fully and partly made in USA
USA Radios Fully and partly made in USA
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Hoffman TransSolar (1959) , Hoffman Electronics, Los Angeles, CA Solar/Battery Radio. Solar cells made by Hoffman. Came in several colors (Black, red, green pink white and beige).
Shown above KP-706 and TP-706 Models
Hoffman was a pioneer in solar cell (photovoltaic cells) technology. By 1959 they increased solar cell efficiency to about 10% and in the 1960's to 14%. Because of Hoffman's expertise in solar cells the first American satellite using solar batteries (Vanguard 1) were powered by Hoffman Solar Cells. This led to Hoffman selling solar power radios.
Restored Electronics in TP-406 model. Transistors (6) made by Texas Instruments
Parts layout on Hoffman Transolar Radio.
Motorola X29B (1961) Motorola Radio and Television, Chicago IL. Has Dial Cover and feature Local/Distance Button, that serves as a battery check monitor.
Admiral "Imperial 8" model Y2093 (1961-62), Admiral Corp, Chicago IL.
Price: $44.95
The Imperial usually denotes their better transistor radios. This 8 transistor radios features an RF stage that is not TRF but is fixed by a RF transformer acting like a bandpass amplifier.
Price: $44.95
The Imperial usually denotes their better transistor radios. This 8 transistor radios features an RF stage that is not TRF but is fixed by a RF transformer acting like a bandpass amplifier.
Uses 8 Transistors and 2 diodes. All made by RCA. 2N544 RF, 2N411 Conv, 2- 2N410 IF, 4- 2N406 Audio, 1N295 Det and 1N2326 Bias Reg. Radio used all 1/4 watt resistors as they became economical. The vernier tuning makes this set easy to tune.
Arvin 60R A 4 Transistor Reflex Radio (1960)
Zenith Radio Corporation
Zenith Radio Corporation
Zenith Royal 500D (Deluxe) CH 8AT40Z2, early model. Available 1958.
Zenith Radio and Television Corp,Chicago IL.
Zenith upgraded the set to have 8 transistors. Later models had the "500D" inscribed on the brass face plate. Another identifier is that the Royal 500D has the words "LONG DISTANCE" under the Zenoith name.
Price: $75
Zenith Royal 500E CH 8CT40Z2, (1959), Mainly cosmetic face lift of Royal 500D.
Zenith Radio and Television Corp, Chicago IL.
8 transistor radio selling for $75.
Zenith Radio and Television Corp, Chicago IL.
8 transistor radio selling for $75.
Zenith 500H CH 8HT40Z2 (1961-64), Zenith takes a radical style departure and experimented with a 3X5 oval speaker with an off centered voice coil taunting better sound reproduction and carefully engineered acoustic cabinet. Puts out 350 mW of sound. An 8 transistor radio.
Zenith Radio and Television Corp, Chicago IL.
Price: $59.95
Zenith Radio and Television Corp, Chicago IL.
Price: $59.95
Zenith Royal 500L, CH 8LT40Z1 (1964-65). Zenith Radio and Television Corp, Chicago IL.
Zenith makes major changes and introduces slide rule tuning. Zenith drops the nylon case to a hard shell case. The speaker is smaller. Still using 8 transistors but output drops to 100 mW. Price: $39.95
Zenith makes major changes and introduces slide rule tuning. Zenith drops the nylon case to a hard shell case. The speaker is smaller. Still using 8 transistors but output drops to 100 mW. Price: $39.95
Zenith Royal 500N, CH 8NT40Z8 (1965). Zenith Radio and Television Corp,Chicago IL.
The last of the Royal 500 and a radical change in the shape and style. No more stand. Becomes a mini lunchbox style portable. Uses 8 transistors.
The last of the Royal 500 and a radical change in the shape and style. No more stand. Becomes a mini lunchbox style portable. Uses 8 transistors.
Zenith Royal 50 CH 6GT40Z1A 6 transistor radio. Price $29.95
Zenith Royal 50H (1961) Price $19.95. A 6 transistor radio
Zenith Radio and Television Corp,Chicago IL.
Zenith Royal 50H (1961) Price $19.95. A 6 transistor radio
Zenith Radio and Television Corp,Chicago IL.
Zenith Royal 50L CH 6KT40Z1(1962) Zenith Radio and Television Corp,Chicago IL.
Zenith pushes large color choices. A 6 transistor radio. Price $19.95.
Zenith pushes large color choices. A 6 transistor radio. Price $19.95.
STAYING WITH TRADITION
Zenith Royal 100 Zenette (1959-60) CH 6ET42Z2The Zenette refers to a long time production line of compact radios that performed well but at a lower price.
Zenith needed to stay in competition as transistor radio prices kept dropping. With a cheaper case and subtle electronic changes, the 6 transistor Zenette was sold at $39.95. Came in 5 colors, black, off white, dark tan, yellow and green.
Back 1947-51 Tube 3-Way ZenetteFront 1959-60 Transistor Royal 100 Zenette
A lot simpler than their flagship Royal 500 handheld transistor radio, but still well designed and plays well.
Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corporation
Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corporation
Emerson 888 (1958-61) These are Satellite series 8 transistor radios. Emerson Radio and Television Corporstion, New York, NY
Price $48
Each year on the back cover the name of an American satellite imprinted. These radios came in a variety of colors and had a nylon case and large speaker like the Zenith 500's. Used TI transistors with Emerson part numbers.
Below is the Pioneer series. Other 888 lines are, Explorer and Vangaurd. Came in turquoise, red, charcoal, black and white cabinet colors.
ABOVE: Even in the early 1960s, Emerson was relying on Japanese made parts in assembly. BELOW: Chassis before recapping:
ABOVE: Component side after recapping. Notice the oval shape TI transistors. BELOW: Printed wired board. There are extra component holes so Emerson can accomodate different version of the same part, which became more prevalent just a few years later in the model 911 "El Dorado".
Emerson 911 (1964) "El Dorado"Emerson Radio and Television Corporstion, New York, NY
9 Transistor radio with TRF front end. Output transformerless. Came in Black, Charcoal, Red, Yellow, Turquoise and White nylon cabinets. Probably the last Emerson transistor radios with this type of cabinet. Transistors were made by RCA with Emerson part numbers. Improvements in transistor design makes the model 911 a vast improvement over the model 888.
9 Transistor radio with TRF front end. Output transformerless. Came in Black, Charcoal, Red, Yellow, Turquoise and White nylon cabinets. Probably the last Emerson transistor radios with this type of cabinet. Transistors were made by RCA with Emerson part numbers. Improvements in transistor design makes the model 911 a vast improvement over the model 888.
BELOW: Component Side. Features a larger 3 1/2 inch speaker.
BELOW: Recapped and repaired. Common problem with these are at the volume control and swich along with the battery contacts.
BELOW: Here is a later version using imported IF transformers and oscillator coil.
Canadian Made Radio Sparton 8M1-K Large 8 Transistor Radio. Sparton of Canada LTD, London Ontario (Sparks-Worthington) made radios in the Canada and US for many years. Here is a rare Canadian Transistor Radio of the 1960's. Uses 6 D cells and used Texas Instruments transistors. Has vernier tuning and large speaker for good sound.
From Canada
From Canada
TABLE MODEL SETS
Early table sets ran on batteries but has similar dimensions as their vacuum tube counterparts
RCA 9-TX-2 (1959 LEFT) and TX-1 (1959 RIGHT)
RCA Transistor Table Radios (NON AC POWERED)
For a short time between the late 1950's to early 1960's manufacturers from US and other countries marketed ALL TRANSISTOR table radios but run only on batteries, like the early vacuum tube farm radios.
RCA Transistor Table Radios (NON AC POWERED)
For a short time between the late 1950's to early 1960's manufacturers from US and other countries marketed ALL TRANSISTOR table radios but run only on batteries, like the early vacuum tube farm radios.
Zenith's First Transistor AC Table Radio
Zenith N891 AM/FM Transistor Table Radio (1966).
Admiral 561 "Super 8" (1959) Battery Operated Transistor Table Radio
Philco R399 (1967) Six Transistor AC Table Radio. Philco-Ford Philadelphia PA. Many early American brand transistor sets used large cabinets similar to their tube counterparts. Philco did as well, but they had a small cabinet footprint in the R-701 vacuum tube version.
ABOVE: Even though the Philco cabinet is about HALF that of conventional tube clock radios, notice how much room there is with the transistor set that has the same performance. BELOW: the six transistor chassis. Six Matsushita transistor are used (2SA102 converter, 2 x 2SA101 IF Amplifiers, 2SB175 Audio Amplifier and 2 x 2SB475 output power amplifier).
USA Brands using Foreign Parts and Assemblies
Westinghouse Electric
Westinghouse Electric
Westinghouse Purse Radio RG11P28A (mid 1960's) Japan
Westinghouse H732P7 (1961) Arvin 61R35 (1961) Arvin 86R29 (1967) Multiband
BELOW: Arvin 61R35 a 7 transistor radio uses Semitron transistors 2- 2N1101 Audio Output, 2N149, 2N94, 2N194A,, 2N233A and 2N306. Notice that the electrolytics are imported.
BELOW: Westinghouse H732P7, A 7 Transistor Radio.
Westinghouse "Escort" RS21P08A (mid 1960's) JapanRadio, Windup Clock, Cigarette Lighter, Flashlight and Rechargeable
Westinghouse "Travel Radio" H 968 and RL1082 (mid 1960's) Japan.
Wind up alarm clock and 8 transistor radio with fold down case. Features auto shutoff of radio when unit is folded up for traveling.
Wind up alarm clock and 8 transistor radio with fold down case. Features auto shutoff of radio when unit is folded up for traveling.
Vert Tight Layout. Uses 8 transistors. Notice the tuning capacitor on the middle right, specially made for this radio. If it goes bad the only replacement is from a similar set. The part that looks like a plunger below the battery is an on-off switch that will turn the radio off when the radio is folded up for traveling.
This 9 transistor set was Eugene McDonald's (President of Zenith) last achievement as he passed away the year this was introduced. Like the tube versions, the bands were carefully laid out for tuning ease. At $259 in 1958, this was certainly a premium set. Uses turret style rotating drum for band selection, a first. Very popular set for those into shortwave listening. Three versions were produced, Royal 1000, 1000-1 (addition of 12 volt AC adapter) and 1000D, LW band added for boaters.
ABOVE: Lighted dial feature
Broadcast Band.........................540 - 1600kHzSW Band #1..............................2 - 4MHzSW Band #2..............................4 - 9MHzSW Band #3..............................9.4 - 10.1MHz (31M)SW Band #4.............................11.4 - 12.3MHz (25M)SW Band #5.............................14.7 - 15.8MHz (19M)SW Band #6.............................17.1 - 18.5MHz (16M)SW Band #7.............................20.7 - 22.4MHz (13M)
Broadcast Band.........................540 - 1600kHzSW Band #1..............................2 - 4MHzSW Band #2..............................4 - 9MHzSW Band #3..............................9.4 - 10.1MHz (31M)SW Band #4.............................11.4 - 12.3MHz (25M)SW Band #5.............................14.7 - 15.8MHz (19M)SW Band #6.............................17.1 - 18.5MHz (16M)SW Band #7.............................20.7 - 22.4MHz (13M)
Zenith
The company was co-founded by Ralph Matthews and Karl Hassel in Chicago, Illinois, as Chicago Radio Labs. in 1918 as a small producer of amateur radio equipment. The name "Zenith" came from ZN'th, a contraction of its founders' ham radio call sign, 9ZN. They were joined in 1921 by Eugene F. McDonald, and Zenith Radio Company was incorporated in 1923. Zenith established one of the first FM stations in the country in 1940 (Chicago's WWZR, later called WEFM, named for Zenith executive Eugene F. McDonald). The transistorized Transoceanic was McDonald's last consumer electronics vision that came to being. He passed away the following year.
All hand wire point to point wiring, a Zenith trademark of quality.
All handwired chassis, a Zenith trademark inro the 1970s. Very labor intensive, a problem Zenith had to deal with as competitors, especially from Japan lowered their labor costs.
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