Category Archives: Classic Vintage Products

Holiday Brand Electronics

May 6, 2020

If you’re in the Upper Midwest, you’re no doubt familiar with Holiday Stationstores. If you’re over the age of 50 and grew up in Minnesota, you will also remember Holiday Village. Long before Walmart or even Kmart, Holiday Village was Minnesota’s original superstore! If Holiday didn’t sell it, you didn’t need it.

One of the things that made Holiday unique is that they had a huge selection of “branded” merchandise. Soda pop, motor oil, charcoal lighter fluid, fishing line, games, toys, paint, automotive supplies, even Christmas lights could all be found with the Holiday nameplate on them. Electronics, too. As you might have guessed, the radio and TV department was where I spent most of my time whenever Mom or Dad would take me to Holiday.

Recently, I came across a Facebook page entitled Fridley Holiday Village 487. This is a must-see for anyone who is interested in the history of Holiday stores. Apparently, the page creator was an employee at the Fridley, Minnesota Holiday Village (487 was the number that corporate assigned this particular store.) The page contains several photos, including some of vintage Holiday brand electronics. Each Holiday Village store carried the complete line. Some of the more popular items were also sold at Stationstores. This was especially true in smaller towns where there weren’t many places locally to purchase radio equipment.

This is a basic AM transistor radio from the early 1970s. It was manufactured under various brand names and in several different colors. Everyday price was around $4. Once-in-awhile, you could find a coupon in the local newspaper which would allow you to grab this little gem for the unbeatable price of $2.98!

Another simple AM pocket radio. I believe this one is a bit older, dating from the 1960s. During this time, it was common for radios to promote the number of transistors they contained.

Everyone needs a clock radio! Also from the early 1970s, Holiday sold this unit for about $10. It wasn’t a fancy model. Sensitivity and selectivity were about average. But it did a great job of waking you up in the morning to the sounds of your favorite local AM station.

Holiday’s 1972 Christmas Catalog featured this neat-o pair of walkie-talkies. Like the first pocket radio, these were also produced with several different nameplates. They came in a blister pack and were displayed on peg hooks. I bought a pair in 1975, paying the same everyday low price of $9.98. Which was amazing, considering that price inflation ran rampant in the mid-1970s. Transmit frequency was 27.125 MHz (CB Channel 14), receive frequency was everything since it had a very wide regenerative receiver. Range was advertised as 1/4 mile but was actually more like 1/10 mile. This was your basic “kiddie talkie” from back in the day.

Another, slightly older pair of Holiday walkies from the 1960s. The interesting thing about this particular model is that it did NOT use Channel 14, as did nearly all of the “toy” transceivers. Instead, it used 27.065 Mhz which was CB Channel 9. Yes, the emergency channel! Why? Because Channel 9 was not officially designated as the emergency channel until 1969. After that time, most of the kiddie talkies moved up to Channel 14 where they remained until the 49Mhz migration of 1978.

Finally, a vintage Holiday portable reel-to-reel tape recorder! This gem comes with everything you need, including earphone and carry strap. I’m not sure of the age on this unit, but I would guess it to be mid-to-late 1960s. By 1970, cassette recorders were becoming commonplace, replacing the reelers. Especially in portable units.

I hope you enjoyed this look back at the heyday of Holiday electronics! If you have additional photos, please send them to me so that I can share with everyone on Drew’s Radio Site!

Columbia House Record & Tape Club

April 9, 2020

Many of us loved buying music when we were kids. Problem was, our allowance money didn’t buy much. An occasional 45 or two for 88 cents each (remember the “Tops in Pops?”), but that’s about all.

Enter Columbia House: 11 records or tapes for just $1.00. It sounded too good to be true. But you did it anyway because, what the heck, it was worth gambling for a dollar. (And later, just a penny!) So, you filled out the form, put it in envelope with your dollar, and sent it off to 1400 North Fruitridge Avenue in Terre Haute, Indiana.

A few weeks later, a LARGE box arrived from the previously-mentioned address. THIS WAS PURE MAGIC! It was true! You didn’t get ripped off after all! Excitedly, you tore open the box and there was the mother lode: 11 brand new albums of your choice! (Or 8-tracks, or cassettes.) Unbelievable! Time to lock yourself in your room, turn on the stereo, and not be seen for days!

Later, you realized those “8 more selections” you agreed to buy came at a grossly inflated price. But for today, you were on top of the world. You were in Record Geek Heaven and enjoying every minute of it!

Bonus points if you can remember all 11 of your introductory selections. In the spring of 1977, these were mine:

1) Boston – Boston
2) Chicago – Chicago IX (Greatest Hits)
3) KISS – Alive!
4) KISS – Destroyer
5) KISS – Rock and Roll Over
6) Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow (I)
7) Barry Manilow – Barry Manilow II
8) Barry Manilow – Tryin’ to Get the Feeling
9) Barry Manilow – This One’s for You
10) Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle
11) Boz Scaggs – Silk Degrees

In a world filled with instant .mp3 downloads (legal and otherwise), kids will never know the sheer ecstasy of coming home from school, seeing that big brown box on the kitchen table, and ripping it open. Cheers, Columbia House!

Sarah’s Transistor Radios Collection

April 9, 2020

Apparently, Sarah’s Transistor Radios has been discontinued. Transistor.org was a fantastic resource. I’ll leave the link up, hoping that it will return soon.

I just stumbled across this EXCELLENT site yesterday and wanted to share it with my fellow Radio Geeks. Sarah’s Transistor Radios offers high resolution photos of over 1,000 transistor radios from the late 1950s to present day. Includes AM only and AM/FM versions. Battery only and AC/DC models. They’re all here! If you collected radios as a kid like I did, you’re sure to find some long-forgotten gems in Sarah’s collection.

WARNING: This site is VERY addictive! You will spend many hours admiring all the exhibits in this virtual radio museum! Here is a complete list of the manufacturers and specific models found on Sarah’s site:

Acme CH-610
Admiral 221
Admiral 691
Admiral YH371GP
Admiral PR-247
Admiral PR-270
Admiral Y2413GP
Admiral Y2063
Admiral YK381GP
Admiral Y2529GP
Admiral PR-11
Afco Sabre
Afco MTR-631
Afco 8 Transistor
AGS TR-62
Aimor 6 Transistor
Aircastle 16F1H
Air Chief 4-C-89
Air Chief 4C48
Airline GEN-1227
Airline GEN-1208
Airline 1131
Airline GEN-1187A
Airline 62-1258
Airline BR-1102A
Airline GTM-1109A
Airline GEN-1202
Airline GEN-1127A
Airline GEN-1213
Airline GEN-1119A
Airline GEN-1130A
Airline GEN-1475A
AITC M1108
AITC P2108
AITC 10 Transistor
ITC 14 Transistor
ITC 12 Transistor
Aiwa AR-853
Aiwa AR-115
Aiwa AR-665
Aiwa AR-123
Aladdin AL-603
Alaron TN-801
Alaron 10 Transistor
Alpha 6 Transistor
Ambassador TR-803
AMC TF106
AMC TRB-821
Americana FC-60
Americana KP-8
Americana 620
Americana FP-861
Amico “Deluxe”
Amisonic Radio
Ampetco 8 Transistor
Angel Germanium Radio
Arrow 5 Transistor
Arvin 61R39
Arvin 61R48
Arvin 61R29
Arvin 68R38
Arvin 9577
Arvin 9574P
Arvin 9562
Arvin 66R58
Astor FQZ
Astra YTR-603
Aud-ion Boy’s Radio
Audition 125-3
Audition 2 Transistor
Audition Boy’s Radio
Auditone TR-280 Boy’s Radio
Aurora 6 Transistor
Aurora “Deluxe”
Aurora 8 Transistor
Aurora 6 Transistor
AWA Radiola 6
AWA Radiola
AWA Radiola B67

Baylor 6YR-15A
B.C. Telecon Radio/Walkie-Talkie
Beach Boy Radio
Belson 800
Bendix Navigator 420
Best Ever HK-3513
Bloc-Tronic 180 Electronic Kit
Bradford 10 Transistor
Bradford TR-1626
Brother 6 Transistor
Browni Multiband
Browni TR-2700
Browni 6 Transistor
Buddy Boy’s Radio
Bulova 250 (leather)
Bulova 250 (plastic)
Bulova 270
Bulova 290P
Bulova 660
Bulova 6 Transistor
Bulova 8 Transistor
Bulova 870
Bulova 830
Bulova 680
Bulova 792
Bulova 890
Bulova 670
Bulova 740
Bulova 730
Bulova 840
Bulova 720

Candle PTR-81B
Candle PTR-60S
Candle PTR-109
Candle PTR-100
Candle PTR-85B
Candle PTR-83
Candle 10 Transistor
Candle PTR-62B
Candle TR-2 Boy’s Radio
Candle 8 Transistor
Candle 8 Transistor (part deux)
Candle TK-1848
Candle VM-1025
Candle 6 Transistor
Candle ATR-800
Candle VM-1010
Captain YF-161
Carlin Walkie-Talkies
Carlton ST-7
Casio PR100
Champagne 1808
Channel Master 6521
Channel Master 6503
Channel Master 6514
Channel Master 6501
Channel Master 6502 “B”
Channel Master 6506
Channel Master 6509
Channel Master 6515
Channel Master 6518
Channel Master 6460 “Maverick”
Channel Master 6467
Channel Master Extension Speaker
Channel Master 6519
Channel Master 6516
Channel Master 6523
Channel Master 6528A
Channel Master 6448
Cherry Boy’s Radio
Cimco 6 Transistor
Clairtone “Mini Hi Fi”
Claricon VI TR-639
Classic TR-107
Cobra Two
Columbia 600G
Columbia 610R
Columbia 2452
Commodore 14 Transistor
Commodore 8 Transistor
Commodore TW-60
Computron 2601
Concord DF-1
Constant 6T-200
Continental TR-1067
Continental TR-182
Continental TR-682
Continental TR-1085
Continental TR-200
Continental TR-716
Continental TR-801
Continental TFM-1064
Continental TR-622
Continental TR-884
Continental TR-100
Coronado 43-9915
Coronet 6 Transistor
Coronet Boy’s Radio
Courier COP-20H
Craftsman NR-39F2-CB
Craig 4101 Walkie-Talkies
Crestline 6T-220
Crestline 6T-280
Crosley JM-8MN “Fantasy”
Crown TR-400
Crown TR-610
Crown 9 Transistor
Crown TR-620
Crown TR-680
Crown TR-675
Crown TR-690
Crown TR-800
Crown TR-333
Crown TR-9
Crown TR-860 Flashlight Radio
Crown TR-666
Crown TRF-1500R
Crown TR-900R
Crown Walkie-Talkie
Crown TR-999
Custom Two-Transistor

Delfonic CTR-615
Delmonico 8 Transistor
Delmonico 4T-20U Portable TV
Delmonico 6 Transistor
Delmonico T-611
Deville 6 Transistor
Dynamic DTR-820

Eastern Crystal Radios
Electra 6 & 8 Transistor Radios
Electra VHF Converter
Electra WT-700CB Walkie Talkies
Electra TRN-6J
Electro-Brand AM/FM Radio
Electro-Brand 8 Transistor
Elf 6T-300
Elgin R-1300
Elmerdude ElmerRadio
Emerson 555 “All-American”
Emerson 856
Emerson 888 “Vanguard”
Emerson 888 “Explorer”
Emerson 888 “Pioneer”
Emerson 849
Emerson 707
Emerson P3400B
Emerson 880
Emerson 888 “Transitimer II”
Emerson 889 “Explorer”
Emerson Model 18 Charger
Emerson 988 “Rambler”
Emerson 911 “Eldorado”
Emerson 990 “Sportsman”
Emerson 31P56
Emerson 838
Emerson 999 “Champion”
Emerson 868
Emerson 888 “Atlas”
Emerson 859
Emerson 808
Emerson 888 “Satellite”
Emerson P3760
Empire TR-100
Encore 10 Transistor
Encore 78
Encore 615
Encore 6 Transistor
Encore 8 Transistor
Encore TFN-1003
Encore TR-1500
Encore 1288
Energy Sciences Solar Radio
Englishtown MTR-716
Eureka KR-6TS35
Ever-Play PR-1266
Excel NTR-120

Fanon FCB-9 Walkie-Talkies
Fidelity-Tone NT-4
Fiesta 6 Transistor
Fiesta 16 Transistor
Fiesta 16 Transistor, Part 2
Fleetwood NTR-100
Four-Star 5 Transistor
Four-Star Boy’s Radio
Ful-Tone TR-601
Futura “Medallion”

General Electric 7-2753D
General Electric P-850D
General Electric P-745B
General Electric P-807A
General Electric 7-2705C
General Electric 7-2753
General Electric P-1716A
General Electric P-1731B
General Electric P-1760
General Electric P-1761
General Electric P-1797
General Electric P-1810A
General Electric P-2790J
General Electric P-780
General Electric P-786A
General Electric P-831A
General Electric P-977E
General Electric P-825A
General Electric 7-2885F “Superadio II”
General Electric P-820A
General Electric P-2710 “Long Range”
General Electric P-1721A
General Electric P-766A
General Electric P-750A
General Electric P-4715
General Electric P-910AA
General Electric P-916C
General Electric P-1790
General Electric P-795D
General Electric 7-2500B
General Electric P-1756
General Electric 676
General Electric P-800A
General Electric P-770
General Electric CT-455A
General Electric P-865
General T-71
Gibraltar P-1405
Global GR-711
Global GR-900
Global GR-100
Global GR-612
Global GR-712
Global GFM-931
Global GR-920
GM Sportsman TR-1088
Golden Shield 7000
Golden Shield 7188
Golden Shield 2701
Grand Prix GP-805
Graymark 801
Grundig YB-P2000
Grundig Platinum Traveler
Grundig Micro-Boy
Grundig Boy 30
Grundig Traveller II PE
Grundig FR-200
G. Star TR-610
Gulton Ever-Play

Hallicrafters 4RT3
Happi-Time 649.23020
Harlie TR-661
Harpers 9 Transistor
Harpers 4 Transistor
Harpers TR-208
Harpers MG-302 Germanium Radio
Harpers GK-600
Hearever 8 Transistor
Heathkit GR-1008
Heathkit GR-17
Hi-Delity 6T-250
Highwave 8 Transistor
Highwave 9 Transistor
Hi-Lite YTR-601
Hilton NTR-800
Hilton 8 Transistor
Hitachi TH-666
Hitachi TH-680
Hitachi TH-862R “Marie”
Hitachi TH-831
Hitachi TH-621
Hitachi TH-759
Hitachi TH-848
Hitachi TH-627R
Hitachi TH-812
Hitachi TH-667
Hitachi WH-829 “Kelly”
Hitachi WH-761 “Betty”
Hitachi TH-660
Hitachi WH-667 “Judy”
Hitachi TH-600 “Hiphonic”
Hoffman 727X
Hoffman KP706 “Trans-Solar”
Hoffman 728
Hoffman 7 Transistor
Hoffman OP-708
Hoffman BP-410
Holiday 16-033
Holiday 888
Holiday HF-601
Holiday S900
Holiday HT-881
Holiday 8 Transistor
Honey-Tone FR-601
Honeytone 12 Transistor
Honeytone 7 Transistor
Honeytone G-606
Hy-Lite E164

Impac DO-10
Igetric XRT-101
Imperial 6 Transistor
Imperial 6 Transistor
Imperial GK-600
International A9101
International 10 Transistor
International 10 Transistor (part deux)
International Radio
Invicta 801
Invicta 9 Transistor
Invicta 200
ITT 6409
ITT 631

Jade 161
Jade 101
Jade J-143
Jaguar 6T-250
Jaguar CFM-1000
Jaguar T2010
Jefferson-Travis JT-H204
Jefferson-Travis JT-F211
Jefferson-Travis JT-H105S
Jewel TS-10
Juliette APR-256
Juliette TR-91M
Juliette WT-6 Walkie-Talkies
Juliette WT-146A Walkie-Talkies
Jupiter 6T-330
Jupiter “Ranger”
Jupiter 6T-250
Jupiter 6 Transistor
Jupiter 6T-220
JVC-Nivico 8H-3
JVC-Nivico 10A-3

“K” 4 Transistor
Kalimar 6TP-430
Kaytone 9FM-38
Kent Boy’s Radio
King 6 Transistor
K-Mart 601A
K-Mart 5 Transistor
K-Mart 31-07
K-Mart 6-31-09
K-Mart Cube Radio
Knox 6 Transistor
Kobe Kogyo KT-80
Kobe Kogyo KT-63
Kobe Kogyo KT-1000M
Kowa 8 Transistor
Kowa KTF-1
Kowa KTF-115
Koyo KR-6TS1
Koyo 10 Transistor
Koyo 8 Transistor
Krysler 10 Transistor

Lafayette FS-91
Lafayette FS-223
Lafayette FS-206
Lafayette 150-In-1 Kit
Lafayette HE-29B
Lark Boys Radio
Le Sabre 8-Transistor
Life Tone Boy’s Radio
Linmark T-63
Linmark T-61
Lloyd’s TR-6L
Lloyd’s 7S44B
Lloyd’s 6K88N
Lloyd’s 8 Transistor
Lloyd’s 6K87B
Lloyd’s 8R29 “Hipster”
Londale TR-930
Longines “Symphonette”
Longines “Symphonette” 1561
Long Way Walkie Talkies
Luke Solar Radio

Magna Eight Transistor
Magnavox AM-80
Magnavox AM-22
Magnavox AM-84
Magnavox 2-AM-802
Magnavox AM-5
Magnavox AM-60
Magnavox IR-1002
Magnavox AW-24
Magnavox 2R-1001
Magnavox AM-23
Magnavox AW-100
Magnavox AM-81
Maninc 5 Transistor
Marc 8 Transistor
Marconi 488
Marcraft SE-1010 Kit Radio
Mark VII Radio
Mars Boys Radio
Mars 6YR-15A
Marvel 6YR-15A
Marvel “Hi-Fi Deluxe”
Marvel 6 YR-10A
Marvel 6YR-05
Marvel 6YR-19
Marvel 6TP-207
Mascot II Boys Radio
Mascot II Boys Radio II
Master Sound 5050
Matsushita T-41
Matsushita T-22U
Matsushita T-13
Mayfair 714 Tape Recorder
Mayfair GP-21
MCE 7760
Mellow Tone 6 Transistor
Mellow Tone 14 Transistor
Melodian TR-6B
Melodic MT-60
Merco Air King
Midland 5 Transistor
Midland TV/FM Radio
Midland 13-425E Walkie-Talkie
Midland 13-108 Walkie-Talkies
Milco Micro 7
Million Boy’s Radio
Mitchell 1101
Mitsubishi 6X-870
Mitsubishi 6X-720
Mitsubishi 6X-140
Mitsubishi 6X-300
Mitsubishi 6X-145
Mitsubishi 6X-148
Mitsubishi 7X-850
Mitsubishi 8X-584A
Mitsubishi FX-412
Mitsubishi 6X-240
Monacor RE-612
Monarch 800
Monarch Six Transistor
Morse Boy’s Radio
Motorola X21W
Motorola X26W
Motorola X12A-1
Motorola X19A
Motorola 6X39A
Motorola XP22DL
Motorola XP34GN
Motorola 6X31N
Motorola CX2N “Tandem”
Motorola XP69BN

Nanaola 8NT-1272H
National T-26
National R-027
National Panasonic R-201
National AT-290
National EB-165
National Panasonic R-8
National Panasonic R-1021/R-1031
National Panasonic T-100M
National Panasonic DR28
National Panasonic DR49
National T-46
National R-1016
NEC NT-620
NEC NT-6M11
NEC NT-625
NEC NT-61
NEC “Galaxie” 664
NEC NTF-901
Neutron 101
New Max TS-30 Extension Speaker
Newtech PR-315
Nichinan Boys Radio
Nipco 6 Transistor
Nobility NB678
Nobility FT-6000
Nobility 12 Transistor
Nobility 14 Transistor
Nobility NTR-605
Noom 10 Transistor
Nordmende “Transita”
Norelco Electronic Kit
North American RA-1001
North American 876
North American 16-Transistor Radios
North American 15 Transistor
Norwood NT-602

Olympic 666
Olympic 859
Olympic 6 Transistor Clock Radio
Omegas 8 & 10
O.M.G.S. HT 6101
O.M.G.S. 1000
O.M.G.S. “Super Delux”
Omscolite 7 Transistor
Omscolite 7 Transistor
Onkyo SA-101 Radio/Transceiver
Onkyo 7TR-800
Optex 6 Transistor
Optex 6 Transistor
Orion TR-710
Orion 10 Transistor
Orion 9 Transistor

Packard Bell AR-851 “Gilligan’s Island” Radio
Packard Bell 6RT-2
Packard Bell 9RT-2
Packard Bell 6RT-1
Pa-kette Crystal Radio
Panasonic T-50AA
Panasonic T-7
Panasonic R-70 “Panapet Ball & Chain”
Panasonic R-72 “Toot-A-Loop”
Panasonic RF-93 “Rolling Tone”
Panasonic T-601
Panasonic RC-1091
Panasonic R-132
Panasonic R-1052
Panasonic RF-511
Panasonic R-012
Panasonic R-1007
Panasonic R-1013
Panasonic R-1014
Panasonic R-1029
Panasonic R-1076
Panasonic R-1241
Panasonic R-1597
Panasonic RF-513
Panasonic RF-728
Panasonic R-1077
Panasonic R-1105
Panasonic T-92 “Portalarm”
Panasonic R-1326
Panasonic RF-626
Panasonic R-1018
Panasonic R-77
Panasonic T-9
Panasonic R-1070
Panasonic R-1551
Panasonic RF-666
Panasonic T-81
Panasonic R-47A
Panasonic R-111
Panasonic RF-505
Panasonic RF-506
Panasonic RJ-6 Walkie-Talkies
Panasonic RF-032
Panasonic R-12
Panasonic “Remembrance”
Panasonic RF-563
Panasonic RF-015
Panasonic RF-581
Panasonic RF-P50
Peerless 12 Transistor
Peerless 7 Transistor
Penney’s 6TP-555
Penney’s 6TP-243
Penney’s 3459 Clock Radio
Penney’s 981-2224
Penney’s 1151
Petite NTR-120
Petite 6 Transistor
Philco T7-126
Philco T51-124
Philco T-81GP
Philco-Ford RT-611
Philco T-67GP
Philco T89-124
Philco T75-124
Philco T500-124
Philco PT804BKG
Philco T66-126
Philco TC47-124
Philco QT-80BKG
Philco T74-124
Philco T701-124
Philco T45-126
Philco T1000-124
Philips L2X94T
Philips L3X78T
Philips L2X97T
Philips AE4320
Pigeon Mini Com
Pilot Radio
Pioneer SPR-500F
Plata 9FM-64
Play-Rite T8-110
Play-Rite 6 Transistor
Powertone 6 Transistor
Precor 550
Public 6 Transistor
Pure Energy “Desk Jockey”

Quasar Pen Radio

Radio Shack 12-734
Radio Shack Optimus 12-201A
Radio Shack DX-398
Radio Shack DX-390
Radio Shack DX-402
Radio Shack DX-399
Radio Shack “Archer” 60-4002
Radio Shack 12-802
Radio Shack 12-808
Radio Shack 12-215
Radio Shack 12-893
Radio Shack 12-930
Radio Shack 12-797
Radio Shack 60-4004 Walkie Talkies
Radio Shack 12-251 Weather Radio
Radio Shack 12-817
Radio Shack 12-464
Radio Shack 12-831
Radio Shack 12-829
Rainbow 6 Transistor
Rainbow 6YR-65
Raleigh “Astronaut”
Raleigh 619
Raleigh FM-990
Raleigh TC-909 Transceiver
Raleigh 8 Transistor
Raleigh 12 Transistor
Raleigh 8 Transistor (part deux)
Raleigh 1212
Raygee HR-203
Ray Jefferson 630
Raytheon T-100 Series
Raytheon Lucite Radio
Raytheon 8TP Series
Raytheon T-2500
Raytheon AM 100
RCA GP628C
RCA 1-RJ-19
RCA RGA 1049
RCA 3-RH-34
RCA 1-RH-12 Travel Set
RCA 1-TP-2E
RCA RHM49E
RCA 1-RG-43
RCA RLM-50A(T)
RCA RGG29E
RCA 3-RH-34 “B”
RCA 3-RH-22G
RCA GP-336
RCA 6 Transistor
RCA 9-BT-9E
RCA RHM19J
RCA 4RH16
RCA RGM29E
RCA RZD32B Clock Radio
RCA 3-RG-81
RCA 3-RG-14
RCA 1-T-5J
RCA P-332
RCA 8-BT-9E
RCA 4RG6
Realistic 90L-696
Realistic 12-171
Realistic 95L-020
Realistic 12-151A
Realistic 12-167B
Realistic 12-181 “Weatheradio”
Realistic 12-715
Realistic 12-728
Realistic 12-654
Realistic DX-400
Realistic DX-390
Realistic 12-166 “FlavoRadio”
Realistic 12-183 “Deskube”
Realistic 8-Transistor
Realistic 12-608A “Jetstream Mini”
Realistic 12-721 “FlavoRadio”
Realistic “TimeKube”
Realistic 12-666
Realistic 65-In-1 Kit
Realistic 90L424K
Realistic 12-656
Realistic 12-182 FM “Deskube
Realistic 12-716
Realtone TR-1088 “Comet”
Realtone TR-8611 “Constellation”
Realtone TR-801 “Electra”
Realtone TR-803 “A”
Realtone TR-803 “B”
Realtone TR-1626/TR-1826
Realtone TR-2051
Realtone TR-861
Realtone 1039
Realtone 3002
Realtone TR-970
Realtone 2207
Realtone 2011
Realtone TR-1055
Realtone TR-806-1
Realtone TR-1820
Realtone 1120
Realtone TR-6134
Realtone 1227
Realtone TR-555 “Galaxy”
Regency TR-1
Regency TR-1G
Regency TR-4
Regency TR-5C
Regency TR-7
Regency XR-2A
Regency DB-410 Signal Booster
Regency TR-1 Clear Back Model
Renown NB678
Riviera 6 Transistor
“Roamer” Crystal Radio (created by Franz Gysi)
Romy “Sports”
Ross RE-809N
Ross RE-1001
Ross 901
Ross 12 Transistor
Ross 10 and 12 Transistor Radios
Ross RE-777 “Jubilee”
Roxy UR-102
Russian “Yoonga” Radio

Sabre 6T-270
Sangean ATS-803A
Sanwa Boy’s Radio
Sanyo 6C-15
Sanyo 6C-17
Sanyo 6C-R11
Sanyo 8S-P20
Sanyo RP-5047A
Sanyo RP-1250
Sanyo 7C-307 “Cadnica”
Sanyo RP-1711
Sanyo 8S-P21
Sanyo TR-620
Sanyo 10S-10PN
Sanyo RPM-6800
Sanyo 8C-028P
Sanyo RPM-C5
Sears 10 Transistor
Sears 2202
Sears 2261
Sears 7216
Seminole 900
Seminole BP-311
Seminole 1000
Seminole 1100
Seminole 1101
Seminole 801
Seminole 806
Sharp FX-502
Sharp FX-184
Sharp TR-180
Sharp TR-182
Sharp TR-222
Sharp TR-173 “Collie”
Sharp BP-460
Sharp BP-110
Sharp TR-203
Silver 6TR-100
Silver 8TR-285
Silver 10TL-540
Silver 6T7
Silvertone 2206
Silvertone 2208 “Medalist”
Silvertone 1213 “500”
Silvertone 1202
Silvertone 2204
Silvertone 4209
Silvertone 42101
Silvertone 212
Silvertone 6214
Silvertone 8204
Silvertone 9203A
Silvertone 1206
Silvertone 3221
Silvertone 1209 “Medalist”
Singer HE-229
Skymaster 6 Transistor
Skymaster 9R-202A
Skywatch Pro
Skyway S-100
Sonata 8 Transistor
Sonnet 8 Transistor
Sonora 610
Sony TR-810
Sony 2R-21
Sony TR-1811
Sony TR-610
Sony TRW-621
Sony TR-620
Sony 3F-77W
Sony TR-86
Sony TR-75
Sony TR-63
Sony 2R-22
Sony 2R-29
Sony 6F-21W
Sony TFM-3750W
Sony TFM-3950W
Sony TR-1819
Sony TR-4100
Sony TR-608
Sony TR-650
Sony TR-72
Sony TR-725
Sony TR-750
Sony 6R-33 “Super Sensitive”
Sony TR-714
Sony 2R-31
Sony 6R-22
Sony TR-712
Sony TFM-1837W
Sony TR-84
Sony TR-752
Sony FD-20A “Watchman”
Sony 2R-28
Sony ICR-200
Sony ICF-200W
Sony ICF-S30W
Sony TFM-110W
Sony WM-F10II
Sony ICR-120
Sony TR-1829
Sony TFM-116A
Sony TR-1814
Sony TR-730
Sony TR-817
Sony TFM-834L
Sony ICF-S10MK2
Sony TR-1839
Sony ICF-SW1S
Sony ICR-3
Sony ICF-A10W
Sound Dimensions 6 Transistor
Soundesign 6 Transistor
Soundwave Weather Radio
Sovereign 8 Transistor
Spica ST-600
“Sports” Radio
Sportsman 6 Transistor
SR Rubber Radio
Standard “Mignon II-A”
Standard SR-G104
Standard SR-G430
Standard SR-F400
Standard SR-F25
Standard SR-K71F
Standard SR-Q460F
Standard SR-H437
Standard SR-F22
Standard SR-G24A
Standard SR-H436
Stantex 7 Transistor
Star-Fire 10 Transistor
Star-Lite TS-640
Star-Lite 6 Transistor
Star-Lite TRN-600
Star-Lite TRN-79
Star-Lite “Gaynote”
Startone CTR-701
Stewart 5 Transistor
Summit S900
Summit S912
Suntone 8 Transistor
Supreme TR-861
Swiss Radio (Unknown)
Swops 10 Transistor
Sylvania 4P19W
Sylvania 4P14

Tarleton 10 Transistor
Tempest TR-1200
Tempest 718
TG&Y 5 Transistor
TMK 10 Transistor
Toho 6 Transistor
Tokai RA-801
Tokai FA-951
Tokai Walkie-Talkies
Tom Thumb 6T-93
Tonemaster 9 Transistor
Tonex 10 Transistor
Tonex 6 Transistor
Tonex 624
Top-Notch 6 Transistor
Toshiba 7TP-352M & S
Toshiba 8TM-41
Toshiba 6TP-354
Toshiba 6TP-385A
Toshiba 7TP-30
Toshiba 7TP-303
Toshiba 6P-15
Toshiba 6TP-31/6TP-31A
Toshiba 9TM-40
Toshiba TR-193 and 5TR-193 “Lace” Radios
Toshiba 6TP-304
Toshiba 6TP-394
Toshiba 7TH-425
Toshiba 8TM-294B
Toshiba 6TP-309
Toshiba 6P-35
Toshiba 6TP-219
Toshiba 6TP-309A
Toshiba 6TP-385
Toshiba 8TP-90
Toshiba 5TP-90
Toshiba 6P-10
Toshiba 7TM-285S
Toshiba IC-70
Toshiba 6TP-315
Toshiba 6TP-314A
Toshiba 8TM-300S
Toshiba 7TP-21
TR-180 Radio
Trancel TR-60
Trancel TR-81
Trancel 7TM-312S
Trancel T-11
Trancel TR-80
Trancel 6TP-243
Trancel T-7
Trancel TP-194 “Reflex”
Trancel TR-50
Trans “Comet 459”
Transitone TR-1645
Transix 6 Transistor
Transonic 10 Transistor
Transonic 7 Transistor
Trav-Ler TR-285B
Trav-Ler TR-284B
Truetone DC-3600
Truetone DC-3812
Truetone DC-3408
Truetone D3715A
Truetone DC 3007
Truetone DC 3704
Truetone DC 3326

United Royal 601
Universal PTR-62B
Universal SM-888 “Big 8 Transistor”

Valiant HT-8053
Valiant 10 and 12 Transistor Radios
Valiant 6 Transistor
Valiant 6 Transistor
Valiant TR-1088
Vesper G-810
VIP TR-620
Viscount 6TP-102
Viscount AR-665
Viscount 12 Transistor
Viscount 10 Transistor
Viscount 602
Viscount 616
Viscount 1030
Viscount 831
Viscount 14 Transistor
Viscount 6TP-102 (metal-front)
Viscount 6T-300
Vista 6 Transistor
Vokar 5000 IF Transformer Kit

Webcor MTR-633
Wendell-West CR-18
Westinghouse H653P6
Westinghouse H841P6GP
Westinghouse H902P6GPA
Westinghouse H968PLA
Westinghouse 5 Transistor
Westinghouse H967P7
Westinghouse RS21P08A “Escort”
Westinghouse RPA5111A
Westinghouse H693P8
Westinghouse H707P6GPA
Westinghouse H798P7
Westinghouse H908PN9GP
Westinghouse H725P6
Westinghouse H771P6GP
Westinghouse H695P8
Westminster 6 Transistor
Wilco ST-88
Wilco G-601
Windsor 5 Transistor
Windsor STR-207 Boys Radio
Windsor 2013
Windsor 8T-888
Windsor 6T-220
Windsor 2024
Winston W-999

Yaesu VX-1R Transceiver
Yaesu VX-2R Transceiver
Yaesu VR-500 Communications Receiver
Yaou 6 Transistor
Yashica YT-300
York TR-102
York TR-103
York TR-62

Zenith Royal 950 “Golden Triangle”
Zenith Royal 500D
Zenith Royal 500H
Zenith Royal 25
Zenith Royal 10
Zenith Royal 16
Zenith Royal 20
Zenith Royal 50
Zenith Royal 250
Zenith Royal 2000
Zenith Royal 50L
Zenith Royal 400
Zenith R7000 Transoceanic
Zenith Royal 35
Zenith Royal C25
Zenith Royal 21
Zenith Royal 185
Zenith Royal 3000-1 Transoceanic
Zenith Royal 13
Zephyr ZR-620
Zephyr ZR-930
Zephyr AR-600
Zephyr GR-3T6
Zephyr GR-711
Zephyr ZR-740
Zephyr AR-665
Zephyr TR-64

Now THAT’S a radio collection! Enjoy!

KCON-AM 1230 Conway AR Antique Clock Sign

April 9, 2020

Wow! I guess I’m not the only one who loves vintage radio clock signs! Since posting the rare KYNT memorabilia yesterday, I have already received several e-mails. Want to see another? Of course you do!

This clock sign is for KCON-AM 1230, a now defunct station in Conway, Arkansas. Conway is unique in that it originally had 2 AM stations, both of which have since gone dark. There are also no commercial FM stations. KMJX-FM 105.1 is part of the iHeart Little Rock cluster. KCNY-FM 107.1 is located in Conway, but licensed to nearby Greenbrier. The only stations licensed to Conway that are actually in Conway are KUCA-FM 91.3 at the University of Arkansas and KHDX-FM 93.1, an 8 watt station on the campus of Hendrix College.

Back to KCON: as with many standalone AMs, this station fell on hard times as the new millennium began. KCON’s status was “on again, off again” for several years. UCA provided programming for a time. But often, it was just a simulcast of KUCA-FM. Finally, the “off again” became permanent. KCON went down for the last time, the license was returned to the FCC, and the 1230 frequency allocation to Conway was deleted. This clock sign reminds us of KCON’s glory days. A few years ago, I was in downtown Conway for Toad Suck Daze and there it was in a storefront window. My guess is that it was manufactured in the 1950s or 1960s. Anyone know for sure?

KYNT-AM 1450 Yankton SD Antique Clock Sign

April 9, 2020

Check out this beauty! My good friend Wayne came across this while visiting Kilroys, a slot machine, jukebox, and antique store in downtown Minneapolis.

This clock sign was custom manufactured for KYNT-AM 1450 in Yankton, South Dakota. Yes, Yankton actually had TWO radio stations in the old days. Most people are familiar with the mighty 5-7-0 WNAX. KYNT is Yankton’s other AM station. These clock signs were popular in the 1950s and 60s. Stations often gave them away to their top clients in exchange for being loyal advertisers and supporters of the station.

Does anyone know when this KYNT clock sign was produced? If you must have this for your collection, I have good news: it’s for sale! According to the price tag in the upper right corner, it can be yours for only $295.00.

1973 Action Jackson CB Radio Walkie Talkie Helmet

April 9, 2020

What in all of Radio Geekdom is THIS? If you are a child of the 1970s, you may remember the Action Jackson Walkie Talkie Helmet. These were manufactured by the Mego Corporation and sold at Radio Shack stores during 1973-74. This is a rare instance of Radio Shack selling an item produced by another manufacturer. Most Radio Shack merchandise was self-branded as Archer, Realistic, Micronta, Science Fair, etc., during this time.

Action Jackson was a 1970s line of toy action figures produced by Mego. Attached to the helmet was your typical “kiddie talkie” of the time. It had a simple regenerative receiver, operating on CB Channel 14. I’m guessing the output power was somewhere around 50mW. Typical range to another walkie talkie was around 1,000 feet. The thin one piece metal antenna was flexible in the middle with a loop on top. This allowed it to be clipped to the helmet or extended fully for greater range. Power source was a standard 9 volt transistor radio battery.

I was able to sweet-talk my parents into buying me one of these for Halloween 1973. I decided to dress up as a “spaceman”, so this was part of my costume. Slick, eh? If I remember correctly, the Action Jackson Walkie Talkie helmet sold for $14.95. This was somewhat expensive as you could buy two Archer Space Patrol walkie talkies with basically the same electronics for an identical price. Of course, you’re paying extra for the novelty, the helmet, and the Action Jackson name. These were great for talking while riding your bike. It gave children an incentive to wear a bike helmet long before this was required by law. Although I’m not sure how much “protection” this thin plastic helmet would provide. This toy would likely be banned today due to the long metal antenna. You’re gonna poke your eye out with that, kid! I sure had a lot of fun with this when I was 9-10 years old.

Radio Shack Battery of the Month Club

April 9, 2020

As a kid with very limited funds, one of my favorite Radio Shack promotions was their “Battery of the Month Club.”

RS_Battery_Month_Club

Here’s how it worked: You would go into your local Radio Shack, sign up and be issued a card. Bring the card back each month and redeem for one free standard Radio Shack ‘AA’, ‘C’, ‘D’, or 9-volt transistor battery. The salesperson would mark off that month on the back of the card. Return next month and repeat the process.

This was an ingenious promotion. Batteries only cost a few cents each, so this was a cheap way to bring people into the store. The hope, of course, was that you would purchase expensive electronics gear while you were there. You only received ONE free battery. So unless you got a 9-volt cell, you needed to purchase between 1 to 7 more batteries to power anything. As I said, ingenious!

I quickly figured out how to “work” Radio Shack’s Battery of the Month Club. We were lucky enough to have about 5 stores in our area, so I obtained one card for each store. Then, I had my mother and little sister do the same. There was no age limit and each card was exclusive to that store, so this was completely “legal.” About once per month, I’d have Mom make the rounds so we could collect our free batteries. Usually 9-volts, since these were the most expensive and also because I used them the most. Quick math shows I was able to obtain about 15 free batteries per month. Just enough to keep all my equipment running without having to shell out any allowance money!

Radio Shack Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

April 9, 2020

We all knew it was coming. We just didn’t know when it would become official. Radio Shack has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after suffering through 11 straight quarterly losses.

Much has been made about the causes of Radio Shack’s demise. This has been covered extensively in other forums. Here, I’d like to focus on their glory days. As a child of the 1970s, there was no finer place on Earth than a Radio Shack store! My mom would drop me off at the front door. I would then spend hours looking at all the items and talking electronics with the salespeople. Of course, this was a time when Radio Shack salespeople actually knew something about electronics and mothers did not get reported to Child Protective Services for leaving their kid in a store unattended. I learned a lot about consumer electronics and radio this way.

I could spend all day writing about Radio Shack products that I have owned and loved over the years. These 4 were my favorites:

1) MY FIRST STEREO:

RS_Stereo_1972

This wasn’t my first record player. My grandparents gave me a General Electric portable for Christmas when I was 4. Four years later, this was my first stereo. Also one of the first electronic devices that I purchased with my own money. I still remember proudly walking up to the counter with 32 mostly one dollar bills (sales tax was 4%), pointing at the stereo, and telling the guy behind the counter “I want one of THOSE!” It’s a rather unique design: one of only two phonographs I’ve ever seen with the tonearm located behind the platter instead of mounted on the right side.

2) MY FIRST CB RADIO:

RS_Base_Station

8 days after I bought that little red stereo, I received this Archer Space Patrol Base Station for Christmas, 1972. Very soon thereafter, it became my favorite piece of electronic equipment. I already owned a pair of walkie-talkies, but they were nothing like this machine. For starters, it received all 23 CB channels. Unlike the cheap regenerative walkies, this baby had a sensitive superheterodyne receiver. Combined with a long antenna (about 5 feet), the Base Station allowed me to listen to all CBers in my area. Another advantage: the transmit crystal was in a socket instead of soldered to the board. This allowed me to easily switch out the supplied Channel 14 crystal and replace it with Channel 21 which was used by most of the CB stations closest to me. The external mic provided a quality sound. Using 6 “D” cell batteries gave this Archer an honest 100mW power output. I sounded like I was using a “real” CB radio, not a typical off-frequency kiddie walkie-talkie with crummy audio. Later, I constructed a crude 1/4 wave ground plane antenna by duct-taping wire to a bamboo fishing pole. Mounted it on the upstairs deck and ran wires along the railings for radials! I also increased the power output by using a 13.8VDC CB power supply as an “AC Adapter.” I used this for 3.5 years until finally saving enough to buy my first “real” CB in the summer of 1976. Best $30 that Santa Claus ever spent!

3) MY FIRST PIRATE RADIO STATION:

RS_AM_Broadcaster

The Science Fair AM Broadcaster was introduced in 1974. Instantly, I wanted one! I’ll never forget the eager anticipation of putting the kit together, winding the coil, connecting the 9-volt battery, and then…the moment of truth…talking into the microphone as I slowly tuned my radio across the dial. Would it work? IT DID! IT WORKS, IT WORKS! I was the happiest kid on the planet as I “played DJ” for my family and the next-door neighbors. Shortly thereafter, I read some library books and learned how to modify this little transmitter for extended range. Eventually, I got it to transmit about a mile 😉

4) MY FIRST 800MHZ SCANNER:

PRO_34

I got hooked on public service band monitoring when I was given a Wards Airline 6 band portable radio for my 9th birthday in 1973. Later, I messed around with crystal scanners. Also owned one of the earliest programmable scanners: the Tenelec MCP-1. (Anyone else remember those?) But the PRO-34 represented a quantum leap forward for me. Being used to 16 or 20 channel capacities, I thought TWO HUNDRED channels was simply amazing! The frequency coverage of this scanner was also amazing. It could hear EVERYTHING! I carried it everywhere for about 2 years until I foolishly set it on the roof of my car while I fumbled for my keys. You can guess what happened next. About 1 mile down the road, I realized what I had done. Of course I went back and looked everywhere, but my beloved PRO-34 was gone. Since I did not find it smashed along the road, I assume someone grabbed it before I had chance to come back and search. Replaced shortly thereafter by a Uniden Bearcat 200XLT.

As the song goes, “these are a few of my favorite things” from the heyday of Radio Shack. It has been a sad, slow demise for what was once a cutting edge technology company. The Shack may soon be a thing of the past. But we’ll always have the memories. If you’re lucky, you also have a few Realistic, Archer, Micronta, Science Fair, Space Patrol, Clarinette, Modulette, Supertape, Concertape, NOVA, Optimus, Mach Two, SELECTaCOM, SERVO-ROTOR, Chronomatic, Flavoradio, Patrolman, Jetstream, or Deskube products still in service around your house.