Collectible - Vintage Collectibles and Hot Online Auction Trends » Electronics http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible Vintage Collectible Trends and Online Auction Watch Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:38:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Collectible Transistor Radios – Still Hot! http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2010/12/collectible-transistor-radios-still-hot/ http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2010/12/collectible-transistor-radios-still-hot/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:54:21 +0000 site admin http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/?p=1544 Rock and Roll and transistor radios – kind of a chicken and egg scenario and both benefited from the other, but which came first? 1954 seems to be the trigger year…

From Wikipedia:
“A transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver using transistor-based circuitry. Following their development in 1954 they became the most popular electronic communication device in history, with billions manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s. Their pocket size sparked a change in popular music listening habits, for the first time allowing people to listen to music anywhere they went.”

and

From Wikipedia:
“In 1951, Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan Freed began broadcasting rhythm, blues, and country music for a multi-racial audience. Freed, familiar with the music of earlier decades, used the phrase “rock and roll” to describe the music he aired over station WJW (850 AM); its use is also credited to Freed’s sponsor, record store owner Leo Mintz, who encouraged Freed to play the music on the radio. Based on his success in Cleveland, Freed was soon hired by New York station WINS; upon arrival in 1954, his show was either simulcast or rebroadcast in more than forty markets. While the phrase “rock and roll” was in use years before, it was Freed who popularized the term with mainstream audiences.”

Regency TR-1The first transistor radio was the Regency TR-1, manufactured by Texas Instrument and Industrial Development Engineering Associates. Texas Instruments had built a prototype in May 1954, but couldn’t find an established radio manufacturer such as RCA, Philco or Emerson to develop and market a radio using their transistors. The Regency TR-1 was announced on October 18, 1954 by the Regency Division of I.D.E.A., was put on sale in November 1954, and was the first practical transistor radio made in any significant numbers.

Today they are popular collectibles, and their condition and rarity is more important than whether they actually work, although that certainly adds to their trading value.

Things to watch for:

  • The most collectible transistor radios were made between 1954 and 1963 and can be identified by the appearance of Civil Defense markings (“Conelrad”) on their dials. Look for symbols such as triangles, dots or arrows between the 6 and 7 position at the low end of the dial and just before the 16 at the top.
  • AM only – FM appeared much later than the more desirable versions, although there a few collectible models that have a marine or short wave band included.
  • Manufactured in the U.S. or Japan.
  • Smaller is generally better.
  • Condition, appearance and color versions rather than black or white.

Models to watch for:

  • Regency TR-1
  • Raytheon STP-1
  • Sylvania Thunderbird
  • Bulova 250
  • Sony TR63

Brands to watch for:

  • Bulova
  • Crown
  • Global
  • Hoffman
  • Mitchell
  • Raytheon
  • Regency
  • Sony
  • Toshiba
  • Zephyr

Some recent auction results in the last 2 weeks (as of Dec 2 2010) from eBay:

  • Regency/TI vintage transistor radio(circa 50′s) – $687.00 (we saw one go for $1500 a few weeks back)
  • Mitchell 1101 (Regency TR-1) Transistor Radio – $445.00
  • Toshiba 6TP-304 Coffin Transistor Radio – $385.00

Some current live auctions for transistor radios on eBay:


transistor radio (Category: Radios ): transistor radio (Category: Radios )
US $42.00 (7 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 12:05:50 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $42.09 (7 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 16:46:57 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $60.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 9:33:38 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $39.95 (0 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 19:57:06 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $39.00 (4 Bids)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 19:42:09 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $98.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 2:31:07 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $118.00
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $50.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 6:10:53 PST
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US $79.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 20:26:42 PST
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US $120.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 10:04:22 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $140.00
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $40.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 18:37:53 PST
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]]> http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2010/12/collectible-transistor-radios-still-hot/feed/ 0 NeXT Cube – The “Next” Hot Collectible? http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2010/10/next-cube-the-next-hot-collectible/ http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2010/10/next-cube-the-next-hot-collectible/#comments Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:19:42 +0000 site admin http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/?p=1467 The world’s first web server. From Jonathan Hoenig and smartmoney.com comes the following story:

The NeXT Hot Collectible?

“I’ve added another seemingly oddball collectible that — although now gathering dust in a closet — could end up a hot collectors’ item one day.

As we wrote this fall, Steve Jobs’ leadership of Apple since 1996 has turned the company into technology’s dominant force. But prior to returning to Apple, Steve Jobs founded NeXT Computer, which released its now-legendary NeXT Cube Computer 20 years ago this year.

The NeXT cube was a stunning departure from the unmemorable beige boxes that dominated technology at the time.”

Read the Full Story >>

Some current live auctions for NeXT Computer items:


next (Category: Vintage Computing ): next (Category: Vintage Computing )
US $29.95
End Date: Wednesday Mar-07-2012 19:29:28 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $29.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $48.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 10:55:03 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $65.00
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $50.05 (13 Bids)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 20:45:09 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $29.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-15-2012 20:00:52 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
US $39.95
End Date: Sunday Mar-04-2012 19:02:29 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $39.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $49.99
End Date: Saturday Mar-03-2012 16:26:06 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $49.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $69.99
End Date: Saturday Mar-10-2012 9:53:24 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $69.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $39.99
End Date: Saturday Mar-10-2012 11:59:24 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $39.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $35.00
End Date: Friday Mar-09-2012 9:21:50 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $35.00
Buy it now | Add to watch list
US $1,199.99
End Date: Sunday Mar-11-2012 11:08:13 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $1,199.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list
]]> http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2010/10/next-cube-the-next-hot-collectible/feed/ 0 Vintage Electronics Auction http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2007/02/vintage-electronics-auction/ http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/2007/02/vintage-electronics-auction/#comments Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:55:33 +0000 site admin http://www.bidtrendz.com/collectible/archives/2007/02/28/vintage-electronics-auction/ Antiques and Estate Auctioneers will be holding a vintage electronics auction on Sat. March 17, 2007 at 12:00 Noon at their gallery located at 44777 St. Rt. 18 E., Wellington, Ohio. An online catalog and bidding will be available for this auction at www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=6265

Consultant and floor manager for this auction will be Bob Dobush, noted radio and vacuum tube historian. They will be selling vintage electronics and radio equipment from the turn of the 20th century up to the 1970′s. There will be over 300 lots of radio, hi-fidelity audio equipment from the 1930′s to the 1970′s, speakers, and vacuum tubes from the 1920′s up to the 1960′s. There are many quality pieces by Zenith, Marantz, Silver-Marshall, Pioneer and Western Electric.
As a bonus to gallery attendees there will be 100’s of additional lots sold on site at the completion of the Internet items.

HIGHLIGHTS:
1938 Zenith shutter-dial radio in excellent unrestored condition with unique “Zenith” logo grille cloth – believed to be manufactured for a prominent dealer for display or for an annual radio show; a rare Sparton Visionola projector/record player that played film projected onto a screen with dedicated records. This one needs some attention but very rare- only 5-10 pcs. known to survive – Cost $575 in 1929

Pioneer SX-1010 top-of-the-line stereo receiver with owner’s manual and schematic

Marantz model 18 tuner/amplifier with scope tube for tuning

Rare Sparton Visionola radio with film projector, phonograph and radio chassis, and many other radio and hi-fi items.

ALSO INCLUDED: Recently built working “Jacob’s Ladder” display; an RCA illuminated advertising sign; movie posters; a vintage Cunningham Tubes published Morton Downey stand-up poster; Altec Lansing 1590A power amplifier; Cordovox CL-20 and CAG-1 amplifier with rotating Leslie-type speaker assembly; high-quality German-made radio and phonograph console built into a fireplace mantle -type cabinet – complete with liquor compartment! ; pair of small kegs believed to be from the Elyria, Ohio power company decorated with the names of workers, friends and acquaintances from the area- including “All-American Joe – Joe E. Brown”, some references to “Omaha”, the Triple Crown winner of 1935, and a very early decal of “Reddy Kilowatt” created just 10 years before – this is a great crossover collectible suitable for the Ohio historian or the Reddy Kilowatt collector; Zenith 9S262; WP Hilliard transmitter; Van De Graaff generator; Pioneer SX-5580; Bay City Rollers canvas – used in music video; Pioneer SX-1010; Cordovox-2 pcs; Western Electric superhet receiver; Magnavox Horn; Silver Marshall console; 40-50 lots of good usable radio and audio tubes, most tested; tube testers; vacuum tube hi-fi items; tape recorders and speakers; turntables; radio parts and ephemera; medical, quack and scientific equipment; collectible televisions from the 60′s and 70′s.

LITERATURE: Radio magazines; advertising for electronics; vacuum tube manuals and other technical books, as well as military radio gear. Many of the electronic items will have related paper such as schematics, service manuals, etc.

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