Beautiful 1957 Sony TR-63 Transistor Radio Up For Grabs
By James Grahame
I would have been all over the Sony TR-63 in 1957. There's one on eBay for a cool $320:
"Beautiful 1957 Sony Transistor Radio, model TR-63, the first Japanese transistor radio sold in the United States. It was also one of the first to use a 9 volt battery, something that later became standard in small transistor radios. The TR-63 was also hand wired and hand soldered. Labor was very cheap in 1950's Japan.
The radio still works and I was able to pick a number of stations loud and clear (battery not included). There not any chips or cracks in the jadeite green case, and no dents in the perforated metal grill. There are three small indentations in the aluminum trim piece just below the dial knob, but really the only major flaws I see (photo). The reverse painted dial is also in excellent condition. The radio comes with the factory leather case, in good condition but worn of course (the original owner's name and address is written on the inside of the top flap). I do not have the earphone. Size Of the radio: 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" x 1 1/4"."
eBay: 1957 Sony TR-63 Transistor Radio Japan w/ Case Working [thanks, Bruce!]