Transistor radio.

[IKE]

Got to digging around for something in the hall closet yesterday and came across my old transistor radio (in the box) that I purchased back around 1980 that I'd forgotten all about and that I used to take camping......I remember buying this particular model (GE 7-2840) because not only does it have AM and FM and a telescoping antenna it also has a weather band.

Being curious to see if it still worked or not I stopped after I left the dentist this morning and bought a 9 volt battery for it, turned it on and it still works like a champ.

Back in the day battery transistor radios were the thing to have........do you still have one sitting around collecting dust ?

 

[hollydolly]

They were all we had apart from tape decks when we were teens.. don't have any here now.. not for decades

 

[win231]

Pretty cool thing to have. I don't even know where the ones I had are now; they've probably been recycled.

 

[bowmore]

I bought a Sony in Japan in 1960. I tossed it when we moved.

 

[Pinky]

This is the one I got for my 13th birthday, in 1960. I think I donated it to the Salvation Army, or just left it behind somewhere I lived.

 

[Bella]

Yep. I found one when I was cleaning out my husband's desk. It still works!

 

[Pepper]

I have a 20+ year old battery shower radio I bought for my son when he went to college. Still works and I have used it during the years for blackouts, etc.

 

[oldaunt]

I have one here somewhere for when the power goes out. I also keep a 1970's princess landline phone for the same reason. It pulls its power from the phone line. No cell signal here so...

 

[Jace]

Yes, I have one, too.
Our electric co. said there was gonna be a scheduled outage..for some time..
(And I listen to the radio)....
So, I dug it out, and the 9v battery...that's not kept in in...worked.
So, was set.

Great for back-up...electric outage!

 

[Jules]

Great for back-up...electric outage!

That’s why we keep ours too.

 

[Fyrefox]

Yes, during power outages when you have nothing functional, it’s time to get out the battery lanterns, flashlight, and trusty transistor radio! In the styx our outages are not momentary, but can go on for many hours…

 

[oldaunt]

Yes, during power outages when you have nothing functional, it’s time to get out the battery lanterns, flashlight, and trusty transistor radio! In the styx our outages are not momentary, but can go on for many hours…

I've had a couple here that lasted a week or so, due to ice storms. You can't GO anywhere then, either.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Got to digging around for something in the hall closet yesterday and came across my old transistor radio (in the box) that I purchased back around 1980 that I'd forgotten all about and that I used to take camping......I remember buying this particular model (GE 7-2840) because not only does it have AM and FM and a telescoping antenna it also has a weather band.

Being curious to see if it still worked or not I stopped after I left the dentist this morning and bought a 9 volt battery for it, turned it on and it still works like a champ.

Back in the day battery transistor radios were the thing to have........do you still have one sitting around collecting dust ?

View attachment 228120

View attachment 228121

Ike, I have the exact same radio sitting on the shelf.

 

[Capt Lightning]

I had a transistor radio that had a band centred on Radio Luxembourg...
Before we had commercial radio or much in the way of popular music or the radio, Radio Luxembourg 208 mtrs. medium wave was the best for the latest music. It broadcast in German during the day, but English during the evening. Since the signal had to travel a long way, the sound would fade in and out depending on the atmospherics. Oh happy days.

 

[Llynn]

I have a transistor radio that runs on a wind up generator inside the radio. It is am-fm but later models also included short wave bands.
It has provided news and entertainment during power outages for many years. No worries about leaking batteries or dead batteries.

I'm not sure if these Freeplay radios (mine was made in South Africa) are manufactured any longer.

 

[Tommy]

Of course. There's a battery powered on in the kitchen. (I'd rather change batteries occasionally than have to deal with a power cord.) There's another in my workshop with a cassette deck. Transistor radios aren't a thing of the past ... Amazon offers a lot of them at very reasonable prices.

 

[FastTrax]

www.facebook.com/EzBruce2020/

www.antiqueradios.com

www.radiofidelity.com/best-pocket-radio-usa/

www.gettyimages.com/photos/portable-radio

www.etsy.com/market/vintage_pocket_radio

www.alamy.com/stock-photo-vintage-fm-am-radio-portable-india-asia-146709088.html

www.istockphoto.com/photos/vintage-portable-radio

www.radioattic.com

www.knappily.com/onthisday/october-18-1954-transistor-radio-is-born-861

www.conch-house.com/best-portable-pocket-radio/

www.swinginwest.com/commercial/reviews/pocket-radio/

www.homesteadingtoday.com/threads/am-fm-portable-radio-recommendations.475594/

www.oldest.org/vintage/antique-radios/

www.retroradiofarm.com

https://in.pinterest.com/chhajerranjeet/pocket-radio/

https://wiki.restarters.net/Portable_radios

www.hamtronics.com/best-pocket-radios/

www.bobvila.com/articles/best-pocket-radio/

www.bestreviews.com/electronics/radios/best-pocket-radios

www.bestreviews.com/am-fm-pocket-radios

www.abetterpage.com/wt/index.html

www.fabcollectibles.com/audio/radio/pocket-radio.html

www.campx.ca/transistor.html

www.radiojayallen.com/pocket-portable-am-fm-radios-update/

www.electronicproducts.com/whats-it-worth-vintage-transister-radios/

www.clickamericana.com/topics/science-technology/vintage-portable-radios

www.collectorsweekly.com/radios/transistor

https://sites.google.com/site/aldoandr/home/the-transistor-radio-directory

www.chicagotribune.com/consumer-reviews/sns-bestreviews-electronics-the-best-pocket-radio-20190829-story.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transister_radio

 

[Meanderer]

Realistic Flavoradio

"The longest-running product for Radio Shack was the AM-only Realistic Flavoradio, sold from 1972 to 2000, 28 years in three designs. This also made the Flavoradio the longest production run in radio history. Originally released in 5 colors, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, avocado and plum from the 1972 catalog. For 1973, vanilla and chocolate were dropped (and thus are rare today) and replaced by lemon and orange. At some point two-tone models with white backs were offered but never appeared in catalogs. (Extremely rare today)."

"The original design had 5 transistors (model 166). A sixth was added in 1980 (model 166a). The case was redesigned for 1987 taller and thinner and came in red, blue, and black.The final model 201a came in 1996 and was designed around an integrated circuit. They were first made in Korea then Hong Kong and finally the Philippines. The Flavoradio carried the Realistic name until about 1996 when it switched to "Radio Shack" then finally "Optimus". When the Flavoradio was dropped from the catalog in 2001, it was the last AM-only radio on the market."