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

This majestic International AK-610 was manufactured in Japan circa 1959. I am unsure who made it and there is no information regarding it in any of my collector’s books. There is no mention inside regarding the manufacturer however it does use NEC brand transistors so it might have been made by them. I have seen another of these and it was branded as a 'Skylark' with a white cabinet. 

I’m rather lucky that I have the box or I would not even have the model number. 

This International AK-610 commands respect! It is imposing and regal in appearance and a tribute to Japanese radio designers of yesteryear.

I can imagine this radio being worshiped as a monument to the almighty Sun God by a frenzied mob of ant sized religious zealots on a tiny planet far far away. *Zub Zub*!!?! As the radios faux diamond catches the suns morning rays the religious zealots fall to their knees in groveling submission before rising and breaking into a stirring rendition of ‘Hey Jude’!

Yeah yeah I know what you are thinking…. Well if I knew who the manufacturer was then I would write about them instead of penning these crazy thoughts in my head!!

“Hey, Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better”

Great song! Great radio!

This International comes with a ‘robins egg blue’ gift box with gold trim, a soft leather case stamped with ‘International’ in gold, a leather earphone case and earphone.

 

 

 

It was fairly common for pocket transistor radios of this time period to have tiny schematic diagrams inside the back cover ala this International. Inside you can see the NEC brand transistor and some with the letters YL on them. Lots of little pink things to...