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On November 1, 1954, the world's first commercial transistor radios were distributed for sale. Manufactured by Indianapolis's Regency Electronics in conjunction with Texas Instruments, the Regency TR-1 revolutionized electronics. Transistors made possible smaller appliances that used far less power than those employing vacuum tubes. Today, millions of transistors can be placed on one integrated circuit, or "chip".
The clear TR-1 here is one of three prototypes known to exist. Another is on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, while the third is in the Texas Instruments corporate archives. Thanks to Mr. Bret Phillips for the loan of his Regency transistor radio collection. |