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Early all-transistor car radios
Hello everyone,
I had thought for many years that the first all-transistor car radios were in some top-of-the-line 1957 Cadillacs, but according to this page Chrysler had something similar one year earlier. Very interesting reading! http://www.allpar.com/stereo/Philco/ |
#2
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I think our first all-transistor was in either my parents' 1962 Meteor or their 1964 Impala...
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Reception Reports for Channel 37 TVDX Can Not Only Get You a QSL Card, but a One-Way Trip to the Planet Davanna is a Real Possibility... |
#3
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Mercury. Then another question might come up: when did they finally switch to all silicon devices? Germanium units had a number of things going for them (proven manufacturing processes for instance). |
#4
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I restored a radio from a friends '58 Cadillac a few years ago, and it was all tube. I thought it rather odd because I am certain that the stock radio for '57 Chevy's have a transistor audio output.
I had a '62 Cadillac and a '62 Ford a few years ago, and while I didn't have to do any radio repairs, I do remember them having to warm up. |
#5
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The basic manual tuned radio had a vibrator power supply and a S.E 12V6 output stage. The Third model available was a push button, five tube with a transistor output stage and space-charged tubes. The other GM divisions did about the same, IIRC. |
Audiokarma |
#6
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Also in 1956 Chrysler offered the Highway Hi-Fi. That was the first car record player. It was developed by Peter Goldmark at CBS and was the first use of 16 2/3 speed records. The records came from a special Columbia catalog. Those units were very troublesome and Chrysler had a lot of problems with them. Then in 1959, RCA developed a 45 player for Chrysler. I'm sure they jumped at the chance to show up CBS again. Chrysler only offered those until '61, but they were available aftermarket until at least '64. |
#7
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I had a Motorola all-transistor unit in my '59 Oldsmobile. Strangely enough, I was given 3 big boxes of car radios about 2 hours ago...the oldest has "1956 Mercury" written on it in marker, plus some really interesting ones, a Motorola, and a Pianola, along with a few Chrysler offerings.
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"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia." |
#8
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Had a 60 Olds with non-Motorola transister. Did not have preset pushbuttons. Car was a rare factory stick, though.
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#9
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Had a '64 Vette with all transistor AM and FM radio... when did FM car radios first hit the market?
jr |
#10
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I know Cadillac had an optional AM/FM radio in 63. All transistor. My 62 caddy had a hybrid AM radio.
__________________
"It's a mad mad mad mad world" !! http://www.youtube.com/user/mwstaton64?feature=mhee |
Audiokarma |
#11
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in 1963, but maybe only in the spring of that year. |
#12
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What struck me as strange, they made them for the big three, as well as Studebaker. Great performing radios. Bendix and Motorola came out a little later. |
#13
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PHILCO TRANSISTOR CAR RADIO COMMERCIAL - 1955 http://youtu.be/OiSkp8Ut_aQ
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Tony |
#14
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I remember years ago, Broadcasting magazine would at the start of each model year, quoted Delco's unit cost for AM and AM/FM radios. I recall that in the mid-70's, the AM's cost $8 each and the AM/FM's cost $12...
__________________
Reception Reports for Channel 37 TVDX Can Not Only Get You a QSL Card, but a One-Way Trip to the Planet Davanna is a Real Possibility... |
#15
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Ok, it took some digging, but I think I found the history of FM car radios. In 1952 Blaupunkt made an FM only in-dash tube radio in Europe. This radio was later offered as a factory option by Porsche. In 1953 Becker began making AM/FM in-dash tube radios for Mercedes-Benz.
In the US, in late 1957 Lincoln offered an "FM Tuner Option" for its 1958 cars. This was a Bendix built all tube, floor mounted tuner. It also had foot controls. In 1959 Motorola came out with the aftermarket FM900 tuner that was a hybrid and was all under-dash. It used the AM radio's amp. In their annual report, Motorola claimed they were, "the first major American company to mass produce an FM car radio." Apparently they didn't think Bendix was a major American company. In late 1962, for the '63 model year, both GM and Ford offered all transistor in-dash mono AM/FM radios. GM's Delcos were available in full size cars and Corvettes, and Cadillac offered an add on multiplex unit. Ford's was Bendix built and available in full size cars and Thunderbirds. Chrysler offered the Delco radios in their '64 Chryslers and Imperials. Dodge and Plymouth did get them until '65. So, as Paul Harvey used to say... now you know the rest of the story! |
Audiokarma |
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