The Case:
Back in 1959 Joe Bidwell of Tucson, AZ saved his pennies to buy his first transistor radio. He still owns the Motorola and fondly remembers the freedom he felt listening to music with a radio he could fit in his pocket.
He watched the transistor revolutionize electronics, paving the way for personal computers, space travel and much more. Then about ten years ago Joe bought a Regency TR-1 at an online auction site. The TR-1 was the first transistor radio made in 1954. His has a serial number of 2067, which Joe thinks seems very low.
Joe asks History Detectives host Tukufu Zuberi to find out whether he has the oldest transistor radio in existence.
Transistor Radio Patent
Take a closer look at Regency's original patent for the transistor radio.
Related Links
Explore
-
Related Investigation
Cleveland Electric Car
What happened to the electric street car network in Cleveland?
-
Also in Season 10
1775 Almanac
What do these crumbling pages reveal about divided loyalties during the American Revolution?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Japanese Balloon Bomb
Is this scrap of fabric evidence of a secret wartime attack on the United States' mainland?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Birthplace Of Hip Hop
Did this Bronx apartment building give birth to a culture that now spans the globe?
-
Also in Post War: 1945-1960
Unwed Mother's Home
Is this small medallion enough information to help a woman find her birth parents?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Prison Plaque
Were convicted felons responsible for bringing peace to Western Europe during World War I?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.