Vintage Transistor Radios and Do-It-Yourself Radio Kits

by Claudia Meydrech - happynutritionist
Image above and images below used with permission from Radio Museum
New on Wizzley - June 2015

I have searched online to find the first transistor radio that I owned, and do believe I've finally found it, pictured above. I appreciate radiomuseum.com for giving me permission to use the photos. I received my radio in the 1960's. It was the aqua blue color you see in the picture, solid plastic front and back. To open it up to put in the 9 volt battery and see the workings inside, you took a coin and "twisted" the front and back apart from the bottom edge of the radio using a notch designed just for that purpose. It had dials on each side, one for volume, one to change the stations.  You viewed the stations through a little hole. I am sure my first was just an AM radio.

I can still remember opening the box, it fit snugly in the cardboard box. I'm sure I had the old style earphone, the white one that was on a long thin wire and went into one ear, but I think it broke early on, because I remember listening to my radio under my pillow with my head resting on the pillow in just the right spot when it was supposed to be off and we were supposed to be sleeping.

Dad was so delighted to be able to give my brother and I these radios, he was into electronics, and at that time, a transistor radio was a big deal for kids like us.

Transistor Radios first went

on the market for home

use in the mid-1950's but were

made affordable so many

could buy them in the 1960's.

This is a quick list of a few transistor radio facts, and link to a more concise description of the history of the transistor radio.

• Though many claimed to have produced the first transistor radio, it was Bell Laboratories that patented the first transistor and introduced a prototype transistor radio in 1948.
• The Regency Transistor Radio was the first made in significant numbers for about $50, at that time a high price to pay....equal to hundreds of dollars today with inflation.
• In the mid to late 1960's, many transistor radios where imported from Hong Kong at prices below $10 making the radio more affordable for the average consumer.

For a much more detailed history, visit this link at Wikipedia.

• during times of disaster when there is no power and battery operated radio that doesn't need charging is necessary to keep up with the current news.
• for camping trips or hikes into remote places where cell service is not available.
• for those who like to collect old radios and enjoy the nostalgic pleasure of listening to them.

I was surprised to find that you can make a radio from things around the house.

You may have to buy a few things, but generally, these are fun and easy things to make. They are great projects for the hobbyist as well as for keeping children entertained with something educational and fun.

Stop by and visit this scitoys.com link, and at the top of the page you'll find links to other radios you can make....like the 3-Penny Radio, a part of which is pictured with permission.