Got Transistor Radio Collections? New Finds? Let's See 'em!

Dave Doughty · **Posted:** Oct Sat 26, 2019 11:48 am

Quote:

AFA the thread title change;

I can't believe I'd get flack about a minor title change. I don't see it as redundant. It just makes it more specific. I sometimes wish others were more specific when creating titles for their initial posts especially in the Classifieds.

Dave

fifties · **Posted:** Oct Sat 26, 2019 8:21 pm

Dave Doughty wrote:

Quote:

AFA the thread title change;

I can't believe I'd get flack about a minor title change. I don't see it as redundant. It just makes it more specific.

Dave

Well we never get to harass you otherwise, so any little chance that comes by... :wink:

Zenith Royal · **Posted:** Oct Sun 27, 2019 1:02 am

fifties wrote:

Zenith Royal wrote:

Just got this RCA. I like the color, and it's neat having a radio that says,"RCA" even if it's made in Hong Kong. :mrgreen:

The reception and audio is quite good. The electrolytics are:
3-100uf
10uf
4.7? (Mostly hidden by other components). Maybe someone has some of these in their collection. Hearing some good dx with this tonight. Definite thumbs up. I also saw some in white on Ebay. It tunes very slow for not being vernier tuning, I like it. Radio Museum shows a similar model 101, not this one though it looks similar. One online source said 1972.

Those are fun radios, and interesting that the bean counters allowed the cost of *gasp* an extra Electrolytic capacitor. Six Transistors and three IF filters makes it a definite legitimate receiver for DX.

egg wrote:

Changing the title of a 13 year old thread because one poster made a mistake does not make sense to me.

Got Collections? New Finds? Let's See 'em.....

Dave, You can remove this post if you wish.
Greg.

AFA the thread title change; the thread is already in the Vintage Transistor Radios forum, so it's really redundant to repeat the subject again in the thread title. I would agree with Greg to change it back to it's original wording.

Spent quite awhile listening to it last night into the wee hours of the morning. Sounds quite good, just debating whether to recap it or not. I didn't try cranking it up too loud,as not to bother the folks in the apartment below me. :wink:

Maybe I'll try it outside. Good performer though, I'm pleasantly surprised.

fifties · **Posted:** Oct Sun 27, 2019 3:32 am

Zenith Royal wrote:

Spent quite awhile listening to it last night into the wee hours of the morning. Sounds quite good, just debating whether to recap it or not. I didn't try cranking it up too loud,as not to bother the folks in the apartment below me. :wink:

Maybe I'll try it outside. Good performer though, I'm pleasantly surprised.

If you have another 6 Transistor radio to compare it with, and it's volume level on a local station can match the other, then there's probably no need to replace the caps.

What you can do however, on a weak but non-fading station, is to very slightly adjust each of the three IF cores (not the red one though), and most likely one, maybe two, will cause an increase in signal level.

Then find a station near 1400 KC, and adjust the antenna trimmer screw on the back of the tuner for best volume. If you lose the station, adjust it back to where it was, as you tweaked the osc trimmer, and go to the other screw.

Zenith Royal · **Posted:** Nov Fri 01, 2019 3:56 am

fifties wrote:

Zenith Royal wrote:

Spent quite awhile listening to it last night into the wee hours of the morning. Sounds quite good, just debating whether to recap it or not. I didn't try cranking it up too loud,as not to bother the folks in the apartment below me. :wink:

Maybe I'll try it outside. Good performer though, I'm pleasantly surprised.

If you have another 6 Transistor radio to compare it with, and it's volume level on a local station can match the other, then there's probably no need to replace the caps.

What you can do however, on a weak but non-fading station, is to very slightly adjust each of the three IF cores (not the red one though), and most likely one, maybe two, will cause an increase in signal level.

Then find a station near 1400 KC, and adjust the antenna trimmer screw on the back of the tuner for best volume. If you lose the station, adjust it back to where it was, as you tweaked the osc trimmer, and go to the other screw.

Thanks Fifties! I I did tweak the IF's today, and they seemed fine the way they were. Then I peaked the trimmer cap on the tuner,and it did.bring the sensitivity up slightly. It did seem to make a difference, during the day heard some weak distant stations. The plastic alignment tool wouldn't turn the cans,so I was able to use a screwdriver due to the large IF's. Just made sure not to touch the shields. Fortunately it didn't detune them. It didn't appear to have been messed with by anyone. I'm going to leave the caps alone since I don't think it would make any difference playing as loud as it is.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

This set was also badged as a Candle radio.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

This little cutie lost it's dial pointer chevron. :cry:

(brass inverted V insert)

fifties · **Posted:** Nov Wed 13, 2019 9:07 pm

livewire54 wrote:

This set was also badged as a Candle radio.

I have one.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

That's a nice (and earlier?) variant.
I like the louvered grill and the added dial escutcheon.

I also have the 10 transistor Candle, it is a carbon copy of my Valiant with a Candle badge.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

SILVERTONE MODEL 212 / 9205 CORAL - Circa 1959

This was a budget radio produced by Arvin for Sears.
These were produced in a wide range of colors and different faceplate / grill designs.
All had the same six transistor circuit design.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

ADMIRAL Y2068 "SUPER 7" "NASSAU GREEN" - Circa 1960

One of the last "made in America" pocket radios.
This thing is thick as a brick at 1.5 inches, so 'shirt pocket radio' might be a stretch.
Made with all American components, the pcb / chassis appear to be hand soldered.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

1962 - One of Sony's early FM - AM portable car radios with locking under dash mounting frame.

Zenettesky · **Joined:** May Sun 26, 2019 4:25 pm **Posts:** 37

Pretty in aqua...

Zenettesky · **Joined:** May Sun 26, 2019 4:25 pm **Posts:** 37

Here is one of the Arvin variants of the coral Silvertone 212 shown above. Love that aqua!

(Pic is from TabiWallah - lifted from Google search.)

xrhonda91 · **Posted:** Nov Sat 23, 2019 5:54 pm

Neat to see the Sony automobile "docking" unit !

How is the Admiral "Super 7" performance ?

John

Colin Ames · **Posted:** Nov Sat 23, 2019 6:11 pm

I like the Sony docking station. I used to own one of those radios, but never found the docking station to go with it.

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

xrhonda91 wrote:

Neat to see the Sony automobile "docking" unit !

How is the Admiral "Super 7" performance ?

John

I will get back to you on the Admiral Super 7 - I have not connected a battery yet.

EDIT: WELL NOW! Not so spectacular results, at least it works.
Low volume, receives five or so stations in the 1600KC - 1000KC region, just crickets below that.
I live in South San Diego near the Mexican border, so radio reception at night is very good.

So it seems the Super 7 will require the requisite recap and alignment to achieve greatness again.
Heh, maybe next year. Too busy with other projects at the moment.

Juliosz · **Posted:** Dec Sun 01, 2019 3:46 pm

Two of my favorite portables:

livewire54 · **Joined:** Mar Tue 12, 2019 6:09 am **Posts:** 240

Juliosz wrote:

Two of my favorite portables:

I own a Zenith TO like your 7000 series on the right, nice rig!
What brand/model is the set on the left?
Do you have a backstory on these radios? When and where you found them? What they cost you, etc...

Juliosz · **Posted:** Dec Fri 06, 2019 3:02 am

Thanks, I found the TO at an antique radio show early this year in the Detroit area. I gave $150 for it and it’s not perfect but it’s in really nice shape overall. The radio on the left is a Braun T1000 which is one of my favorites. It was made around 1965. It’s outstanding cosmetically and performs flawlessly. I likely paid more than I should have for this but I’ve wanted a nice one for a while. I couldn’t find a really nice example here in the states so I bought this from a seller in Germany two years ago.

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