View Single Post
Old 1st Aug 2008, 1:25 pm   #2
Darren-UK
Retired Dormant Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 4,061
Default Re: Roberts transistor radios; model rarity.

Hi John,

The R500 isn't rare as such, it's just less common than other models of the same period.

The R200 seems to be by far the most common model, more specifically in its second and third forms with AF11x transistors. After some three years in production it was superceded by the R500 during 1963.

At a time when inflation was steady and retail prices rarely increased to any significant degree, the R200 was a popular radio and sold well.

The R300 is something of an oddity. It was really little more than a reincarnation of the R200 (third variant) in a restyled cabinet. It was introduced in 1964, a year or so after the R500.

Regarding this......
Quote:
Roberts appear to have released a new model transistor radio every year, ie RT1 1958, R200 1960 etc. Does anyone have a possible reason for this?
...... there's no mystery here at all, such as your comment "possible reason" implies.

It was quite usual for manufacturers to introduce a new model each year, be they valve or transistor models. Fashion was a major issue during the 1960's and a new model for each year was the norm - be it radios, clothes, furniture or whatever.

There was also the matter of foreign competition. British manufacturers struggled to compete and one way of competing, so they believed, was to keep their range 'fresh'. Roberts Radio Co. Ltd would've been no exception.

Hope that answers your questions. Please keep this thread on the subject of Roberts radios please folks .
Darren-UK is offline