Sage-Tips

What company sold the first transistor radio in 1954?

The Regency TR-1 was announced on October 18, 1954, by the Regency Division of I.D.E.A., was put on sale in November 1954 and was the first practical transistor radio made in any significant numbers. Billboard reported in 1954 that “the radio has only four transistors.

What was the first transistor radio?

Regency TR-1
In July 1954 the Texas Instruments and Industrial Development Engineering Associates (I.D.E.A.) companies embarked on a six month project to produce a pocket-sized radio for the Christmas market. The result was the Regency TR-1, the world’s first pocket transistor radio.

How many transistors were in the first radio?

The first transistor radio that came into the shop was a Sony TR-55, A 5 transistor AM radio. This radio first appeared on the market in 1955.

Which company invented transistor radio in 1952?

Transistors were first produced commercially by the American company Raytheon, in 1952. The first radio to be produced commercially was the Regency TR-1, which was also manufactured in America and went on sale in November 1954. It only used four Texas Instruments transistors, as transistors were then very expensive.

How much did the first transistor radio cost?

The Regency TR-1 hit stores on October 18, 1954. It received AM stations and sold for $50, the equivalent of more than $400 today. Although a limited number of portable radios using vacuum tubes had been available, the TR-1 immediately transformed the state of consumer radio technology.

How much did a transistor radio cost in 1960?

The more modest radios were around $70– about $1,050 today. By the 1960s TV had already become the biggest home service. However, the portable transistor radio was all the rage and cost a premium for such a small piece of equipment. A Sony 8-channel transistor radio with batteries cost $49.95.

What year did the first transistor radios come out?

Building on war-time research, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain, working with group leader William Shockley, developed a device they called a transistor. The first laboratory demonstration took place on 23 December 1947. Bell publicly announced the new invention on 30 June 1948.

What is an old radio called?

An antique radio is a radio receiving set that is collectible because of its age and rarity.

What is transistor radio electronic age?

ELECTRONIC AGE (1930-1980) The invention of the transistor ushered in the electronic age. People harnessed the power of transistors that led to the transistor radio, electronic circuits, and the early computers. In this age, long distance communication became more efficient. (jan 1, 1930 – jan 1, 1980)

What color of transistor radio is the most expensive?

With any transistor radio from the 1950’s or early 60’s it seems that the brighter the color the higher the price. Cool 50’s shades like robin’s egg/powder blue, seafoam green and bright red or yellow command higher prices.

When was the first transistor radio invented?

The transistor was invented in 1947 at Bell Labs in New Jersey. In 1954, Texas Instruments of Dallas teamed up with Regency Electronics (its original name was Industrial Development Engineering Associates, or I.D.E.A.) of Indianapolis to manufacture the first pocket-size transistor radio.

How many transistors does a boy’s radio have?

These radios would either have Boy’s Radio or Two Transistors prominently and proudly displayed on the cabinet. In many cases, the cabinets were identical to “real” radios with 6 transistors. Performance was less than stellar but these radios could still pick up local stations.

How can you tell how old a transistor radio is?

One easy way to date a transistor radio to this period is to look for small triangles or circles between the 6 & 7 and the 12 & 16 on the dial. These are CD marks, which appeared on all radios manufactured or sold in the U.S. from 1953 to 1963.