19) The Transistor Radio which did not Get "The World's First"
Photo A (Left): 4-transistor type radio which Regency in US released in 1954
Photo B (Right): "TR-52" transistor radio which Sony prepared for
test and mass production
It was in August, 1955 when Sony released long-cherished transistor
radio "Model TR-55," which was in super-heterodyne system with 5
transistors, and the price was 18,900 yen. It is like Sony way that they dared
to adopt grown-type transistors to realize better high frequency characteristics
in spite of their low manufacturing yield. But the roads to the product release
were rough with many ups and downs, and they could never quietly bring the
product into the market.
For one, Regency, the subsidiary company of Texas Instruments in U.S. tried
to put their 4 transistor type transistor radio (Photograph A) on the market,
as a big special Christmas campaign. Although Regency were obliged to withdraw
from the market soon due to the defective problem, Sony also had to put down
the signboard of "the First in the World."
And secondly, Sony themselves faced a defective problem which caused a schedule
delay.
What happened was as follows. Sony completed prototype development of "TR-52,"
which fully adopted junction type transistors in January 1955, and was preparing
for mass production.
And in the summer time this year an unexpected accident happened. As shown
in photo B, they stuck the grid shaped plastic plates to the cabinets in order
to simulate the United Nations building. However, the plates came to be lifted
up, affected by the early summer's heat, and they decided not to launch the
product. This is why it is referred to as the "phantom of the United
Nations building type radio."
Photo A: Source: Document of TI in US
Photo B: Provided by Sony