The Sony 5" TV

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

This week's memory took me back to a journal entry I made back in 1963. It might not appeal to some of you, but I thought it was interesting.

December 9, 1963

Dec. 9 - Bob picked me up at 7:30 for school today.  I was still much sleepy.  School went O.K.  Got an "8X" for being out Friday. After school Bob and Mary Jean and I went to Hardee's.  Then I went with him to get a haircut.  Saw a 5-inch screen Sony TV for $189.00. I'd like to have it.

My 1989 reflection on this passage was: "There is something about small that has always fascinated me.  I was intrigued by the 5-inch Sony TV for $189.  It was the first small screen TV I had ever seen.  We were living in a time when most people were trying to get larger screen televisions to show how important they were.  We all seem to have fascinations for extremities, either large or small.  Middle of the road is not neat.  Everyone can have a middle of the road something.  Most things are made for the middle of the road people.  That's what makes it neat to have something smaller or larger.  It sets you apart from the crowd. The small TV I saw that day might as well have cost $189,000 for all it mattered.  I didn't have either amount.  I only looked at the TV that day.  It would take me another 15 years before I could buy one like it."

If you remember back to the time, most of the home TVs in 1963 were Black and White 19" or 21" sets. That made the little TV unique. Here is what I found out about it:

The Sony 5-303W, released in 1962, was one of the world’s first truly portable transistor televisions. It was the smallest and lightest TV of its time, designed to bring television viewing beyond the living room—into cars, travel, and everyday mobility.

📺 Origins and Development

• Sony’s vision: Co-founder Masaru Ibuka declared in the late 1950s that “the days of radio are over. The future lies in television.” After success with transistor radios, Sony shifted to miniaturizing TV technology.

• Technical leap: Unlike radios, TVs required higher voltages and frequencies. Sony engineers had to redesign circuits to handle these demands while keeping the set compact.

• Predecessor: In 1960, Sony introduced the TV8-301, the world’s first portable transistor TV. The 5-303W followed two years later, refining the concept.

⚙️ Features of the 5-303W

• Screen size: 5-inch picture tube.

• Design: Compact, lightweight, and housed in a padded leather vanity-style carrying case.

• Power: Operated on both AC mains and batteries, making it versatile for travel.

• Technology: Contained 25 transistors and used a superheterodyne tuner for VHF reception.

• Portability: Included a telescopic antenna and carrying handle, emphasizing mobility.

Cultural Impact

• World’s smallest/lightest TV (1962): Marketed as a breakthrough in consumer electronics.

• Celebrity connection: Frank Sinatra was so impressed during a visit to Sony that he requested one. Sony’s chairman personally delivered a unit to him at Paramount Studios when the TV launched in the U.S..

• Automobile use: The 5-303W was tested for vibration resistance on highways, symbolizing Sony’s push to integrate television into cars.

• Global expansion: Adapted for U.S. broadcasting standards and sold internationally, showcasing Japan’s growing dominance in consumer tech.

Archival Ads & Imagery

• 1963 U.S. ad campaign: Featured the 5-303W as the “Alice Micro-TV,” highlighting its versatility and compact design

The Sony 5-303W wasn’t just a gadget—it symbolized Japan’s mastery of miniaturization and the shift toward personal, mobile entertainment. It paved the way for portable electronics culture, influencing later innovations like the Walkman and handheld video devices.

Using an inflation calculator, the TV that had a price of $189 in 1963 would be equivalent to about $1,962–$1,975 in 2025 dollars.

About 1979 on a shopping trip in Okinawa, Japan, I purchased a 5.75" TV that I used for over 20 years. It looked like this:

The Wayback Machine

"Hurt"

1961

 Timi Yuro

Rosemary Victoria Yuro (August 4, 1941 – March 30, 2004), known professionally as Timi Yuro, was an American singer. Sometimes called "the little girl with the big voice", she is considered to be one of the first blue-eyed soul stylists of the rock era.

"Hurt" is a 1954 song by Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs. "Hurt" was originally performed by Roy Hamilton, whose version peaked at number eight on the R&B Best Seller chart and spent a total of seven weeks on the chart. A version by Ricky Denell also received considerable radio airplay in 1954 on pop radio stations. The song is considered to be the signature hit of Timi Yuro, whose version went to number four on the Billboard pop chart in 1961.

Some Classmates Shared Their School "Hurt" Stories

Jeffrey Fussell, LHS ‘66, "We were in Mrs. Hall's Human Physiology Lab doing blood typing.  She passed out lancets to each person. Lab partners were to get samples from each other. My partner was Buddy Brigman.  I gave Buddy's fingertip a light pop and got a perfect little drop.  Then it was my turn to be on the receiving end.  Buddy's sunk the lancet to the hilt.  I left a bloody trail from my seat to the sink at the front of the lab."

Dianne Hughey McClure, LHS ‘64, "When I was in second at East Clinton School the bell rang and I ran instead of walked to my desk. I slipped on a sheet of notebook paper, fell and hit my head on the metal part of the desk. I did not start crying until a boy named Tommy, (not Tommy Towery,) took me to teacher and said look she's bleeding. I DID NOT GET STITCHES, WHICH I NEEDED , and it left a scar on my forehead. I also still have this scar. It has grown up into my hairline, but it is still there."

I am always l

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Delores McBride Kilgore, LHS '66 , 

Johnny Roberts, LHS ‘66, "I was in Huntsville visiting my sisters’ families over Thanksgiving. Our crew went to Tinsel Trail in downtown Huntsville. I just want to say what an incredible job the city of Huntsville has done to modernize the old Big Springs park and pool areas. For those who are near Huntsville, I recommend you visit the park. It’s quite festive and should be that way through the Christmas season. Chers to all, Johnny."