![]() They were after me for transistors.” īy the end of 1955 the following transistor portables were on the market as shown in the table with their principal transistor supplier: Norman Krim confirms the problems of supplying RF transistors talking to Michael Woff: “Radio Shack was in Boston at the time, and they were able to get radios from Japan but they couldn't get transistors at all. The majority of Royal 500 sets were equipped with Sylvania transistors which they sold to manufacturers at a lower price than did Raytheon. “This expedient was necessary to enable us to produce sufficient quantities by using transistors from many sources” according to its service manual. For example, Zenith produced its Royal 500, a seven transistor pocket sized set launched in November 1955, with four chassis types to accommodate four different transistor line-ups: one supplied by Raytheon (CK760 & CK759)) two supplied by Sylvania (2N94 and 2N194 & 2N193) and one by Texas Instruments (2N145). Raytheon put little energy into promoting its RF transistors: this was because demand outstripped supply, a feature of the market in general. In order to promote the new portable to a public that had no exposure to transistors Raytheon gave away cards with a genuine dud transistor saying “Take this actual sample of an electronic miracle!” with an explanation of the benefits of transistors in the new set. The April '55 review of the Regency TR-1 found the $49.95 TR-1 to be a toy-like novelty which didn't come at a toy-like price, and stated that, "the consumer who has been waiting for transistor radios to appear would do well to await further developments before buying."The July '55 review of the Raytheon 8TP gave the set high marks: "The transistors in this set have not been used in an effort to build the smallest radio on the market, and good performance has not been sacrificed to attain this end." The 8TP series was ranked high in nearly all categories, "falling down only in sensitivity."” “The April and July 1955 issues of Consumer Reports separately put these two radios to the test, and concluded that Raytheon had every reason to call its 8TP the first serious transistor radio. Base width was controlled by monitoring electrical characteristics of the junctions as alloying proceeded. In 1956 George Freedman developed a method of controlling base width by starting with a wafer that included a PN junction and fusing an electrode containing a P impurity to an exposed N layer. (This geometry gives a stronger wafer than if the notches were cut parallel). Herman Nowak developed a method of obtaining alloy junction transistors with base width of only 1 mil by milling notches set at right angles on either side of the wafer and creating the base junction at the intersection of the notches. Raytheon research into improved RF performance focussed on methods to reliably reduce the base width of its transistors. ![]() ![]() Other than the above parameters, all the transistors in this range had identical specifications suggesting that they were made, tested and selected. The CK760 was adopted as a universal RF transistor and initially was used in all stages of the 8TP receiver in its first configuration. This item will be double-boxed and marked "fragile" - for this reason, USPS insurance will be required.Notably the CK759 was not included in the initial release and may have been introduced later as a means of utilising low specification transistors that were usable as IF amplifiers. A slight pin-dot dent appears near the number 16 on the metal dial, and the center medallion is missing a bit of its plating as well - but neither condition affects the functioning of the dial itself. Light wear marks appear primarily on the back of the case, w it was removed and replaced from the leather pouch. We have since opened it for inspection several times without compromising the crack further. Caution should be exercised when opening to the case to make sure it does not continue to deteriorate. ![]() ![]() 97132 * Tuning capacitor code 533 * Gold "Regency" logo molded into case with tuning marks above and below the dial * Complete with its original leather pouch * My dad, who's an electronics engineer, says the radio works and you can still get the batteries for it by ordering from an electronicssupply house such as Allied Radio - he included a copy inside the case of the schematic seen in the photo CONDITION: We listed the radio at a lower reserve price due to a crack in the case on the upper left side (see photo). You are bidding on a Regency TR-1 black transistor radio originally purchased in 1955 by my grandmother in Phoenix, Arizona, as a Christmas present for my dad, who was on leave from the Air Force at the time. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |