11) The First Product of Transistor Application in Japan

 
The first test product of a transistor radio

It is not that clear what was the 1st product of transistor application in Japan, but my personal view is that they must have been a transistor radio and an electronic phonograph made by Research Institute for Electrical Communication.

As trial production of transistors reached a reasonably satisfactory level, realizing uniform characteristics and performance, their application naturally became the next subject. As a result, the Research Institute decided to develop transistor radio and electronic phonograph as the 1st target. Makoto Watanabe, who started to work at the Institute after graduating from Electrical Department, The University of Tokyo (Later, Chief Director of Atsugi Electrical Communication Laboratory), was engaged in this task. The project was smoothly carried out, actually more smoothly than anticipated, by his outstanding capability.

He had in-depth knowledge of electric circuits and had an experience of assembling a TV with vacuum tubes in his school days. But when it comes to transistor circuits, almost all parts including transformers and coils etc. had to be special for transistor use, and the accomplishment owed much to Watanabe’s contribution.

The exhibition and demonstration of the transistor radio (shown in the photograph) and the phonograph were done at “Growing Radio Wave Exhibition” held by Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihon-bashi, Tokyo, in June, 1953. Visitors were particularly impressed to hear the wonderful sound from a large US-made 20-inch speaker driven by the phonograph, saying, "These small transistors can really make this large sound!"
(Photo: by courtesy of Shingo Iwase)

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