Who collects small 1950s - 60s transistor sets ?

[60 oldjohn]

In reply to Stevehertz question. I have these. Not for sale. I can take a series of better pictures if required. Some of pictured sets are in "Vintage Radios" by forum member Tony Thompson.

John

[electronicskip]

What is the one in the little presentation case? in pic 1

[ajgriff]

I think I recognise the small blue one second from the right of the first picture. Russian if memory serves and they were advertised in PW/PE back in the sixties. Generaly didn't work on arrival.

Alan

[julie_m]

That red "King" set, proudly proclaiming TWO transistors!

Was that a dodge to get around tax / licensing issues by claiming to be an "experimental" receiver? There's a dim bulb flickering in my mind about sets with two valves or fewer being treated specially because they were deemed to be serious scientific endeavour rather than frivolous entertainment .....

[ms660]

Not the same two transistor radio but I wonder if the circuit is similar:

http://www.jamesbutters.com/coronetboysradio.htm

Lawrence.

[Nuvistor]

Couple of examples on RM.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/summit...stor_boys.html

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/unknow...radio_k_2.html

One reason for keeping the transistor count down and still be a radio, however good in performance was cost. Replacement transistors in the early 60’s I recall were around 23/6d for an OC45 type plus tax.

[julie_m]

They have squozen two litres out of a one litre bottle by moving the complexity to the wound components. It's ingenious! The first transistor is acting as an RF amp, then the detected signal is fed back into its base to allow it to act also as an audio preamplifier (it must be biased into its linear region, so no mixing occurs). The RF and AF transformers divert the amplified audio to the second transistor so it does not go around the loop again, and the amplified RF to the detector. The AF transformer must have enough stray capacitance of its own to allow the RF portion of the collector current through. There is another transformer blocking DC from the speaker and increasing its reflected impedance so the set can draw less current for the same volume of sound.

[Paul_RK]

Originally Posted by electronicskip

What is the one in the little presentation case? in pic 1

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

[Andrew2]

Those Micronic Ruby sets were pretty desirable in their day and are even moreso now! A lovely little gem of a radio. I seem to recall other manufacturers doing 'me too' copies.
Here are a few of my own collection of small transistor portables. They seem a bit thin on the ground, much less common than the bigger 'kitchen' sets. Probably because the pocket sets were seen as toys and chucked away. My favourite of this lot is the nifty little red NEC. It feels solid and rather like a bar of soap in the hand.
None of these have been restored, just cleaned up and repaired where necessary. The Emerson's FM band is sadly defunct and it's such a densely-populated board it'll have to stay that way.

[Richard_FM]

Originally Posted by Andrew2

Those Micronic Ruby sets were pretty desirable in their day and are even moreso now! A lovely little gem of a radio. I seem to recall other manufacturers doing 'me too' copies.
Here are a few of my own collection of small transistor portables. They seem a bit thin on the ground, much less common than the bigger 'kitchen' sets. Probably because the pocket sets were seen as toys and chucked away. My favourite of this lot is the nifty little red NEC. It feels solid and rather like a bar of soap in the hand.
None of these have been restored, just cleaned up and repaired where necessary. The Emerson's FM band is sadly defunct and it's such a densely-populated board it'll have to stay that way.

I've seen a few different brands on radios like the Harmony, I imagine many were badge engineered from one basic design.

[orbanp1]

In the first posting in the first picture one of the radios looks like the Soviet Cosmos-M radio:
https://www.bertibenis.it/Radio%20a%...SMOS-M%20E.htm
A similarly small Soviet radio was the Orljonok:
https://www.bertibenis.it/Radio%20a%...LJONOK%20E.htm

Peter

[ssnjimb]

I collect Roberts Radios I have :-

1 Tan coloured RT1
1 Tan coloured RT7
1 Dark Blue R200
2 R500s Dark Blue being my late Grandfathers and an olive coloured one that I just bought.

2 R66.s both blue
1 Roberts Rambler

James

[Sideband]

I thought the two transistor sets were described as a 'Boys radio' and classed more as a toy than a proper radio and therefore didn't incur the tax on a normal radio.

[Reelman]

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

In reply to Stevehertz question. I have these. Not for sale. I can take a series of better pictures if required. Some of pictured sets are in "Vintage Radios" by forum member Tony Thompson.

John

Some nice sets there John, I see you have a Regency, the first transistor radio from the USA. I collect them as well, they look nice in a cabinet and are easy to store. Sound quality is often poor but the early sets had very attractive cases and so different from the contemporary valve radios.

Peter

[60 oldjohn]

I were about to post some more of my collection when I spotted another like one in the first photograph, can anyone spot the difference, the colour may have faded on one of the sets.

John.

[60 oldjohn]

Originally Posted by Reelman

Some nice sets there John, I see you have a Regency, the first transistor radio from the USA. I collect them as well, they look nice in a cabinet and are easy to store. Sound quality is often poor but the early sets had very attractive cases and so different from the contemporary valve radios.

Thank you Peter, I think the Regency TR1 have done well to survive as you will know they went on sale for Christmas 1954. In my opinion a little to soon I wonder how many were returned to the factory to be reworked? There is often a label inside the set to this effect.

John.

[60 oldjohn]

Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn

I were about to post some more of my collection when I spotted another like one in the first photograph, can anyone spot the difference, the colour may have faded on one of the sets.

John.

Ok, No takers, how about another photo. Now spot the difference.

John.

[Reelman]

Whilst they look the same one says “USSR” and the other “Hong Kong”. How about inside John? Whose components are used?
The story goes that they were imported from USSR in a roundabout manner via the Far East presumably to save on import duties and to gain a better reputation than “made in USSR”.
As one advertiser put it when up for sale in the 60s (price £1).. “the batteries were left in” so corrosion was to be expected. Whilst not that common here there are plenty for sale in Germany.
I think Laskys used to sell them complete with the rechargeable batteries and charger.

Peter

Peter

[60 oldjohn]

Originally Posted by Reelman

I think Laskys used to sell them complete with the rechargeable batteries and charger.


Peter

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.

[ssnjimb]

Originally Posted by ssnjimb

I collect Roberts Radios I have :-

1 Tan coloured RT1
1 Tan coloured RT7
1 Dark Blue R200
2 R500s Dark Blue being my late Grandfathers and an olive coloured one that I just bought.

2 R66.s both blue
1 Roberts Rambler

James

Do you like my collection