Because prices have gone through the roof for antique and vintage radios (tube jobs), could transistor units be the next collectables, some posts have hinted as much! Some of my concerns, are for restorations, can schematics be obtained readily, how about replacement parts, and are there sources? Could these radios be the biggest challenge of all! jn85

Some comments and answers:

A lot of antique and vintage radio prices have fallen back through the roof, and all the way into the basement over the last decade.

Transistor radios have been collectible for decades.

Parts, other than cosmetic items are readily available for most transistor radios.

Schematics and service literature for most name brand radios are easily available.

There's often a lot less challenge in fixing a transistor radio than many older tube sets.

I think the popularity of collecting transistor radios was at its peak in the late 80's-late 90's and ever since then has been dropping drastically since the advent of the internet.

Used to be that at any of the radio shows there would be guys with tables full of transistor radios including the novelty sets. You don't see that happening any more, and some of the radios that were selling for a decent price in the 90's there is almost no interest in now.

Whilst it's true you can get some parts that "will do the job", there are other parts that you won't be able to buy unless you are either very lucky, have a scrap set ready to hand, or have lots of money to throw at what you're trying to fix up/restore.

For example, the little square IF cans that were once dirt cheap can no longer be got a hold of easily. There is only one guy on ebay selling them and whilst his prices are reasonable, unless you live in the USA, postage is prohibitive. No doubt he will run out of them soon enough.

Telescopic antennas - not all radios use a "standard" fitting, mount, length etc. Whilst I found a replacement very easily for my 1980's Grundig Music Boy, I am still looking for a decent replacement for my (c)1970's Grundig Elite Boy 500e.

I'm not sure is telescopic antennas count as "cosmetic" items or not - the radio would work well enough with a bit of bent up wire coat hanger, but I'm going to hold out for the proper spare part

Most of the details you will need are easily enough available however - circuit diagrams, tuning cord restringing diagrams etc. This very forum gave me the details I needed to restring my Grundig Party Boy 100. It's still working well and used daily

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=122162&hilit=grundig+party+boy+100

The tiny IF cans are still in stock and dirt cheap at major parts suppliers like Mouser.

I went looking online for them - Mouser was one of the places I visited - no joy, I couldn't find a thing.

Edit: Ok, I have them now - no idea why I didn't see them sooner! Cool, so now for a new antenna for the 500e

I agree with the other comments regarding the prices of transistor radios.
It seems the "rare" ones can still command a good price (Regency TR-1, Sony TR-63,
certain Toshibas etc...) but generally prices have dropped considerably.
Radios that may have cost $100 ten years ago can be had for $30 - $40 these days.

If you are considering collecting transistor radios I suppose this is a good time to do it,
you can get better deals now.

I have been at this all my life , 40+ years and have fixed thousands of transistor radios . I repair them for others through the mail .. If you need help on stuff give me a toot through PM here .

Collecting Transistor sets can be very enjoyable for several reasons;

as has been noted, their prices have dropped to reasonably affordable levels from previous times. Also noted is the easy availability of parts, especially when buying in bulk on eBay, as when sellers offer a half dozen or more '70's sets cheaply.

Every radio has at least 6 Transistors, a Ferrite antenna coil, oscillator coil, two or three IF cans, tuning capacitor, volume control, one or two audio transformers, and a speaker. Why would one need to buy separate parts? I've found that, as with tube sets, the vast majority simply need their four Electrolytics changed out.
The next most common two problems are an open earphone jack contact, and a volume control with "dead spots". Both are easily corrected.

Transistor sets can be displayed in little enough space, as compared to their tube predecessors, and have you ever heard of someone working on a solid state set and being electrocuted from a nine volt supply?

Does all this indicate a drop in transistor radio collecting popularity? Yes, there has been a drop in prices and vissible evidence of sales doesn't occur at fleamarkets any more...but that could be said for just about anything collectible these days. I wonder if interest in and the number of transistor collectors hasn't increased but has gone underground, so to speak, on the internet?
I had the same question with regards to the recent decline in popularity of Trans-oceanics...or for that matter, radio collecting in general.
Bruce Webster

I agree with what Dennis said about prices going downward and crashing through the roof on common shirt pocket models that many people refer to as "transistors". Interest in novelty transistor radios seems almost nonexistent. But, contrary to what Bruce said, to me it seems that prices for the multiband, transoceanic-styles are holding their own given the state of the economy, especially on the more esoteric models. These are the sets that we lusted for but could never afford when they were new and now still can barely afford them unless we are lucky enough to find them at flea markets and estate sales.

The good thing is that the common sets are cheap and plentiful on ebay and can be a good way to learn about servicing transistor circuits before graduating to the more complicated sets.

There are some people who collect colorful plastic transistors for the beauty of their cabinet styles and designs, same as for tube radios.

Dave

There is a definite "underground", most-likely non-internet, interest in this area ( midwest )---rarely see any decent, older, transistor sets in a flea-market, antique mall, or "junk-shop" unless they are highly priced... I often ask the proprietors and get the response that all they get are quickly purchased---one recently said that a farm-boy buys all they get to "tinker with"...

But if you have the interest, it is a good hobby which requires little space & money ( except for those few high-dollar models ) and there are many great performing early transistor sets that are just plain fun to listen to and DX once you get them cleaned up & repaired ( mostly electrolytic cap failures as others have mentioned & these are easy to get as well as being very inexpensive )... And service info for a great many of the earlier sets is readily available...

I like my old tube sets for sure, but the higher-end great performing early transistor sets have got me in their "grip" !

John

There seems to be a growing hobby for those who collect boomboxes, especially the ones made in the 80's, during their heyday. I can understand their appeal; I still have one I bought new in the 80's, it's a GE and has a great AM section.

I don't know if anyone collects old walkman radios. Some of those were good performers, also.

At this weekends swapmeet in Guelph there was a noted absence of any transistor type multibands sets....Trans Oceanic or otherwise. The meet was cut short by rain so I might have missed something in my quick scan of the offerings. It might be that this meet drags out more of the tube type equipment but you'd expect to see a little variety. I had brought one of my RCA P890's just for my listening pleasure and could have sold it 5 times in 15 minutes. Judging from these observations, I'd say you're dead on, Dave

Bruce Webster