Sony TR-4150 AM Radio

Sony TR-4150 AM Radio

Model: TR-4150

Year Manufactured: 1973

Made in: Japan

Manufacturer: Sony

Designer: Norio Ohga

Dimensions: 65mm x 115mm x 30mm

Power: AA Batteries

Features: AM Reception, Volume Dial, Tuning Dial

The Sony TR4150, released in 1973, represents the peak of Sony’s "pocketable" transistor era. By the early 70s, Sony had mastered the art of miniaturization that they began in the late 1950s, moving away from the fragile, jewelrylike designs of the 60s toward a more rugged, industrial aesthetic. This model was built as a reliable, everyday AM receiver, featuring a vertical "tallboy" chassis that fit perfectly in a shirt pocketa design language that later influenced the early Walkman prototypes.

For collectors and enthusiasts of MidCentury Modern and Space Age electronics, the TR4150 is highly desirable due to its tactile build quality and "bulletproof" 6 transistor circuit. Unlike the cheaper, hollow feeling radios that flooded the market in the late 70s, the 4150 has a satisfying weight and a high ratio tuning thumbwheel that feels precise. It is particularly sought after in its original black or silver finishes when the chrome trim is still bright and the speaker grille is free of dents, making it a quintessential "shelf piece" for any serious vintage tech display.