1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio

1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio - Printable Version

+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Philco Radio Discussions (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Philco-Transitone Auto Radios (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: 1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio (/showthread.php?tid=5307)

1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio - electricalengineer1958 - 10-09-2012

Hello everyone,

Chrysler and Philco had developed and produced the "World's First All-Transistor car radio in 1955". This "Breaking News" was first announced in the April 28th 1955 Wall Street Journal newspaper. Chrysler had made this All-Transistor car radio Mopar model 914HR available as an "Option" in the fall time of 1955, for it NEW line of 1956 Chrylser and Imperial model cars. Chrysler had used the Mopar model 914HR, which was also Philco's model C-5690. Philco had originally re-designed the Mopar model 912HR, which was a 5-push button "Town and Country" AM radio, with an electronic signal-seeking search touch bar tuning and contained 9 vacuum tubes inside. Philco decided to use this "exact" same radio and re-design the inside circuitry with (11) transistors and NO vacuum tubes, making it the Chrysler Mopar 914HR or Philco C-5690 All-Transistor car radio model. And if the customer had ordered Chryler's "optional" Highway Hi-Fi in-car record player, then Philco had added an extra transistor in its circuitry, which was used as an phono pre-amplifier (2N43), and making it a total of (12) transistors inside. The letters "HR" that is printed after the model number, stands for "High Road" and contains this extra or twelfth (2N43) transistor in its circuitry. This car radio's circuitry also included the "famous" Philco Surface Barrier Transistors, which were the World's First high-speed high-frequency transistors that were developed in 1953 by Philco, and could be designed for computer usage.

The Philco Model C-5690 HR (Mopar 914HR) All-Transistor car radio, was being produced by Philco in the Fall of 1955, for the "NEW " 1956 Chrysler and Imperial car models. Chrysler and Imperial 1956 car models went on sale and was available in its car dealership showrooms, on October 21st 1955. And the Philco Model C-5690 HR (Mopar 914HR) All-Transistor car radio was made an "Option" on its 1956 Chrysler and Imperial car models, for a price of $150.00.

This "Rare" highly engineered All-Transistor car radio, was short lived and by the end of 1956, Chrysler had discontinued this car radio model. Chrysler had decided that it would no longer make All-Transistors car radios available for its car models, during the rest of the 1950's. And Chrysler instead decided to use "Hybrid" car radios, which contained BOTH transistors and vacuum tubes inside.

I have also made a YouTube video, which shows this 1955 Philco All-Transistor car radio. This video also contains some Chrysler dealership promotional film clips, on introduction of some of its NEW Standard and Optional equipment, that became available in the fall of 1955, for its NEW line of 1956 Chrysler and Imperial car models. And finally, there is a "Rare" look at the radio's chassis, which shows all of its transistors and locations, is shown near the end of the YouTube video film.

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/PhilcoAll-TransistorcarradioYouTubevideothumbwheel.jpg]

Below is the YouTube Video link Just "Click" on it to watch .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCPDFXKcbdc

RE: 1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio - electricalengineer1958 - 10-14-2012

Hello Everyone,

Philco was a "Powerhouse" in the 1950's, as far as its Transistor research and consumer product development. It produced many "World First" consumer products during this period ....

For example...

1953- World's First High-Frequency Transistor used for computers (Surface-Barrier Transistors)
1955- World's First Transistor car radio (model C-5690)
1955- World's First Transistor portable battery operated Phonograph (models TPA-1, TPA-2)
1957- World's First Transistor Large scale Commercial Computer (Transac S-1000)
1959- World's First Transistor portable battery operated TV (Safari)

Below is an article that I found in the Motor Life December 1955 issue, which shows the 1956 Chrysler Imperial that had an "optional" All-Transistor Car radio available. This car radio was manufactured by Philco (model C-5690) and was the "World's First All-Transistor car radio to be developed and produced.

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/ChryslerImperialMopar914HRalltransistorcarradioarticlepg28Dec1955.jpg]

Below is another article that I found in the Cars Magazine 1956 issue, which shows the 1956 Chrysler Imperial that had an "optional" All-Transistor Car radio available. This car radio was manufactured by Philco (model C-5690) and was the "World's First All-Transistor car radio to be developed and produced.

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/ChryslerImperialAll-Transistorcarradioarticle--1956CARSMagazine.jpg]

Thanks and I hope that everyone enjoys the above info !

RE: 1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio - electricalengineer1958 - 10-17-2012

Hello again everyone,

I just found some "additional" information on the 1955 Philco model C-5690, which was the World's First All-Transistor car radio to be developed and produced ....

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/Philcoall-transistorcarradioPhilcoNewsAug1955issue-1-1.jpg]
(credit - John @ Grillecloth)

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/ChryslerImperialcarBrochure1956-1.jpg]

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/chryslerImperialall-transistorcarradio-PhilcoAnnualReport-page91955.jpg]
(Credit - Philco Don)

Below is a 1956 "Deluxe" Color Chrysler Imperial car sales brochure, which shows the "optional" All-Transistor Mopar model 914HR car radio, which was manufactured by Philco (model C-5690). This "option" was only available for the 1956 Chrysler and Imperial car models. And then Chrysler had decided to discontinue this "optional" car radio, when it "New" line of 1957 cars came out.

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/ChryslerImperialAll-TransistorsalesColorbrochureoption-1956.jpg]

Thanks and I hope that everyone enjoys the above info !

RE: 1955 Philco C-5690 radio- World's First All-Transistor car radio - electricalengineer1958 - 10-29-2012

Hello Everyone,

This is an "actual" 1955-56 Chrysler Imperial Dealership "Promotional" sales film, that was originated from a 1955 Chrysler Imperial commercial, that aired on the television show "Climax" around Labor Day (Sept) 1955. The Chrysler Imperial commercial, starring Bill Lundigan, had advertised Chrysler's "New Invention", which was the "World's First All-Transistor car radio (Mopar model 914HR)" that was developed and produced by Chrysler and Philco in 1955. Chrysler had made this All-Transistor car radio (Mopar model 914HR) an "option" on its "New" line of 1956 Chrysler and Imperial car models, which were available for sale in its dealerships starting on October 21, 1955. Chrysler had also made a "Promotional" sales film, that included its original commercial, and had sent it out to its dealerships. They were used to train the salesman on its "New" car options, that were available for its 1956 Chrysler and Imperial car models.

Below is the 1955-56 Chrysler Imperial Dealership "Promotional" sales film, that had came from an "old" closed-down Chrysler dealer and I also put on it Youtube...

[Image: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg632/electricalengineer1958/PhilcoAll-Transistorcarradio-YouTubevideothumbwheel.jpg]

Below is the YouTube Video link Just "Click" on it to watch .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz3JkFnvBuA

Thanks and I hope that everyone enjoys the above info.