This lead to higher production levels and lower production costs and made the price to the consumer affordable. It differed from other prototypes in that due to its circuit design, hand selection of transistors for each individual radio was not necessary. Developed by both Regency and Texas Instruments, the Regency TR-1 used four germanium transistors, which allowed the small 22.5-V battery to last for more than 20 hours. Introduced in October of 1954, the Regency model TR-1 was the first widely marketed transistor radio. It is rumored that one manufacturer of these early transistor radios even supplied shirts to its salesmen with an oversized pocket to fit their radio. They were first advertised as “Pocket Radios” but you needed an awful large pocket to carry one. From the start these transistorized pocket radios were made available in a rainbow of colors.
Sony transistor radio 1960s portable#
The smaller size, lighter weight, and increased battery life gave these new portable radios a distinct advantage over their vacuum tube predecessors. The first transistorized radios began appearing in stores in the mid 1950s. Although tubes had become smaller, the drain on the batteries required to power these portable tube radios gave them a short life. Many had plastic cases, which made them lighter and more colorful than the bulkier wooden portable radios available just after World War II.
Most of these were lunch box size with a carry handle on the top. Small vacuum tube portable radios were available in the early 1950s. It is not uncommon to find a transistor radio at a yard sale for $4 or $5 and sell it the next week for several hundred dollars. Some models are highly sought after by collectors and regularly sell for hundreds of dollars. Today pocket transistor radios manufactured in the 1950s are very collectable. What’s It Worth: Vintage transistor radios
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