Who collects small 1950s - 60s transistor sets ?

[60 oldjohn]

Originally Posted by ssnjimb

Do you like my collection

Sounds a nice collection, any chance of photos? I suppose you know the RT1 was Roberts first venture into transistor radios and many will work by just fitting a new battery. It is just the stitched handle that lets some of them down, but what can one expect after 60+ years.

John.

[60 oldjohn]

Originally Posted by Paul_RK

One of the numerous models of Standard Micronic Ruby, perhaps this one:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/standa..._g430g_43.html

Most of them were very nicely presented, elaborate for their size (up to eight transistors in MW-only sets, and a few models included FM), and distinctly expensive.

Paul

Yes Paul it is a SR-G430 Some more photos. I will post the circuit in a few minutes.

Moderators, please delete second picture.

John.

[60 oldjohn]

Another picture and the circuit.

John.

[crackle]

Hi John
I love these little radios, if I was going to start collecting radios again it would be this sort of thing.
So many bright colours and attractive designs.
Tomorrows antiques.
Lovely, if you have not already you should join radiomuseum.org and present them on there to preserve their identity for ever.
Mike

[Reelman]

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

Hi Peter more pictures, looks like you put the batteries in the chargers "ears" then close them up to charge them. Also a USA style adaptor is included in the box.
Too many rotten wires to disturb to delve any further into the set. The PCB's looks identical, one is much brighter than the other. I did notice the USSR radio did have a split ring to attach a key while the Hong Kong Version has a solid plastic ring with no split in it
John.

Very curious John. The PCBs look similar from the pictures but not exactly the same. Was the Hong Kong version a copy of the USSR one? Or vice-versa? Or a blatant lie on where made?
Perhaps one was made from a job lot of spare parts. I would have thought that a H-K set would have used the usual 2.5/3.5mm earphone socket rather than the typically USSR two pin version (also used on Microsonics and UK valve hearing aids!)

Perhaps someone else has the H-K version and can confirm the identity of the transistors?
Maybe we will never know.....

Peter.

[Reelman]

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

Another picture and the circuit.

John.

I love the Microsonics as well..... what do you do for batteries?

Peter

[Reelman]

Originally Posted by Reelman

I love the Microsonics as well..... what do you do for batteries?

Peter

Silly me, I meant Micronic as in “Ruby”.

For the Micronics, what do you do for batteries since the correct shape is rare and expensive now?
Those of us of a certain age remember how we would covet them when they were new in the 60s but well out of our reach money wise.

I have several of the USSR sets but have yet to find the HK version myself.

Peter

[60 oldjohn]

Originally Posted by Reelman

I love the Microsonics as well..... what do you do for batteries?

Peter

I have not investigated yet, on to do pile as to speak.

I don't know which set came first, the Russian YURA might be built little bit better than the Micro-sonic. The key ring is just a solid plastic ring on the Micro-sonic.

John.

[stevehertz]

I have an Empress 7. It was the subject of a thread a couple of years ago on here, with photos and some excellent advice on how to tune it: https://vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=132845

[60 oldjohn]

Another closeup of radio in # 1 It has a few similar features. But not Identical by a long way, to Empress 7.

John.

I was going to ask what is the circuit for the two transistor job. Answered most comprehensively, most ingenious. I built a reflex regen when I was but a kid, it had a voltage doubler detector, it worked well.

[stevehertz]

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

Another closeup of radio in # 1 It has a few similar features. But not Identical by a long way, to Empress 7.

John.

Indeed John. I think a lot of the chassis were just stuffed into different plastic cabinets.

[Julesomega]

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

Another closeup of radio in # 1 It has a few similar features. But not Identical by a long way, to Empress 7.

John.

Hey, that Sanyo is yet another variant of the PCB previously discussed in the thread Unusual intermittent fault
though in your case with the ferrite rod mounted along a different edge of the board

[60 oldjohn]

I remember that thread, interesting. In this case the Ferrite rod is set a little higher than the PCB and the rod has a split clear plastic tube dropped over it to prevent shorts.


John

[Richard_FM]

Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell

I was going to ask what is the circuit for the two transistor job. Answered most comprehensively, most ingenious. I built a reflex regen when I was but a kid, it had a voltage doubler detector, it worked well.

The Sinclair kit radios had a similar circuit design to use the transistors twice, but used 3 of them IIRC.

[suebutcher]

Here's my collection of small transistor sets, the ones that are complete and working.
Swops Six (Hong Kong); Velco 7 (Australia/Asia); AWA Radiola B66 (Australia); Philips Gold Star PP1 (Australia, small portable); Emperor (Singapore micro radio); National T-55 (Japan). My bigger sets are mostly British. I'll get a photo up when I can find the Swops.

[suebutcher]

Photo. The National and the Philips are all germanium but none the worse for it. No trouble getting other states on these. The Philips is a bit of posh; that's supposed to be real gold plating on the diecast parts. The AWA is a little insensitive for country areas, but the sound is very clear and actually has a bit of bass if you hold it to your ear. A good pop music radio, I always thought. The Velco's OKish, and the Swops is pretty rough sounding. The olive Emperor works, which is a bonus with these sets. I'm not going to ruin it by trying to improve it.

[60 oldjohn]

Hi Sue, nice little collection there, thanks for the photos. Some of these miniature sets go surprisingly loud but may lack quality due to the small speakers. Ideal for any collector with limited space.

John.

[llama]

I've just fished out of storage my Micro-Sonic, made in Hong Kong, for my smallest grand-daughter. The battery connectors have been replaced (and gouged out) so just a red and black wire are there. Part of the old battery area is now occupied by a little blue electrolytic so I presume whoever did that didn't fancy fitting it where it belongs.

I was going to ask what voltage it needs but it seems like it's 3v, from two button cells. I may feed it from one 3v button cell and put up with the short battery life. Nearly time for me to test it!
Graham

[Atlantic 52]

Hi Graham, I too have such a radio from my deceased Brother in Laws collection. Its a YURA with its mains charger for the 2 x 1.2V Nicad button cells but no batteries and the radio connections have some green corrosion which is a pity. From what I have read on line the electrolytics will need replacing and its best to use some Tantalum ones for size & voltage. I'll have to get it apart in the Winter as a project. It seems that the Yura was imported at one time as the Microsonic via Hong-Kong to get round import duties or restrictions of the time so its not a Chinese set, pure russian. All good fun.