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.

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.