Focusing on the design of pocket transistor radios manufactured during the 1950's & 1960's!

by James J Butters

CROWN TR-670

 

Kick ass design straight off the top shelf!

 

This is the celebrated Crown TR-670 from 1959. Made in Japan and featuring kick ass design straight off the top shelf! This radio absolutely rocks! Crown made some extremely rare and truly legendary radios during the late 1950’s. In my humble opinion Crown is the only radio manufacturer who can compete with the grandiose designs unleashed by Toshiba during the golden age of transistor radio design.

The manufacturing company behind the Crown brand name was Asahi Radio Co of Japan. I know virtually nothing about Asahi.

I have seen this radio and other classy crown radios advertised in a vintage Jewelery store ad alongside American made Bulova radios REF: The Pittsburgh Press - June 9 1961 - Wilkens Jewelery. 

 

 

 

 

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You may have noticed that my red Crown has SIXTRANSISTORS stamped below the chevron as opposed to SIXTRANSISTOR (minus the 'S') on my black Crown. The red is the earlier of the two. This seems to be a common theme amongst examples that I've seen with TRANSISTOR V TRANSISTORS split about 50/50. 

These Crowns feature absolutely divine, rich under-painted face's with lavish gold chevron's and red diamond cut tuning dials. S I X T R A N S I S T O R is written as one word in a very contemporary manner. The textured metal speaker grill is enhanced with the addition of sparkling gold cloth beneath it and it also features a regal little red and gold cloisonné badge in the bottom left corner. 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

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This Crown TR-670 would have been the radio of choice for the hippest kids on the block in the late 1950’s. I can imagine Mr ‘Chiseled Good Looks’ removing this Crown from the top pocket of his worn leather jacket and leaning it on the table at Big Als Milk Bar on Fifth Avenue. As the sounds of Elvis fill the room he lights a cigarette and keeping it cool he glances sideways at the pretty blond sitting at a nearby table… His pulse quickens momentarily until he realizes that he can never possess her for she only has eyes for his handsome Crown TR-670!
 
Oh to be as popular as this magnificent radio!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BOX & ACCESSORIES!

This regal Crown TR-670 comes with a very groovy gift box, leather carry case, leather earphone case, earphone and a vintage Eveready battery. I doubt that the leather case was ever used as it still has the cardboard insert inside.

This Crown TR-670 is marked inside the cabinet as being a “Product of Shriro Incorporated New York” 

Shriro Incorporated is an International Marketing and Distribution Company founded in China in 1906. They are privately owned and have been under the direction of one family since 1909. They established their first international office in Yokohama Japan in 1917. From 1945 Shriro expanded rapidly throughout South East Asia and Canada. During the late 1950’s and possibly into the 1960’s Shriro had an office in New York. Shriro is still going strong today.

I would be interested in what information other collectors have found inside their Crown radios.

The vintage Eveready battery that came with this radio features instructions on its use which I’ve not seen before.

 

 

 
 
 


 

 

  

 

INSIDE...

These Crown TR-670's use Hitachi transistors and some other electrical components branded as Hitachi.