AM Pocket Radio (Solid State)

This Solid State AM Pocket Radio was one of the best portable electronic designs that enjoyed mass production in the 1980s in Hong Kong, and sold under various names such as Commander G.I. They were usually olive green intended to give an army style finish, and had an integrated hand strap on one side. They also came in other colours such as red, black, blue, and orange. In this review you can see the inside electronics and we look into why they were so popular.

The sound quality was average considering how small the loudspeaker is, and the sensitivity was reasonable as it can receive five to six nearby AM broadcasts. With these types of radios, reception is highly dependent upon the ferrite rod and coil, and its orientation with respect to the radio waves. The PP3 9 V battery usually does not last for more than a few hours and depends highly upon the volume level.

Transistor radios usually come for sale on eBay, because there are many who collect these. They were mass-produced in the millions so a broken one is worth around one to two pounds, however a working one in mint condition together with the original box could go for over ten pounds and more depending upon the auction day.

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