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The Regency TR1-
Four transistor radio.
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It may surprise you
to know that the
worlds first
transistor radio was
not Japanese, it was
designed and
manufactured in the
United States by
I.D.E.A. in Indiana. The
transistors
chips had been
invented just 7
years earlier in
1947 and was just
perfect for small
radio design. The
Regency opened the
doors for others to
follow, which they
did in vast numbers.
The
Regency TR1 was
first launched in
black, red, gray and
ivory, with deluxe
finishes added
for the
Christmas 1955
season, pearl white,
lavender, pink, lime
and meridian blue.
The TR1 measured just 13x8x3
cm, in the US it
sold for $49.95 and
$54.95 for the
deluxe finish.
Today the Regency
TR1 is sought after
by collectors with
prices in the region
of £300 for
radios in good
condition and much
much more for the
very rare deluxe
finishes.
Release
date: Oct. 18, 1954
Weight: 12 ounces
Battery: Eveready
412 (22.5V)
Transistors: 4off
from (TI) Texas
Instruments USA ( circuit
35k )
See
a 1954 advertisement for
the TR1 (image size
94K)
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18th October 1954
