Transistor Memories
My collection - Page 3
A pristine little Westinghouse H908PN9GP, made in Japan in 1963, I think. Takes a 9-V battery, and plays like gangbusters. A real neat little radio. If Westinghouse would've made more products like this, they'd be the king of the transistor realm ! Even the leather case is absolutely perfect. My buddy, Alan W., who currently resides in Alabama, picked up this little beauty for me in 1997, and didn't charge me anything ! I think he got it in an antique store in Cleveland, OH.
A Zenith Royal 500E. Takes 4 x AA batteries, but gives me nothing but a big whooooosh of static whenever I turn it on. I think I paid about $5 for this at a flea market a few years ago. Really poor shape, but has a neat sticker on the back of the radio that says, and I quote, "American Made Zenith Quality Radio - Quality Built in America by highly-skilled, well-paid American workers." You won't find that sticker on too many products anymore. The radio was made in 1960. You can still pick up this model at flea markets if you look around, but most of them are corroded on the front metal panels.
A Truetone DC-3612, made in Japan, and marketed by JC Penneys. Made in 1965. Not much to say about this one, it doesn't play, though it says that it has 12 transistors ready-willing & able. My buddy Bill H. picked this one up for less than a buck a year or so ago, at a flea market.
Channel Master 6510, made in 1960. Big, honker radio, takes D-cells. When prodded to play, it just makes a big "pooping" noise. I still see these around, but pass on them. I think I paid about $20 for this, at an antique store in Michigan, about 5 years ago. I would classify this one as a beater.
Skymaster Model NB678, 6 transistor, obviously in good shape. I can't find anything on this radio, anywhere. It takes a 9-V battery, and has the Civil Defense marks on the dial, which would put it some time in the mid-sixties, or earlier. If you page through the museum, I have included a picture of an owner's manual that came with a radio from this time period, with a little ditty about the CD markings, and when you should tune to them. I think I have about $3 in this radio. On the back of the panel, the word "Ryukyu" is embossed in the plastic, which would denote the place of origin.
No model number or manufacturing data for this radio. The inside panel information reveals that it was made in Japan, I would suspect, around the 1967 time frame. This radio was given to me by a guy I used to work with, Joe S., who had it sitting around in a factory office, just gathering dirt and crud. It plays well, and has a nice, rich tone.
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