What better device could a 1960's guy have in his shirt pocket than a transistor radio blasting out tunes that sounded absolutely great on a two-inch speaker?
Pocket-sized transistor radios started getting affordable and common in the early 1960's. Prior to that, they were bigger, many 1950's vintage radios being about the size of a portable eight-track player (more on those to come!). But they were tiny compared to the tube-driven models of a few years before.
Transistors, invented in 1947, revolutionized the world as much as any other twentieth-century invention. When they started being utilized in electronic devices, radios and the like began shrinking!.
It wasn't long before transistor radios, powered by the ubiquitous nine-volt battery, were a common sight in shirt pockets and sitting on desks all over America. And they would be tuned to rock and roll stations, of course.
And you also used the monophonic earpiece. It provided as high-quality a sound as the built-in speaker ;-).
The music that came in over the AM stations back then simply didn't need a better speaker than what came with the transistor radio, or its earbud. Sure, you could listen to records on a hi-fi, but just try lugging one to the beach.
The transistor radio was a familiar sight in the 60's to those of us old enough to remember bell-bottoms, paisley shirts, and, of course, JFK.
Comments (5)
What a great memory! I got my first Transistor radio in 1966. It was a Truetone from Western Auto. I remember listening to, "The Ballet of the Green Beret" and "Green eyed lady" on it. I still have the green little box. I can't pick anything up but it still makes static.
Thanks for the memory:
Charlie
Posted by Charles Young | November 23, 2006 7:37 AM
Posted on November 23, 2006 07:37
I have the best memory of my little transistor radio. In 1967 I was 6 years old. When I went to bed at night I would always put my transistor under my pillow and listen to the local A.M. station. I knew my favorite song, "There's A Kind Of Hush" by Hermans Hermits would be played and would fall asleep listening to it.
Posted by Rhonda | April 11, 2007 8:04 PM
Posted on April 11, 2007 20:04
Well, Google messed up the relevancy of this page
Posted by truetone | April 21, 2007 10:00 PM
Posted on April 21, 2007 22:00
I lived in New Haven. It was a big deal to me if I could pick up 1010 WINS and Murray the K's Swingin Suaree from NYC. I now own a great radio collection.
Posted by Allen Feinberg | April 27, 2007 11:55 AM
Posted on April 27, 2007 11:55
I remember the small white or black colored square transistor radios. Scratchy am radio with marginal antenna coverage. But that is what we had and it seemed those 9 volt batteries would die quickly! Thank goodness for transistors, they made all our radios small and compact to use! I still use tube type radios in some of my amateur radio uses! I also had a waterprood shower radio that you would put in your shower! Those transister radios are now very collectable!
Posted by Rivers End | April 25, 2009 8:24 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 20:24