Anyone remember these?
Mar 29, 2020 18:08:00 #
Mar 29, 2020 18:37:44 #
Paul Diamond
Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
I built a crystal radio on a piece of plywood from a kit. Forgot if it was a comic book ad or a boy scout project.
In 1965, had a Junior Class trip to NYC. Same "Syrian Rug Merchants" lined the streets with storefronts that always had at least one rug in the window. Bought this encyclopedia thick, but not quite that wide transistor radio before small ones were within my price range. Multiple "C" batteries, sold separately at retail plus pricing. Large speaker, sound but not quality - except there was sound and music. $20-$25. Just threw it away last year, hidden in the back of a drawer, A memory forgotten for good reason.
In 1965, had a Junior Class trip to NYC. Same "Syrian Rug Merchants" lined the streets with storefronts that always had at least one rug in the window. Bought this encyclopedia thick, but not quite that wide transistor radio before small ones were within my price range. Multiple "C" batteries, sold separately at retail plus pricing. Large speaker, sound but not quality - except there was sound and music. $20-$25. Just threw it away last year, hidden in the back of a drawer, A memory forgotten for good reason.
Mar 29, 2020 18:58:49 #
My first 6 transistor AM only radio was from Radio Shack! I saved a long time for the $16.95!! I did have a prior "portable" radio that ran on tubes. Two large low voltage battery for the filament heaters and a 90 volt battery for the radio/amplifier circuits. I thought my transistor radio was the Buck Rogers communicator of the day!
A friend got an 8 transistor Zenith radio from a rich relative for his birthday...and the transistor race was on. Years later, my used car did not have a radio and I got an AM/FM (mono) portable and put it on the dashboard. I don't recall the number of transistors, but I do remember that some had as many as 14 or 15!!
Finally, friend had a night time job and listened with one of those early ear buds. When folks came in, they all spoke loudly and slowly, believing he was wearing a hearing aid!
A friend got an 8 transistor Zenith radio from a rich relative for his birthday...and the transistor race was on. Years later, my used car did not have a radio and I got an AM/FM (mono) portable and put it on the dashboard. I don't recall the number of transistors, but I do remember that some had as many as 14 or 15!!
Finally, friend had a night time job and listened with one of those early ear buds. When folks came in, they all spoke loudly and slowly, believing he was wearing a hearing aid!
Mar 29, 2020 19:44:48 #
Mar 29, 2020 20:35:21 #
Fiddlingbill
Loc: Mass.
Hi. Good day to all. I am very impressed with this website. And it is a pleasure to see all that is posted. With everything now hitting the fan. It is nice to talk about photography. Even if confined to your home. With the good weather coming in. I would imagine there are things around the house that can be photographed. I live in the eastern part of the country, and with this virus that is among us. There were things that I wanted to photograph. But as of now am not allowed. So I will abide to what our Governor says. With hope that there will be no more casualties from this. And with the hopes that it will soon be gone. Take care all. And be safe. William C.
Mar 29, 2020 20:45:06 #
Mar 29, 2020 20:53:05 #
My dad was a ham radio guy and of course he bought me a kit. It may or not have been a HeathKit model. In any case it was a tiny radio with probably one transistor and an earpiece, not a speaker. I remember listening to the 1962 World Series between the Giants and the Yankees in 5th grade while the teacher wasn't watching. It was fun listening to radio stations on a radio I had built myself.
Mar 29, 2020 20:59:23 #
Mar 29, 2020 21:13:16 #
Yep Tradio, I gave my girlfriend (now my wife) a Bulova very similar to the one posted once upon a time
Mar 29, 2020 21:47:19 #
gjgallager
Loc: North Central CT & Space Coast Florida
I too had a Motorola in about 1962 I believe it was at least $60 at the time. I had the little flesh colored plastic ear speaker I would listen to while falling asleep. The battery was expensive too, about the size of a C cell with M/F terminals on the ends similar to a 9V but separated so you couldn't reverse the polarity. Greg.
Mar 29, 2020 23:41:41 #
Grew up in CT - Murray the K on WINS - - listened all night February 7, 1964 as the Beatles arrived in the USA.
Mar 30, 2020 01:12:36 #
vanderhala
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
My parents brought me one back from the US with a leather case, could hand it form your shoulder , together with a telescope. I still have both of them. (Also still have my first camera: Afga Clack 6x9 cm film format).
Mar 30, 2020 02:07:26 #
I still have my Realtone. It still works. Compared to today's quality it does not. However in the day it was very good. I got many hours of listening from it. I store it now and once in awhile I put a battery in it and listen to it.
Mar 30, 2020 03:08:59 #
Sure do remember, my first was in '57 and was an Admiral. Sure does bring back memories.
Mar 30, 2020 10:23:33 #
tradio wrote:
These all date from the 60's
I remember the "Xsistor numbers war".... Some unscrupulous manufacturers would insert transistors with their leads soldered together.
They weren't functional, but added to the transistor count....
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.