Sony Corp., Japan, Export to Sony of Canada Ltd. Here are the specifications: Technical Description of Item The conjecture, that "tropical" here stands for short-wave in general, is far-fetched since it would much more apply to the TR-62, which covers only the tropical bands with frequencies between 2.5 and 4.5 MHz, and has no such label. Although no specifics are provided, the word itself sounds extremely promotional especially when the radio is primarily targeting export markets. It was in particular hot temperature, moisture, damp humidity, fungi, and insect and reptile ingress, that made it necessary to "tropicalize" such equipment by coating surfaces and components with anti-fungalĪnd water-repellent sprays and minimizing passage-ways from outside to inside. Tropicalisation was a big issue after WWII, which made people aware that exposure of electric and electronic equipment to unfamiliar and extreme climates infringed on their proper working condition. The on/off-volume knob exhibits in addition the word "TROPICALIZED". PleaseĮ-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français. The radio is in mint condition and - after service - is working extremely well, as verfied by the youtube video (ref.4 or click on thumbnail 27). My radio has serial number 20065, so it is a late 10'065/13'766, consistent with its chrome fittings (not brass), silver 2T201 transistors (not black 2T2001), serial number tag with new (not old) logo, and main board R-7C3 (not R-7C2). Serial numbers of this radio started at 10'000 and only 13'766 have been made, 8 times less than TR-63's. The funny warning "CAUTION ON POLARITY OF BATTERY OR GIVE A DAMAGE TO TRANSISTOR" can be found also in model TR-62. The radio covers pretty much of the short-wave bands from 49m to 16m. A push-button matching the antenna design allows switching between the bands. Short-wave reception can best be optimized by using the radio in its "beach position" and rotating it together with the fixed antenna. The radio wins the beauty contest: It has no back, it has two fronts like a Janus face, and the only way to tell is by comparing the position of the 3 ft long telescope antenna - left or right. That cabinet is also shared by model TR-741, a domestic version of the TR-74 with a restricted frequency range. Model TR-74 sports both the expiring first and the upcoming second Sony logo, and was followed in 1958 by Sony's and world's first FM transistor radio TR-151 in an almost identical cabinet. The TR-74 may be even world's first shortwave transistor radio, a title normally attributed to Magnavox' AW-100 both were introduced at the end of 1957. The TR-74 of November 1957, offered here is the first Japanese full-fledged short-wave set, not counting the 2-band TR-62 from August 1957 (the frequency of the TR-62 is limited to the tropical band from 2.5-4.5 Mhz, because no high frequency transistors were yet available). The December 1957 pocket-sized model TR-63 was the first export model to USA, of which more than 100'000 were sold. Next, in January 1956 came the cherry wood encased TR-72 (I just sold mine), the first export model, mainly distributed through the Canadian GENDIS. In August 1955 Sony introduced Japans first transistor radio, the famous TR-55, which sparked the name Sony and today commands 5-digit dollar prices, significantly more than the 5 months older world's first transistor radio Regency TR-1. 1957 SONY TR-74, first Japanese Full Short-Wave Transistor Radioīurgundy-Ivory Janus Faced Beauty Queen under the 1957 Transistor RadiosĪ collector's dream in perfect and working condition - and with original leather case
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