Page "Transistor radio" Paragraph 14

In August 1955, while still a small company, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation introduced their TR-55 five-transistor radio into the U. S. market, under the new brand name Sony.

With this radio, Sony became the first company to manufacture the transistors and other components they used to construct the radio.

The TR-55 was also the first transistor radio to utilize all miniature components.

It is estimated that only 5, 000 to 10, 000 units were produced.

Coupled by a lack of advertising the result was the failure in the market of this initial attempt.

In 1955, in addition to the TR-55, the TR-7 was introduced in the United States by Sony through trade magazines, but was equally unsuccessful.