November 23, 2008
The transistor, forerunner of today’s microprocessor, was invented in the early 1950s by Texas Instruments. After Emerson, Philco, and RCA rejected the idea, TI got Regency Electronics to manufacture the first pocket-sized transistor radio in 1954. Generally, the most collectible transistor radios are those made in Japan from 1956 to 1963 and America from 1955-60. By the early 60’s, many American companies had opted to have their radios made in Japan.
Regency (an American company) was the first to introduce a solid-state transistor radio, the Regency TR-1, in 1954. Other collectible American brands include Zenith, RCA, G.E., Admiral, Motorola, Magnavox, Philco, Raytheon, Arvin, Sylvania and Emerson. Sony stunned the electronics world with its TR-63 in 1957, the world’s first truly pocket-sized radio utilizing all miniature components. Other collectible Japanese brands include Toshiba, Hitachi, Sharp, Standard, Sanyo, Matsushita (Panasonic), Mitsubishi, Aiwa, Realtone, Global, and Zephyr.
One desirable feature is reverse painted plastic, popular between 1958 and 1962 (all the artwork is painted inside of the radio's clear plastic dial cover). Also desirable are brightly colored cases from this era, including cool 1950’s shades like robin’s egg/powder blue, seafoam green and bright red or yellow. Condition also matters to collectors: finding a radio with its original box, leather case, earphones, owner’s manual and warranty card or sales slip will significantly increase its value.
Perhaps you recently saw a picture of a cool looking pocket radio from the early 1960’s and were reminded o… [more]
You've just acquired an old radio, but apart from the manufacturer's name on the front, you don't know a bles… [more]
Michael Jack's great transistor radio collection includes stunning photos and great reference information on indivi… [more]
James Butters' fun and creative website focusing on the design of 1950s and 60s pocket transistor radios. Highlight… [more]
Alan Kastner's transistor radio site was one of the original go-to websites for radio enthusiasts, and it offers an… [more]
This site features colorful images of Japanese and American-made transistor radios from the 1950s. Before diving in… [more]
Robert Davidson's great site (galaxy, really), one of the earliest transistor radio sites on the web, features over… [more]
Sarah Lowrey's collection of over 1000 radios you wish you could take to the beach. Viewable alphabetically by make… [more]
Jim Tripp's showcase of radios from the 1920s to late 1950s, organized by style and theme (wood, console, plastic, … [more]
This photo gallery of over 7800 vintage radios, categorized by manufacturer and model number, is a group effort wit… [more]
Alan Voorhees' reference resource for vintage radio collectors includes a photo gallery, article library, PDF archi… [more]
This vast archive and community of radio collectors features over 120,000 radio model listings and 350,000 photos a… [more]
Ron Ramirez's comprehensive reference on the former Philadelphia Storage Battery Company and Philco Corporation. In… [more]
This extensive collection of antique radios includes beautiful photos and detailed historical descriptions. The sit… [more]
John Pelham's collection of wood and plastic radios from the 1930's and 40's. What sets this site apart is the deta… [more]
Steve Erenberg's extremely wacky and well-done collection of vintage mad-scientist devices and contraptions. Writte… [more]
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Regency Tr-1g Transistor Radio With Original Earpiece $190.00 Ends in 6 hours 4 bids
Toshiba 8tp90 8 Transistor Radio-1960$157.50 Ends in 6 hours 14 bids
Early Circa '50s Nri 290 Transistor Radio - Unbuilt Kit$60.00 Ends in 12 hours 6 bids
Vintage Regency Transistor Radio Mini Model Xr-2a Red$53.77 Ends Friday 3 bids
Gm Delco Portable Transistor Radio Like 1959 Buick $53.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Vintage 1955 Raytheon Deluxe T-150-5 Transistor Radio !$52.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Zenith Royal 555 "sun Charger" Solar Transistor Radio$51.00 Ends in 9 hours 4 bids
Original 1960s Japanese Owl Transistor Radio$49.50 Ends in 13 hours 1 bid
Vintage German Transistor Radio Deco Retro Cream & Gold$49.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid
Vintage Eumig Okay Transistor Radio - Made In Austria$49.00 Ends in 11 hours 10 bids
Getty Oil Ultra High Energy Transistor Radio W/ Box $45.50 Ends in 10 hours 11 bids
Vintage Mascot 6 Transistor Radio Ar-65$42.00 Ends in 14 hours 6 bids
Philmore Reflex Two Transistor Radio. 1950’s $39.99 Ends Monday 1 bid
Vintage Zenith Royal 2000 Portable Transistor Radio-vgc$38.00 Ends Wednesday 4 bids
Vintage Hitachi Th-666 Transistor Radio Silver Japan$37.66 Ends Monday 3 bids
1970s Lloyd’s 9 Transistor Fm/am Radio 6r94b Perfect!$35.00 Ends in 13 hours 1 bid
Mint Sony Fm Automatic Tuning Transistor Radio 2fa24w $33.76 Ends Monday 6 bids
Universal Six Red Transistor Radio Ak650 W Box And Case$33.32 Ends Thursday 2 bids
Toshiba 6tc-485 Transistor Radio Hoffman Solar Marvel$31.00 Ends in 10 hours 2 bids
Vintage Texaco Super Chief Battery Transistor Radio$30.00 Ends in 3 hours 7 bids
Global Gr 900 Transistor Radio In Red Near Mint Cond $28.00 Ends in 10 hours 4 bids
Rare 1950s Sharp "suntone" Transistor Radio Tr-202$26.06 Ends Monday 11 bids
Vintage Panasonic Panapet Transistor Radio Eames$26.00 Ends Monday 5 bids
Cosmos B Coffin Shaped 2 Transistor Radio With Box$26.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Standard Micronic Ruby Transistor Radio (red)$25.49 Ends in 14 hours 6 bids
1954 Red Firestone Hybrid (?) Transistor Radio - Nr!$25.49 Ends in 16 hours 2 bids
Genuine Bush Vtr 103 Transistor Radio$25.19 Ends Tuesday 7 bids
1950's Am Zephyr Six Transistor Radio Leather Case$25.00 Ends Monday 1 bid
Channel Master All Wave Transistor Radio$24.99 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid
Old Philco 8 Am Micro Transistor Radio Nr Mint+works$24.99 Ends Monday 1 bid
Zenith Vintage Portable Owl Transistor Radio$23.28 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids
*** Sinclair Gas Pump Transistor Radio Dino W/case ***$22.50 Ends in 12 hours 7 bids
Global Gr711 Transistor Radio Near "mint" Works Great!!$21.50 Ends in 10 hours 4 bids
1959 Buick Trans-portable Glove Box Transistor Radio$21.50 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
General Electric Model P-800a Transistor Radio Working$20.00 Ends Monday 1 bid
Atlas Battery Transistor Radio Works$19.99 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid
1960's Vintage Ge 8 Transistor Radio Working Ex++$19.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid
Original~bone Fone~am/fm Stereo Transistor Radio No Res$19.95 Ends Friday 1 bid
General Electric P780h 1958 Transistor Radio Works!$19.95 Ends Saturday 1 bid
Vintage Hitachi Transistor Radio New In Box 862r ++$19.50 Ends Wednesday 3 bids
Remco Radiocraft Transistor Radio Broadcast System Kit$18.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
Panasonic R-70 Panapet Radio Am - Transistor $17.51 Ends in 11 hours 3 bids
Panasonic Transistor Radio Rf-93 Red Rolling Tone Vtg70$16.50 Ends in 14 hours 3 bids
Vintage Collectible 1958 Zephyr Gr-3t6 Transistor Radio$16.37 Ends in 9 hours 2 bids
White Panasonic Toot-a-loop Transistor Radio R-72 Works$15.50 Ends in 13 hours 4 bids
Vintage Panasonic Panapet R-70 Green Transistor Radio$15.49 Ends in 4 hours 2 bids
Philips Transistor Radio (old) Still In Plastic In Box$15.49 Ends Monday 2 bids
Zenith Am Transistor Radio, In The Box, 1960's, W/fine$15.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
1961 6 Transistor Radio Corvair Model Tr631 Very Nice$15.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
All Metal Antique Auto-transistor Radio$14.99 Ends in 5 hours 1 bid
Mint Panasonic Am Transistor Radio T-53 Small + Exc$14.99 Ends Monday 1 bid
Roberts Ric-2 1970's Classic Red Transistor Radio$14.80 Ends Thursday 1 bid
Vintage Crosley Model Jm-8bn Book Transistor Radio$14.49 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Nabisco Vending Machine Transistor Am/fm Radio Planters$13.00 Ends Monday 4 bids
Vintage 1962 Rca 6 Transistor Pa-5 Pocket Radio & Case$12.65 Ends in 4 hours 3 bids
1970s Era Kitsch Vintage Car Transistor Radio$12.48 Ends in 19 hours 1 bid
