1945-1953 (pre-transistor radios):
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the world's first pocket radio — five subminiature tubes, superhet circuit |
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a crystal radio, and maybe the first truly pocket-size radio |
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subminiature tube radio, sold in kit form |
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reflex circuit, two subminiature tubes |
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a two subminiature tube radio, made by Acousticraft, Chicago |
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a classic radio — four mini-tube circuit with a cabinet that's just a bit
beyond the dimensions of a coat pocket radio (185 x 115 x 55 mm) |
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the first large-production "pocket" radio? Four subminiature tubes superhet |
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October '54, the world's first commercially-produced transistor radio |
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4-tube subminiature tube radio |
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4-tube mini-tube/subminiature tube radio |
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4-tube subminiature tube radio — '54 or '55? |
1955:
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February 1955, a close second to the Regency TR-1 |
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1955, first Sony Japanese transistor radio |
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August 1955, first commercial Japanese transistor radio |
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US: Automatic
Tom Thumb 528 |
subminiature tube radio |
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the first Bulova transistor radio was a Regency TR-1 |
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subminiature tube/transistor hybrid |
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subminiature tube/transistor hybrid |
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first GE transistor radio |
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mini tube/subminiature tube radio |
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produced in late 1955, production may have continued into 1956 |
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first RCA transistor radio (possibly second, after the 7-BT-10K) |
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second RCA transistor radio (possibly first, before the 7-BT-9J?) |
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1955, first Zenith transistor radio (chassis 7XT40 series) |
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US: Zenith Royal 800 |
second Zenith transistor radio -- December 1955 |
1956:
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January(?) '56, first German transistor radio, albeit an experimental model only |
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March or June '56, first British transistor radio |
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JAPAN: Sony TR-6 |
June '56 |
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August '56, first French all-transistor radio |
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currently considered to be the first Italian all-transistor radio, though doubtful it ever went into production |
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September '56: Italy's first pocket-size transistor radio |
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US: Admiral 7L1 |
first Admiral transistor radio, offered with optional solar power pack |
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subminiature tube/transistor hybrid |
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US: Emerson 842 |
first Emerson transistor radio |
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first Emerson "pocket" (coat pocket) transistor radio |
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first Magnavox transistor radio |
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second Magnavox transistor radio |
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first Motorola transistor radio |
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US: Olympic 447 |
first Olympic transistor radio |
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first Philco transistor radios |
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US: Sentinel
IE500 |
first Sentinel transistor radio |
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possibly first Westinghouse transistor radio |
1957:
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one of the earliest Italian transistor radios, though not the first |
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March '57, first Japanese transistor radio exported to the US |
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JAPAN: Standard SR-F31 |
April '57, first Standard transistor radio |
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JAPAN: Hitachi TH-669 |
May '57, first Hitachi transistor radio |
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JAPAN: Sony TR-66 |
May '57 |
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first Toshiba transistor radio |
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this Weston version was produced after the original Koyo but still in 1957 |
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May '57, first commercial West German transistor radio |
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June? '57, a very close second... |
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a 4-tube/3-transistor hybrid, probably released in late-1957 |
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first Standard shirt pocket — August '57? |
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September '57, first Hitachi shirt pocket |
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November '57 — first Australian transistor radio |
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JAPAN: Sony TR-74
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November '57, first Japan transistor radio capable of short wave reception across all standard short wave bands |
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first Norwegian transistor radio, manufactured by Klaveness Radiofabrikk, Oslo (thanks to Knut Arve Dalsaune for this info) |
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one of the more memorable transistor radio cabinet designs |
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US: Magnavox AW-100 |
likely the first US multi-band short wave radio |
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chassis 7ZT40 series |
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first produced in 1957 -- a modified version was produced in 1958 |
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1957/58, first transistorized Zenith Trans-Oceanic —
the second version (1000-D) is shown on this link |
1958:
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first Siemens-Austria transistor radio |
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CZECHOSLOVAKIA:
Tesla T58 2800B |
first Czechoslovak transistor radio and first Eastern Europe all-transistor radio? Or was Hungary's Tunde the first Eastern Europe all-transistor radio? |
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DDR (GDR):
Stern 1 |
first DDR radio incorporating transistors — a 2-tube/5-transistor hybrid |
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here is the overview page for all Phillips Fanettes |
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first Hungarian transistor radio (thumbnail shows the Tunde2) |
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(circa '58 — may have been '59) |
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(circa '58 — may have been '59) |
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Nov '58, world's first FM transistor radio |
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Nov '58, the first Japanese large-production transistor radio exported to the US, and the second nail in the coffin (after the Sony TR-63) for the US consumer electronics industry |
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probably introduced in '58, mostly produced in '59 |
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RUSSIA: Surprise |
first "mass-production"? (around 2700 units) Russian transistor radio |
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the original "no-name" 888 came out in 1957 |
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US: Emerson 999 Champion |
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WEST GERMANY:
Braun T2 |
first Braun transistor radio |
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first Braun pocket transistor radio, a world-class design icon |
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1958, 1959 |
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