Transistor Radios Around the World

1955/56 Raytheon T-100

Coat pocket radio, thermoplastic cabinet
6 1/4 x 3 7/16 x 1 7/8 inches / 178 x 87 x 47.6 mm
Four transistors (Raytheon, 2x 2N112/CK760, 2N132/RAY602, 2N138; + 1N295 diode)
One standard 9-volt battery
Manufactured by Raytheon Mfg. Co., Waltham, MA

Raytheon's second transistor radio was more pleasing to the eye than its first, the 8TP, even if not as pleasing to the ear. The T-100's cabinet face displayed it Raytheon emblem above an orbit symbol, a memorable image of its age. As several other US radio manufacturers would do in the following year or two, Raytheon followed its first transistor radio, the seven/eight-transistor 8TP, with a radio with a lower transistor count -- in this case, only four transistors. Among other problems, the audio was crappy, and Raytheon addressed this by producing the six-transistor T-150, which added a second transistor in its audio stage.

Raytheon T-100

Raytheon T-100

Raytheon T-100, T-150

chassis — click on the photo for a larger image

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from my 1999 M31 site's Raytheon T-100 page:

Raytheon Corporation was in the transistor radio business for one single year, knowing that the real money is where the missiles are.

During that one-year period covering 1955-1956, Raytheon produced five transistor radio models: the 8TP, described in detail on another page here; the T-100 above; the T-101; the T-150, a slight variation on the T-100 in cabinet & chassis design; and a gross looking, leather covered thing the size of a small suitcase called the T-2500.

The T-100 is notable for being Raytheon's first plastic transistor, and it's a very popular set among transistor collectors. In terms of marketing, it's interesting to note that this radio employs a total of 4 transistors. Raytheon's earlier and first transistor radio, the lunchbox-sized 8TP series by contrast, used eight transistors in its chassis to make it the first good-performing transistor radio and blowing the pants off the Regency TR-1, a four-transistor radio...

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