SONY Receiver Repair Adventure - The TR-6 Gendis!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

To learn electronics in a very different and effective way, and gain access to Mr Carlson's personal designs and inventions, (like the Ultra Probe) visit the Mr Carlson's Lab Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/MrCarlsonsLab

[@jasonhawkins4528]

You are excellent. Can you remind me of the one where you fixed a radio and the diodes checked fine but you found it with your scope you modified and it showed a hook on it?

[@timbober1]

Thank you it’s fun to watch you troubleshoot and bring that cool little radio back to life.

[@joshuadauzat5559]

dude love your vids for YEARS NOW. one of the coolest thing YOU helped me do one time was use an emerson tube radio as an op amp to power my 1972 RCA entertainment center. i was sooooo stoked when i got it to work. i mounted the the now tube amplifier ontop on the case lid and its sooo cool seeing tge origional emerson tubes light up as the 8 track/ect. are playing loud. your s great inspiration for zny hobbiest/ amature E.Engineer. props mr. carlson

[@KM-vc2yp]

I find your videos very interesting. I’m getting back into shortwave radio listening after a duration. I have an older zenith transoceanic radio made in the late sixties. I would like to have it gone through for optimum performance if that’s possible. Is this something you would be interested in for a fee of course.

[@rleeAZ]

Quick search dates this radio to 1956. In excellent shape for something nearly 70 years old.

[@frankowalker4662]

Thank you. I was just about to ask Paul what year it was. 👍

[@sinisatrlin840]

No wonder RCA could not compete with Sony and Panasonic

[@sometimesleela5947]

Impressive considering the first commercial transistor radio (regency tr-1) had only been introduced two years before, and the transistor itself invented in '47.

[@kenhukushi1637]

The label says Tokyo Tsushin so I figured it was before 1958, when company name officially became Sony, thanx for precision 🙂

[@faulknik000]

This is one of the earliest products ever to be branded 'Sony.' It came out the year after Sony's first (and Japan's first) transistor radio, the TR-55 from 1955. It has a high historical value and is extremely rare in North America.

[@anthonymccarthy4164]

These videos when you work on transistor radios are really interesting because everyone has one or more they might like to get going again. I like the sensory descriptions, they give you a lot more to go on than meets the eye.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Glad you like them!

[@patjohnson3100]

I'm no expert in electronics but I've learned alot from this channel. You have excellent teaching skills.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thank You for you kind feedback!

[@ZenWithKen]

Listening to skip, brings me back to my youth so long ago. Thanks for sharing!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tallperson9422]

This is so much better than watching TV! I can barely change batteries but I am loving this channel.

[@Monitoring_Everything]

Great video. Vintage electronics is so educational. We should preserve old tech.

[@mistermac56]

Fun video. Love that you were able to find a suitable replacement for the borked volume/power on-off potentiometer. I agree with you Paul about the clean layout of the circuit board. This was rare in the years around the time the radio was manufactured. I am impressed that the around 70 year old parts are still functioning. Sony made quality products for many decades. Sadly, not so much anymore.

[@chazdog789]

Went on Ebay and I found this radio. looks the same on the inside... for $1300...SONY TR-66 Rare Vintage Made in 1955 Transistor six 6 Historical Radio ... Good Job Paul

[@Larryn7luf]

I can not wait to get my ""Carlson Ultra Probe"" to be built. I am taking my time to do it right the first time and I plan to make it just like Paul's "Carlson Ultra Probe". This video just shows the power of a tool like this one. Thank you Paul!!!

[@FAMUCHOLLY]

Sony electronics from the 50s and 60s were exceptionally well engineered and manufactured. Just extremely well made gear.

[@badeadrian]

Excellent work 👍

[@paddle_shift]

I would love to see a Mr Carlson / Curiousmarc collab! My 2 favorite channels!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Maybe one day!

[@mrpappa4105]

Where can i vote for this? Love the idea.

[@mkepler5861]

that is too cool, yeah I really like Sony's stuff, very good quality!!! thanks Paul!!! mike

[@davidrowe5822]

Mr Carlson: Long time subscriber/thumbsup'er here. This video gives me inspiration to tackle a transistor radio my father gave me in the 80's. He's had it since he was a teenager in the mid 50's. It's made by Realistic. The board is a bit of a nightmare with all sorts of factory wires criscrossing. I took a stab at it last year by cleaning it up and making note of its poor design. It requires a PP3 9v battery. Currently; there is no audio so I will follow your logic here in this video and try to troubleshoot the problem. It's a really neat radio and since it was my dads, I want to bring it back to life so I have something to remember him by. Thank you so much for your videos. You may not know it but you are changing lives for the better with your KZbin channel. Sharing knowledge is a fundamental blessing.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks David!

[@fretlessfender]

​@MrCarlsonsLab he is right you know... decades from now people will go to these videos and resurrect radios when we are no longer there... so yeah, important stuff!

[@jonathanreedpike]

Back in the day when this was new and transmitters were of monstrous wattage, this little fella would have been able to DX like a champeen. You are the electronics coach that brought it back for its last hurrah.

[@johnsmith3945]

Thank mr carlson for another radio adventure cant miss one second of these videos!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your kind feedback John!

[@dzaino1986]

I always wonder if someday, someone who stumbles across one of your videos and says.. "hey I was that guy who pried on that knob, or attempted to fix"... whatever. I would cower in shame. Mr. Carlson, you are amazing in your field of work. Kudos.

[@billysharp3388]

Has always been good to listen to Paul Carlson, we always learn something new.

[@kaleoride]

Great video. I like to test potentiometers with an analog ohmmeter. I can see if the needle is moving smoothly.

[@jameskrivitsky9715]

Thanks Paul for letting us see a resolution to the SONY. Yes, sometimes we can't work miracles on old tech, but at least you got it crankin' up a storm. Now everybody start holding your breath.....one....two.....

[@nv1493]

Love these videos, for those of us that don't know much about electronics, you explain things clearly and its a great learning episode.

[@Driver-UK]

What you did with your Carlson Ultra Probe made me smile . Amazing piece of equipment .

[@hestheMaster]

"So easy to troubleshoot; it's almost like cheating." Well if you collect old transistor radios, it would be a godsend to have the Carlson Ultra Probe. From what I understand Sony only made 10,000 TR-6 units in 1956 for Japanese consumers and thanks to Gendis ( General Distributors)found their way to Canada and Europe as well. Nice that NOS switch worked out for you. Pays to have spare parts. Impressive repair work Mr. Carlson! Wonderful and rare radio. Steve from Chicago

[@TheFineby]

Beautiful little radio. Very nice repair! I enjoyed!

[@jaut-76]

Just finished an analogue electronics assessment so time to relax.

[@qzorn4440]

What a wonderful radio repair. 🥳 Also, after WW2 there is an amazing story about Japan and the birth of their point-contact germanium transistor . 😎 Thanks for the great video.

[@batmandestroys1978]

Good to see the King is back! Superb filming! The cameras are awesome! Great repair Sir Mr Carlson's Lab.

[@hwirtwirt4500]

Another interesting repair Mr. Carlson. I'm amazed on how this relatively simple but well designed antique made with quality components comes back to life with a minor repair 60+ years after it was built and demonstrates excellent sensitivity. Sony products were always well built and still are today. Thank you for the upload, very enjoyable and interesting.

[@billstoner5559]

I’m not much of an analog type guy, but you have taught me so many things about electronics in general. Thank you for your contribution to the art.

[@aghosh11]

Vintage tech always use to fascinates me alot since childhood. Being an amateur electronic enthusiast this is a remarkable piece of transistor set... 😍❣️

[@davidgrandy4681]

I was one of those kids (late 60's) who was part of that transistor game! I had a six transistor and a friend had (I think) a nine, and he was WAY cooler than me. Now with a $500 laptop having BILLIONS of transistors it kind of puts it in perspective.

[@KeritechElectronics]

Great job on this radio, and a nice presentation of the Ultra Probe too.

[@jeffclark2725]

Great video ,and getting to see the big meters getting used,enjoying all of these,inspiring and just picked up my first oscilloscope, get it going

[@david4368]

I keep and old, dull pair of side cutters just for bending those tabs. Great presentation. You are a great benefit to the hobby.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks 👍

[@bobsykes]

Good for Sony! That thing is build like a McIntosh. A really fun episode. This reminds me of the "transistor" I would clandestinely listen to in bed after I was supposed to have gone to sleep as a child.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Mr Carlsons lab you are good at restoring antique radios and alignment of antique radios my friend

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Another great video! Love the quality of your video close-ups! Nice detailed view of fixing this vintage transistor radio. Glad you picked a SONY, they are worth fixing. Thanks for posting! ~ VK

[@Greg-et2dp]

Mr Carlsons lab your KZbin videos are awesome my friend

[@cjeffcoat2]

Thank you for these interesting videos and your descriptions, being visually impaired and not being able to see exactly what’s going on makes your descriptions that much more valuable.

[@nathkrupa3463]

So beautiful model sony Radios Mr Carlson sir This circuit oa79 diode soldered on circuit? board sir this is great diode working capacity Thanks for the sharing this video Mr Carlson sir you are awesome ❤️ 👌 😊❤

[@dhpbear2]

10:42 - Next to that radio, the CARLSON ULTRA PROBE looks *GIGANTIC* !

[@christiancarassai9540]

I'm working right now with an 8 transistor radio Hitachi. Im restoring it, and got functional while i was wiatching this video. I love am radios, im collecting them. Always your videos are the finests.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@davidportch8837]

thoroughly enjoyed this one Paul... great little radio...

[@JanBruunAndersen]

To think that the young Japanese ladies at the Sony assembly line who put this radio together are now old grandmothers.

[@AK-vx4dy]

@32:18 Most radios received on Long Waves with ferrite antenas received very well inside. But now days are many interfences and at least in my country is constant whizz wich i'm told is "cross modulation" but i'm not an expert.

[@PlanetaryThoughts9861]

I can't even try AM after 9AM EDT unless it's KDKA or WKBN. The noise here along the Ohio river is terrible.

[@Amp497]

The Duracells have internal AI which makes the batteries leak as soon as installed in any electronic device.

[@JoeJ-8282]

Hahaha, yeah, not really, but it would sure seem that way! LOL!

[@nortonics5745]

aka - Duraleak

[@ardenbmccartney6009]

Thank you Mr. Carlson. Great information as always

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You are very welcome

[@gatekeeper65]

I'm afraid to use my Erem cutters even for what they're intended. lol. Cool little radio.

[@dakata2416]

Mr. Carlson do you ground your antenna when not in use? How do you protect it from lightnings?

[@fish3cats]

Hooray radio repairs are my favorite. I was tuning one last night and gonna work on another tonight

[@henrikstenlund5385]

Good job, Mr. Carlson. I got an Emerson Pocket radio as a schoolboy more than 60 years ago. I think the vintage is about 1954-56. It is still working but I might readjust its rf section if needed. These old radios are so nostalgic and interesting.

[@janicedand3471]

MR CARLSON I HAVE A LITTLE TIP FOR YOU, related to skinning wires with diagonal pliers. My father was a TV repair man back in the 1950's. Like yourself he learned lots of tricks of the "trade". One that he showed me was to pull the insulation off a wire from the "cutting" side of the diagonal pliers. The opposite side to the side you pulled the insulation with in the video. (minute 8:25) You'll find it works much better that way. It cuts through the insulation better as you are pulling, requiring less effort and better control. Really enjoy your videos BTW.

[@elsaarmstrong-zp6ng]

Use a wire stripper! 😁Fraser

[@BTW...]

@@elsaarmstrong-zp6ng Yeah... one that doesn't resemble a scissor or stretch the insulation that results in retreat when soldered.

[@uni-byte]

Nice repair! Nice power supply too (we discussed that before). Finally, nice advice on the Erem 776. I gave that very same advice in a video exactly a week ago!

[@RussMcClay]

Love your channel, Mr. Carlson. Thank you.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thank you kindly!

[@joegee2815]

I had a 66 Olds Delta 88 (I bought it in the 70's) and the radio was super sensitive. I lived near Albany NY and could regularly, during the day, tune in a station from Boston, MA. That radio was nuts, I wish I kept it. It did have a coil on the antenna which probably didn't hurt.

[@lsrx101]

A lot of car radios were great for night time AM DX from the 60s up into the early 80s or so. The Delco (GM) and Ford sets seemed to be the best. I spent many nights listening to WSM from Nashville at my home near Cleveland, about 550 miles.

[@alanforsyth2628]

I need one of those genius Ultra Probes like NOW!

[@joshuadauzat5559]

dude ive been following your vids for years now, ive learned so much tinkering with you.....i just wish i had your lab equip! lol on the tran 6, YES keep those caps they were working great especially since they didnt look like the old 40's wax caps. and i loved see'ing those SONY trans i'd keep that original whenever possible! ( unless had bad hi/lo filters which it didnt seem like it did. p.s. i just KNEW it was that poten. when i seen what it looked like. great easy TS.

[@Ezzell_]

Please do more of these.

[@ariedekker7350]

I have followed this report with great interest. It was beautiful again. See you next time. 73 Arie, pe1krx

[@JFirn86Q]

Really neat looking radio, and all the Sony branded components is amazing. Great fix and troubleshooting vid!

[@blugoose86]

Great, great video! I learn something very useful from every video you produce. Thank you so much Mr. C.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thank You for your kind feedback!

[@mortimergladbreath]

Wow! There are two of these on eBay right now for US$ 529 and $717!

[@jessemontano762]

Dr. Carlson, thank u for uploading video, bro..

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

My pleasure

[@KeefyKat]

You never know what absurd adventure you'll stumble into while strolling through the AM band!

[@dakata2416]

That's a cool radio!

[@michaelhiggins7365]

Please keep these small transistor radio repairs coming, I'm learning sooooooooooooooo much ! Also, would love to see a repair and full alignment procedure for the Realistic DX-160 receiver. Thanks so much!

[@ineverhadthemoney7857]

I like your work , great job

[@sokoloft3]

Its not ideal but 3d print yourself a knob for that pot and run it until you can find a better fit. Thats what I'd do. Taping the old knob inside somewhere. Oh nvm I see you where able to fit it. Awesome. Thank you for sharing

[@terrym1065]

Excellent diagnosis and repair Mr C👍👍 I had an extensive collection of "transistor" radios back in the 70/80's, many had leather cases, life got in the way and sadly I disposed of them. To think now of the history I just tossed away....heartbreaking. The "Ultra Probe" does seem like cheating a bit😉but it is a fantastic device. Thanks for the work and a great video. 73s

[@davelowets]

Yep. I've had quote a few old AM portable radios with a leather case around it, held on by a snap or two, and always with a neck strap.

[@donkimble]

I was certain that was a banjo on the face of that radio. Love the idiosyncrasies of the design.

[@W1RMD]

You could take this to an abandoned mine in the middle of the Canadian wilderness and test the performance. Great video! I really enjoyed it. On a side note, a current/ voltage limiting adjustable power supply is a MUST for any workbench. Even if you build one from lm317's. My supply has saved my components MANY times. I love that HP nixie tube meter. I you ever wanted to pop the cover off and do a video on it, I wouldn't complain. I believe that uses a counter circuit and measures the charge time of a capacitor to calculate voltage. Heathkit had a similar meter that used nixies. Thanks for the great video and I find your channel as interesting as watching "Look Mum No Computer" (awesome channel) at 2x speed! Take care!

[@stphinkle]

The Carlson Ultra Probe appears to be a kind of signal tracer.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

It is, just much more sensitive. So sensitive that it will listen to non-electrical (mechanical) noise as well.

[@coastersaga]

The "never seen before blue cloth" joke got me good.

[@njgriebel]

Love the new videos! Keep em' comin, you keep me entertained! I absolutely love your videos, ESPECIALLY the communication receiver videos. When are we gonna continue on the BC348/ART13 videos? I can't wait to see more HAM stuff! :) Have a great day Mr. Carlson

[@Alexelectricalengineering]

Awesome little radio 📻, awesome video as always!! Thumbs up 👍👍

[@denniswells8618]

Great video,always enjoy

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks 👍

[@joelima201]

It's definitely a rare set in that colour . Maybe the second set produced after the first Sony TR-55 transistorized set. I have two white and one green TR-6 's . They were expensive in the day. Good to see you're keeping the original capacitors in place . Mine all work with the original components. Could do with a re-cap , but plan to keep them original for historical originality.

[@rons1566]

VERY enjoyable! Thank you

[@Greg-et2dp]

Mrister Carlsons lab your utube videos are awesome my friend

[@Splungers]

Please do a a night time trip across the dial and show us just how sensitive this radio is in optimum conditions. It's already amazing in the daytime!

[@Greg-et2dp]

Mr Carlsons lab your antique sony 6 trnsistor AM portable radio is awesome my friend

[@robertburrows6612]

When that radio was made , Sony back then was known for quality, there was no bean counters employed. Just looking at the printed circuit board , shouted quality

[@sometimesleela5947]

If that radio does date to '55/'56 like many are saying, it's one of the first commercial pcbs. Amazing how well it has held up.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Mrister Carlsons your antique sony 6 trnsistor AM portable radio is awesome my friend

[@lawrencecavens5760]

This particular model came out in 1956 as there was another you tube creator with the same unit. I happen to try and research the year via being it was a 6 transistor unit and found its year. Sew! like you say Paul - There you go !!! neat that it still works after all these years.

[@richardmassoth8237]

And, the wax/grease pencil markings inside the back at about 5:03 in the video indicate that it may have sold for $74.50 (either CDN or USD depending on where it was sold). The model number is obscured under the "7" of the potential price, and there's a "E424/7E" or similar designation which may relate to it's serial number or lot number that can be used to track where it was sold. Very nice provenance, which looks to be original. I'm also wondering about the VR/potentiometer shaft diameter. We used to be able to buy 1/8 inch or 3/16 inch shaft VR devices out of Japan back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Perhaps we should look through our "junk drawers/boxes" for such devices and get them back into circulation for repairs like this.

[@pauldavis6356]

And on the subject of sensitivity - I was in K-Mart shopping for a small portable transisitor radio and tried several vatieties that were for sale on the shelf, the majority of those radios were able to get a few stations ( albeit reception in the store was poor at best) until I got to a Sony - Model ICF36 - that was able to pick up 10 or 12 stations clearly in the store. Of course I purcahsed it. This was about 40 years ago and the thing still works great.

[@Tysman909]

That ultra probe is cool I would like to make one

[@Davidjb37721]

Thanks for your help

[@user-nd8zh3ir7v]

I would do it with original caps, great video as always!

[@pauldavis6356]

Use clippers to relieve the tangs on a pot - I'd never thought of that. Thank you.

[@TheBudliner]

Is love to see continue working on the Panasonic RF-2200, (edit RF-4900) I know you did a quick delve into the ocean of capacitors. Would be great to get that old girl updated 😊

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

It's on the list. That's a big project.

[@TheBudliner]

@@MrCarlsonsLabI’m sorry I was really thinking the RF-4900 I have a used one in a box I just haven’t got to yet

[@Movieman1965]

That Carlson Ultra Probe is super impressive tool! I'm surprised you haven't commercialized it besides on Patreon.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Just trying to keep the interest in electronics alive. I could have retired years ago selling this stuff commercially, but wheres the fun in that?

[@Jan_Talcott_100]

Enjoyed this video. Thank you so much. 👍🙂

[@dhpbear2]

41:05 - How about a 'Nighttime Edition' video where you scan the whole band!?

[@alainbibi0047]

10:40 Paul you are the Harry Potter of electronic 👍

[@Splungers]

With a healthy helping of Merlin added!

[@PeterDyall-bn7ut]

Very nice episode, thanks for uploading. Beautiful little radio and definitely worthy of repair. Would desperately love to see another video in the Grand Receiver Restoration Series, in particular a performance comparison video. And please PLEASE could you include that gorgeous GE CX371 in the comparison 🙏

[@tomharris1457]

Nice find. good ol Sony.

[@organiccold]

Nice result on the little Sony. Nice receiver right there. Be careful with those Duraleaks 😂 73

[@jimmissenda6590]

Beat me to it. 🤣

[@bparker86]

oh oh oh a new mr carlson joint im a few days late but ALWAYS excited to check out your new videos your a great creator and your editing skills are TOP SHELF always!