Windsor 2-Transistor Boy's Radio (1960s)
I got this Windsor transistor radio from my Dad, who found it at a Minnesota garage
sale years ago.
Inexpensive two-transistor sets of this type were known as "boy's radios" and
they were popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when transistor technology began
to boom. US import tariffs of the time were based on the number of transistors in a
set, so a two-transistor radio—the cheapest practical design—could
underprice more complex (and better-performing) radios.
The front of the radio has a vaguely Buck Rogers appearance and it features not one, but two
crowns:
The back of the radio says BOY'S RADIO JAPAN, in case you were in any doubt:
Nowadays, we might call these "children's radios,", but 1960
was a simpler time.
I have seen one other Windsor of this type, with a white plastic case and gold
metallic parts. Like many other Japanese importers, Windsor left behind little or no history.
If you search online, you'll find photos of other Windsor models (which generally
have a more squared-off, late-1960s appearance), but
no schematic diagrams or company info. This is typical of
"no-name" Japanese manufacturers who flooded the US import market in the
1960s.
Inside, you can see the few parts needed for this rudimentary receiver. One transistor
is the light green standing cylinder in the upper center. Below, and to the right,
is the second transistor, an aluminum cylinder labeled E:
The square translucent box contains the main tuning capacitor. Below it, and to the
right, are two black cylinders containing electrolytic capacitors; those will need to
be replaced if I want to get the radio working. At the top, the
long wire-wrapped component is the ferrite-core loop antenna. The large metal
disc near the center is the rear of the speaker.
To service the radio, you remove four mounting screws and the circular nut that
holds the earphone jack. This exposes the reverse of the circuit board:
The component leads were obviously soldered to the circuit board by hand. Many modern
circuit boards are machine-soldered and have a neater appearance.
The rear of the board is printed with a part number: SANKO STR-217. Perhaps there
was a Sanko company that manufactured and imported this radio, of perhaps Sanko
supplied circuit boards to many different radio companies—your guess is
as good as mine!
This radio doesn't work, undoubtedly because its electrolytic capacitors have dried
up and failed. If I replace the capacitors and spritz a little
electronic cleaner into the volume control, there's an excellent chance that it will
come back to life. But that's a project for another day.
Meanwhile, this Windsor makes a vibrant display piece. Thanks, Dad!
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