Most Popular Transistor Radio in History, more than 3/4 million models sold! Channel Master Sanyo

[@Go4Corvette]

Thanks for the history. It's sad that schools no longer have the electronics, automotive, and woodshop, they did when I went to school. You learned how things worked, how to repair them, and take care of almost everything back then. Now they make almost everything throwaway and yet they say they care more about the environment now than before, lol. I remember a time when almost everything was reusable or rebuildable and that saved you a lot of money back then and you had much less trash, but you also needed the skills.

[@RJDA.Dakota]

That’s very true. That could be said about any of the AA5 radios. Every tube could be replaced. Most electronics used to be large enough to be worked on. Now everything is packed into a small space, and I mean PACKED. “No user serviceable parts inside-do not open”. Yes, times have indeed changed. But I guess we’re more “green”.(?!?) I do sometimes wonder about that given the new batteries in those EVs. And it goes on and on.

[@colintinker7778]

Interesting that the older transistor radios had a schematic / circuit diagram stuck inside them or in the instructions. They must have expected the radio to be repaired at some stage.

[@RJDA.Dakota]

@@colintinker7778 I remember those radios like that. Even the small Viscount radios made by Webcor did issue a schematic in the instructions book or on the back of the radio. And the battery was very unique.

[@geralderdek282]

I'm glad I began collecting transistor radios 40 years ago when nearly every flea market had them for as low as 50cents! It's a fun hobby collecting and repairing them! Those channel masters are a pain in the butt to recap as the leads are bent over and hard to remove. Its a Cool looking radio. Thanks for the video on them.

[@robertheim352]

I enjoy your description of history and reveal of the lineage. The shag carpet took me back as well ;-)

[@collectornet]

Thanks! I appreciate you saying that. I've accumulated a lot of this sort of history over the years--because it interested me and I was paying attention. It's gratifying to hear that these things interest others too.

[@ronalddevine9587]

Years ago I worked for a local business that sold cash registers. Everything from multiple unit systems to a single register for a small mom & pop store. Sanyo small registers were very well made and very durable. Plus they were easy to work on.

[@MrJohndoakes]

"6 TR" is six transistors. There was a time when the transistor radio makers were trying to copy how tube (valve) radios were sold, which made a big deal if there were more than five tubes in a set (look up "The All-American Five" radios of the 1930s-50s). The push went from transistor number to if the radio could do stereo well by the mid 1970s, because the AM/FM radio was then the thing.

[@aramboodakian9554]

Many early transistor equipment schematics used the designation Tr for transistors as in Tr1 though Tr6. Later on the designation Q for transistors became more widespread. So as not to confuse a transistor with a transformer on parts list.

[@mariofilippi3539]

Thank you for the video of such an iconic, luxurious-looking radio.

[@jamesatkinson6480]

I remember my parents using the Sanyo model 8S ‐ P2 'All Wave' 8 transistor radio listening to countless news bulletins and quiz shows. Compared to the valve radios at the time, (which sometimes had hum) the reception was very close in performance, if not better. The superheterodyne circuit using quality germanium transistors supplied by a number of manufacturers (Sanyo, Toshiba, Matsushita, Sony etc.) proved very reliable over decades, and when performance deteriorated, it was mainly due to the (passive components) electrolytic capacitors going low in value...

[@jeffking4176]

I have an older one . These are actually excellent radios. Sensitive and selective [ once those plastic capacitors are replaced and it’s realigned. 📻🙂

[@masudaharris6435]

I love how radios, cameras, and binoculars used to come with real leather cases. That certainly did not last long.

[@mariofilippi3539]

Ditto. They were leather then over the years they used a "leatherette" material. Finally plastic replaced that. Ultimately no case whatsoever.

[@johnstone7697]

When these sets were made, the history of transistor radios wasn't very long...maybe 5 or 6 years. So I suppose they could make the claim. I'm sure models from companies like Sony eventually surpassed them by a considerable margin. As I recall, these radios exuded a degree of durability and solidity not found in the small pocket sets, and they were sold at rather attractive prices. Certainly well made, but their boasts about "unmatched sensitivity" and "one of the finest radios made" are quite the stretch.

[@bobair2]

I wonder how many Sony TR-610 s sold in comparison. I used to collect transistor radios and those of this video I had as well. The only thing that saved most of the Sanyo/Channel Master from being boring style wise were those nice enameled badges they had. All that remains of my collection are a Regency TR-1G,Raytheon T-100 and Zenith Royal 800 out of nearly 2200 sets I had along with several Catalin radios.

[@whiteblack1675]

You should start doing videos on the european transistor radios. Like for example philips or siemens transistor radios

[@collectornet]

There's one coming up in the near future.

[@whiteblack1675]

Oh wow I can't wait to see it

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

I had one with a green case. I got it when I was 12 years old so it would have been 1967. I had it until I was 17 or 18 and have no idea why I got rid of it.

[@captlarry-3525]

Its a lovely radio in sanyo livery - but i have never seen "the most popular radio in history".

[@Steven-re7xt]

The leather cased radios had mystique. And spoke of love of equpiment(qualty). A competitive radio standard Of japan got many remarks. This looks like one to seak out tks

[@Couchflyer-NY]

Channel Master was an interesting company primarily known for antennas. It was located in upstate NY and was financed by a cabbage farmer.

[@collectornet]

There are several other Channel Master videos on this channel you might enjoy.

[@Couchflyer-NY]

@@collectornet Times these days ain’t like they used to be…

[@mjg263]

I first heard of Sanyo in the 60’s when they were making small battery powered reel to reel tape recorders. They also made the ubiquitous Craig 212 tape recorder (the most popular portable reel to reel tape recorder in history lol!). They made the 212 with both the Craig badge and the Sanyo badge on it, kind of like Akai and Roberts products which were identical just with a different name. Marketing is weird stuff!

[@collectornet]

Oh yeah! Those Craig recorders were cool looking--they're the ones with that gearshift kind of controller, right? There's a video on the channel of a Craig catalog with a line of those recorders shown in it.

[@gratefulot360]

👍👋👋👋!

[@jamesplotkin4674]

Vintage earwax.

[@sondrayork6317]

Lock set screw is the real technical term.

[@electronicengineer]

"Captive thumbscrew" I believe.

[@grhinson]

Toshiba guts...

[@TerryMcKean]

01:56 That ain't not no good grammer ;-)

[@collectornet]

No, 'taint.

[@TerryMcKean]

🤣@@collectornet

[@carolriley9392]

Almost sounds like a computer ai voice lol

[@collectornet]

AI? You mean Artificial Intelligence? No, I narrated this personally and I assure you there is very little intelligence involved, artificial or otherwise.

[@electronicengineer]

LMBO! You're way too humble fine sir.@@collectornet

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Why are you speaking with such a weird cadence? An attempt at humor I suppose?

[@Go4Corvette]

You know you can turn the sound off if you're that sensitive, 🤣

[@collectornet]

I kept you awake, didn't I? People are all over the map in their opinions of what constitutes humor. Your user name, "stopthephilosophicalzombie9017," is intended humor, is it not? Do you wish people to react to it as you react to mine?

[@electronicengineer]

IMHO, you have a PERFECT narration voice and I really LIKE it, So there, take that! Fred@@collectornet

[@collectornet]

Thanks Fred! @@electronicengineer

[@paulabler1071]

You have a voice for radio voice overs. Don’t miss your calling.