Astor, AWA, Kriesler and STC are all popular brands and Australian models have some of the more popular stations already in print on the dial instead of just numbers. While foreign brands such as Sony played a huge part in the history of transistor radios, many Australian collectors prefer to start with homegrown Australian brands. Minor cosmetic issues like paint splatters are easy to remove, so they have a fairly small effect on value. Functionality is an important part of condition a radio that works is worth more than one that doesn't. Even a very rare early Zenith model will have its value determined by condition as well as rarity. What to Look ForĪs with any collectable radio the first thing to look for is condition. Music could finally go anywhere and the idea that summer could have a soundtrack was born.
Antique transistor radio for sale portable#
Unlike the larger collectable valve radios of the era, transistors made radio truly portable for the first time, and a whole new generation took that idea and ran with it. Terrey - For personal use only.Following their introduction in 1954, transistor radios soon took the world by storm.
The author, in a vintage photograph, showing his home-brew, cigar-box transistor radio. (Joseph Chambers, 6967 Kimberly Ln., Lithia Springs, GA 30122)įigure 1. That two-transistor, home-brew project in high school certainly led to a lifetime of pleasure in antique radios and related items. Among them are tube and crystal sets, electric motors, telegraph sets, intercoms, and stereo amps. I have also built many other items since my experience with the two-transistor radio. But since my retirement, my interest has been revived. Today my collection includes over 250 antique radios, about 50 transistor radios, some novelties and unique radios, 33 horn speakers, 50 cone speakers, and 10 loop antennas.ĭuring my years working as a union electrician in Atlanta, Georgia, I didn't do much collecting. In the process of moving, he found it in an out-building that he had been clearing. My first radio was a Radiola II given to me by a neighbor. Though I still have the complete circuit board, the cigar box has been trashed.īuilding this two-transistor radio and being successful with it inspired me to begin collecting antique radios and related items. I used the set in my Physics project in high school and received an "A" with the comment "Impressive." The project was featured in Radio-TV Experimenter magazine. The radio played very well with plenty of volume to drive a 4" speaker. The primary ingredients were two PNP type transistors, one germanium diode-detector, a 9-volt battery supply, a 4" PM speaker, a reflex-type circuit, and a telescoping antenna. I had wound all the coils myself, built the circuit board, and used transistors and parts from junk radios. This home brew was created from a Casa Blanca cigar box, a car radio antenna, and junk radio parts.
In 1962, I built the transistor radio, proudly displayed in my hands in Figure 1. When accompanied by a photo, they become even more vivid. Successful high school projects make fond memories. Of Old Radios And Related Items-Published Monthly Antique Radio Classified-With The CollectorsĪ.R.C.-The National Publication For Buyers And Sellers
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