Valve Tax

[Mike Watterson]

I've heard some Japanese radios were restricted by the number of transistors.

I never heard that, also I've Japanese sets going back to maybe 1964 with loads of transistors.
You really needed two for the IF as more IFTs needed due to lower Q, and 3, 4 or 5 for audio (preamp, driver, o/p bias temperature compensation (instead of diode & thermistor), push pull). Some used a transistor instead of diode detector. In contrast a four valve battery valve set works better than a 6 transistor pocket AM radio due to larger aerial and very large IFTs with good Q. The "personal" and pocket valve sets were poor due to too small aerial, 45 or 67V HT and smaller lower Q IFTs. The pocket ones (Japan & USA, never Europe) used hearing aid or military valves and earphones, or a single B7G type if a built in speaker. Very few "personal" AKA "lunch box" sets in UK (1946-1948) compared to USA (1941 to 1956).

The very first transistor sets used only 4 or 5 transistors due to cost. See the Regency TR-1 1954 and the Sony TR-55 1955 which were far more expensive than a valve portable and much worse performance, but could be used with an earphone at sports events.


Any SW set might have an additional RF preamp and even a separate mixer and oscillator. So cheapest Hong Kong sets maybe 6 transistors and a diode. A Japanese set with SW maybe 11 transistors. The early Japanese AM/FM models not only had a two transistor FM tuner but usually (like many early UK FM/MW/LW sets) a separate IF for FM at 6, 6.5 or 10.7 MHz, with maybe 3 transistors for IF amps (as a limiting needed).
The cheap Hong Kong models may have had no duty and be stamped "Empire Made".

Sony was first to USA in 1950s. Sony was established in 1946 as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. Legend has it they wanted a more American sounding brand for their first transistor radio to USA.
"Something so New York?"
"Ah, so NY. Sony!"

JVC was founded by RCA-Victor, hence the Japan Victor Company and a stylised HMV Nipper logo in the Japanese market.