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Transistor Radios 1970's and On
Japanese Brands accelerated importing parts, assemblies and finally made entire radios in other countries. Like many American companies they often saved their top of the line products to be made in their country. For a while Hong Kong was a strong competitor to take business from Japanese. However most of these HK companies were garage operations or import/export companies. The mid to late 1970's saw the rise of Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysian production of brand names in a large scale. In the 1990's Made in China started to become a common phrase.
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1970s and 1980s Radios
PORTABLES
During this time Sony began to phase out the TFM multibanders in favor of higher end communication receivers and the TFM and TR series would phase into the ICF series as the integrated circuit designs rolled in. Soon Sony and other Japanese manufacturers would start having products made in SE Asia and Taiwan.
Radios in 1990s
RFP-150 (BELOW) and RFP-50 (RIGHT). Both made in China.
Compare the tuning frequencies of the AM and FM bands I bought the RFP-150 in Hong Kong because I needed a radio
PERSONAL PORTABLES
When SONY introduced the WALKMAN series back in the late 1970's the concept of a personal portable was a new fad. A personal portable has no speaker, the user has a set of earphones. This is not new but SONY was able to time the demand for the concept very closely. From there every electronic manufacturer came out with their version. Some were radio and cassette only units, but most were radio cassette player combos.Panasonic RF-10 AM/FM/FM Stereo (1983)
Panasonic
A Japanese multinational electronics company, headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. It was founded in 1918 as Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works[b] in Fukushima, Osaka by Kōnosuke Matsushita. In 1935, it was incorporated and renamed Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. In 2008, it changed its name to Panasonic Corporation. Panasonic offers a wide range of products and services, including rechargeable batteries, automotive and avionic systems, industrial systems, as well as home renovation and construction. (from Wikipedia)Table Radios with IC's
Panasonic RE-6266 (mid 1980s), FM/AM Compact Table Radio. Made in Taiwan by Matsushita Electric, Japan. Uses integrated circuit for RF and IF stages and another IC for audio circuits. Pretty much a bare bones table set. It wouldn't be too long as table radios would fade from popularity.
Basic but still built with quality! Unlike other sets that skimp on power supply and audio circuits, Panasonic has always made an effort to keep the price reasonable yet be quality performers. Here as always a power transformer is still employed that is large enough to handle circuit. Others makers will eliminate power transformers or use one that is not designed for continuous operation.
Lunchbox Portables
Still Going Strong!
SONY ICF-36 FM/AM and TV VHF 1990's.(Made in China) AC-Battery (4 AA) The basic style has changed little since the 1980s. In fact the changes over the years are mainly simplification of tuning, switch from C cells to AA cells due to more efficient electronics such as improvements in microchip electronics. These sets have center tuning LED indicator which makes tuning easy.
1980s: TYPICAL SETS
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE TYPE
Panasonic RC-6050 (mid 1980s), FM/AM Clock Radio with green LED display. Made in Singapore by Matsushita Electric, Japan. Uses separate integrated circuits for clock, radio circuits.
This is a great example of the traditional layout of clock radios since the 1940s. Clock on one side and radio on the other. This was one of the last models with that style. Soon after microchips allowed clock radios to be totally integrated and more compact.
VACUUM FLUORESCENT DISPLAY TYPE
Panasonic RC-6115 (mid 1980s), FM/AM Clock Radio with Futaba vacuum fluorescent display (VFD). Made in Singapore by Matsushita Electric, Japan. Uses separate integrated circuits for clock, radio circuits. Has high/low display selection.
Digital Clock Radios
Always Popular
1960s-70s ELECTRO MECHANICAL
1990s: COMPACT and TRAVEL TYPES
Westclox 80199 (late 1990s) General Time Corp, Norcross GA. Compact prison style see through FM / AM LED Clock Radio. Midget (5" W X 3" D X 4" H) size full function clock radio. Has wake up to radio and alarm, snooze button and 59 minute timer for radio. Has battery backup for power failure to keep time.
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY TRAVEL SET
Westclox 47529- Travel FM / AM Clockradio. I got one because it had the look of the typical clock radios of the 1970s and 80's. Measures without stand 1 in high, 2.5 in deep and 6 in wide. This one fits on the palm of your hand. Runs on 2 AA cells.
Harmon Kardon 330B Receiver 1970-71
BELOW: APR 2024- The audio amplifier section has a lot of electrolytic capacitors. A common problem in the receiver are leaky electrolytics that have to be replaced as shown below. Other areas I replaced are on the AM RF-IF section and FM RF-IF section.
RIGHT: Back Panel ------------------->
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