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See more objects with the tag listening, radio, black and gold, personal device.

Object Timeline

1954	Work on this object began.
2017	We acquired this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2018	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

TR-1 Transistor Radio

This is a Transistor Radio. It was designed by Painter, Teague and Petertil and manufactured by Texas Instruments and Industrial Development Engineering Associates, Regency Division and engineered by Arthur P. Stern and patented by Richard C. Koch. It is dated 1954 and we acquired it in 2017. Its medium is molded plastic, brass; leather and metal (case). It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Advertised as the world’s first pocket radio, the TR-1 set the stage for future portable radio and digital media technologies. Developed in the year of the United States’s largest ever nuclear weapon test, the radio’s brass dial allowed the user to choose the desired frequency, and the small triangles indicate the appropriate wavelength for news during potential nuclear attacks.

This object was donated by Robert Greenberg. It is credited Gift of Robert M. Greenberg.

Palm-Size AM/FM Radio Radio
plastic, electronic components.
Gift of Max Pine.
1999-53-17-a,b

Radio
20 x 19 x 9 cm (7 7/8 x 7 1/2 x 3 9/16 in.).
Gift of Henry Dreyfuss.
1972-88-184-a/c

Here we have a boxy black radio with a minimal design. It has rounded edges and tapers inward toward the bottom with decorative gold accent that runs along the base. Like a 3-d trapezoid, the radio angles inward toward the top. In the front, it has four gold wheel dials (two on each side) to the left and right of a golden, central, circular speaker. Around the speaker is a window with black numbers on a gold background arranged like a ray, to indicate the tuner station. Framing the speaker and window is a simple gold band with vertical lines.

Sunburst Radio
molded plastic, cast gilt-metal, chrome.
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
1996-72-1

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

ts502 Portable Radio
abs plastic, chrome-plated metal.
Gift of Max and Barbara Pine.
1994-59-3

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 12.7 × 7.6 × 3.8 cm (5 in. × 3 in. × 1 1/2 in.)

Cite this object as

TR-1 Transistor Radio; Designed by Painter, Teague and Petertil; Engineered by Arthur P. Stern (American, born Hungary, 1925 - 2012); Manufactured by Texas Instruments, Industrial Development Engineering Associates, Regency Division; Patented by Richard C. Koch (American, 1934 - 2011); molded plastic, brass; leather and metal (case); H x W x D: 12.7 × 7.6 × 3.8 cm (5 in. × 3 in. × 1 1/2 in.); Gift of Robert M. Greenberg; 2017-51-6-a,b

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Bob Greenberg Selects.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2JVcrH/
Accession Number 2017-51-6-a,b
Object ID 1142029031