Japan Semiconductor Innovation 50 (A-1 1950s)
All Transistor Radio (Sony)
Sony (then Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo) developed and commercialized
the first all transistor radio TR-55, in Japan in 1955. It weighed 560g,
and had 5pcs of transistors driven by 4pcs of AA batteries. This radio was
in a totally new style and won a great success. Other Japanese companies
followed Sony and entered into this market, and this product became a star
of export from Japan. It also created a large demand of Ge transistors,
and Japan became the largest manufacturing country of transistors.
The transistor radio opened and led the application of transistors to consumer
products, and showed a promising future of semiconductor. It greatly contributed
to the recovery of Japan after the war, as a pioneer of "Electronics
as a foundation of Japan".
Masaru Ibuka promoted in-house manufacturing of transistors as the key devices,
and started an early business model of vertical integration.
| TR-55 | Mr. M.Ibuka |
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| Quote from Sony HP | Offered by Sony |