18) The First Product which was Presented to His Majesty the Emperor
Photo A (left): Japan's first transistor radio: "Model TR-55"
Photo B(right): Genuine “pocketable” radio: "Model TR-63"
Photo A shows the internal structure of the first Japanese
made transistor radio "Model TR-55" which Sony released in 1955.
As described in the explanation titled as "Respectfully Presented to
His Majesty the Emperor," it was the first product made by the company,
and we can feel confidence and pride of the development team on the product.
By the way, in the case of transistor radios, other electronic parts like
speakers, variable capacitors, transformers, etc. had to be miniaturized as
well. Their President, Ibuka himself visited the parts makers in different
places like Company M for capacitors, Company F for miniature sized speakers
and so on, and urged, "Smaller, and smaller! And better in quality, please!"
At first some makers resisted, saying "It is a crazy idea to make pocketable
radios," but they were finally moved by his eagerness, and started to
handle it as special order products which were supplied with customized specifications.
As you see, the first radios had certain size which was not actually pocketable.
It was two years later, in April,1957, when genuine "pocketable"
radio "Model TR-63" (photo: B) was released.
"We exported them to US and they created a sensation, but we later found
out that there was no English word as 'pocketable'." Although we appealed
the products as "pocketable," shirt pockets of salesmen were actually
made a little larger." This is a secret story (?) that Ibuka personally
told me later.
(Photo: by courtesy of Sony)