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On October 18, 1954, the world was introduced to the first commercial transistorized radio, the Regency TR-1. Produced by I.D.E.A., an American company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, using transistors manufactured by Texas Instruments, the TR-1 was an immediate success.
Some 100,000 units of the legendary radio were manufactured and sold at $49.95. Today, a black TR-1 is worth up to $300 at auction, while a unit in one of the rarer "pearlescent" colors can fetch up to $3,000.
In 1955, a small Japanese company called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. introduced their version of the transistor radio, the TR-55. It lacked the "fit and finish" of Japanese consumer products of today, but in 2003, one of these extremely rare units turned up on eBay. The final price? Over $11,000!
Of course, these are exceptional values. Most of the transistor radios manufactured since 1954 usually sell online at prices of between $5 and $200, but you can almost guarantee a nice return on your yard-sale find if you remember a few basic pointers:
First, the earliest, and generally rarest, transistor radios were made in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. By the 1960s, production began to spread around the globe, resulting in huge quantities of cheaply made and, in most cases, less distinctively styled radios.
Second, most transistor radios (there are exceptions) made for the U.S. market up to 1963 had Civil Defense indicators (little triangles) on the tuner dials to which listeners were advised to turn in the event of a national emergency. These indicators are often referred to as "CD marks."
Third, check the cabinets and components for identifiable date stamps, serial numbers, and inspection dates. Even the shapes of the transistors can be of help dating the unit. For example, the earliest Sony transistors were oval, but by 1958 they had become cylindrical. (By the way, remember that little Japanese company, Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, mentioned earlier? It changed its name to Sony!)
Finally, check out the following resources for even more tips on this collectible.
Books
"Collector's Guide to Transistor Radios: Identification and Values," by Marty Bunis, Sue Bunis
http://digbig.com/4hkye
"Transistor Radios: 1954-1968," by Norman R. Smith
http://digbig.com/4hkyg
"Transistor Radios: A Collector's Encyclopedia and Price Guide," by David R. Lane, Robert A. Lane
http://digbig.com/4hkyk
"Zenith Transistor Radios: Evolution of a Classic," by Norman Smith
http://digbig.com/4hkyj
Websites
The M31 Galaxy of Transistor Radios
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1031/trans/1trans.html
Sections on American, Japanese, and European radios.
Radio Wallah
http://tabiwallah.com/radiowallah/index.html
Great section on dating Japanese radios.
Regency TR-1 Transistor Radio Facts and Figures
http://people.msoe.edu/~reyer/regency
Covers everything about the TR-1 from history and advertising to dating and repairs.
Sarah's Transistor Radios
http://www.transistor.org/index.html
This excellent site features over 1000 photographs of transistor radios, articles, FAQs, a section on restoration, links, and more.
The Transistor Radio Directory
http://www.geocities.com/aldoandr/transistor.html
A huge webliographic compendium of sites.
Transistorized!
http://www.pbs.org/transistor/index.html
Based on the PBS program, this site gives the history and science of the transistor, considered one of the most important inventions of the 20th Century. Also has a timeline (including the transistor radio), glossary, resources, and more.
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