Realistic "Hi Fiver"
Not an easy radio to find...but when it is found it's more commonly found under the Realtone name (model G-601 - six transistor circuit) and Kobe Kogyo (model KT-6) Occasionally found branded as Brighton, Shalco, Million (model # G-401, obviously a 4 transistor circuit) . It has been reported from a very reliable source that this radio was made by Tokai.
This one was re-branded as a Realistic for Radio Shack. I'm still flipping through some Radio Shack catalogs to determine what year it was sold, most likely 1959.
It has the look and feel of many Japanese transistor radios. Sports a dense/thick plastic, large tuning capacitor (not a miniature Mitsumi), simple and elegant design.
The circuit diagram inside the back cover shows the four transistors and one diode as the older oval shapes but the ones used are "TEN" brand cylindrical ones.
A classy looking radio. It feels well made, heavy and solid. Still plays OK too.
The front right half of the radio is covered by a thick pearlescent plastic. It's not easy to see in the photo but it really does have a substantial pearl-like quality to it.
The large thumbwheel tuning dial is neatly inset into the cabinet and the speaker grill's gold finish adds a bit of extra class.
Realistic "Hi Fiver"
Not an easy radio to find...but when it is found it's more commonly found under the Realtone name (model G-601 - six transistor circuit) and Kobe Kogyo (model KT-6) Occasionally found branded as Brighton, Shalco, Million (model # G-401, obviously a 4 transistor circuit) . It has been reported from a very reliable source that this radio was made by Tokai.
This one was re-branded as a Realistic for Radio Shack. I'm still flipping through some Radio Shack catalogs to determine what year it was sold, most likely 1959.
It has the look and feel of many Japanese transistor radios. Sports a dense/thick plastic, large tuning capacitor (not a miniature Mitsumi), simple and elegant design.
The circuit diagram inside the back cover shows the four transistors and one diode as the older oval shapes but the ones used are "TEN" brand cylindrical ones.
A classy looking radio. It feels well made, heavy and solid. Still plays OK too.
The front right half of the radio is covered by a thick pearlescent plastic. It's not easy to see in the photo but it really does have a substantial pearl-like quality to it.
The large thumbwheel tuning dial is neatly inset into the cabinet and the speaker grill's gold finish adds a bit of extra class.