03-12-2018, 04:46 PM
I think we have all seen this particular series of GE transistor radio over the years. I used to run into them all the time at resale shops, but had always heard that they used an odd-ball 4.5 volt battery, so avoided buying them. Now, after the past few days, I have three of them!
Left to right they are: Model P-807A in good shape, no cracks. The white one has no model tag, but seems to be a bit later than the first one due to smaller IFs and using the reed speaker. It HAD a prefect cabinet until I dropped it! My dad has gotten a bad habit of popping up out of nowhere and actually spooked me when I got home with the white radio today. Probably should have carried the radio in separate from the pack of batteries. Now has a tiny crack on a bottom corner. The third radio is a late production P-807J that was found laying in the dirt in the garage at my late friend's place when we were cleaning up. Basically, kicked into a corner and forgotten about as he didn't like transistor radios. Has a crack on the top, light rust on the speaker, and the grill cloth was falling off when I found it.
After swapping over the modern nine volt batteries, all three of these radios still work and not bad for five transitor units. Only complaint I have is that since GE snapped the speakers right into the plastic cabinets, they do get a bit of a cabinet rattle no matter what. I have $20 each in first two, finding them the past few days. The P-807J was a freebie and was forgotten about for three years in a drawer until yesterday. Now, to clean them all up. Even got an old Mallory 9 volt with the white radio. Still has the Radio Shack price sticker on it. If I had known these simply used over-sized 9 volt batteries earlier, I would have had some super cheap ones years ago.
Left to right they are: Model P-807A in good shape, no cracks. The white one has no model tag, but seems to be a bit later than the first one due to smaller IFs and using the reed speaker. It HAD a prefect cabinet until I dropped it! My dad has gotten a bad habit of popping up out of nowhere and actually spooked me when I got home with the white radio today. Probably should have carried the radio in separate from the pack of batteries. Now has a tiny crack on a bottom corner. The third radio is a late production P-807J that was found laying in the dirt in the garage at my late friend's place when we were cleaning up. Basically, kicked into a corner and forgotten about as he didn't like transistor radios. Has a crack on the top, light rust on the speaker, and the grill cloth was falling off when I found it.
After swapping over the modern nine volt batteries, all three of these radios still work and not bad for five transitor units. Only complaint I have is that since GE snapped the speakers right into the plastic cabinets, they do get a bit of a cabinet rattle no matter what. I have $20 each in first two, finding them the past few days. The P-807J was a freebie and was forgotten about for three years in a drawer until yesterday. Now, to clean them all up. Even got an old Mallory 9 volt with the white radio. Still has the Radio Shack price sticker on it. If I had known these simply used over-sized 9 volt batteries earlier, I would have had some super cheap ones years ago.
No matter where you go, there you are.