TRANSISTOR RADIO DESIGN

This Skymaster 6G-620 was made in Japan circa 1960. It was almost certainly manufactured by Yaou Electric Co. Ltd. It can be found branded as a Yaou and it uses a GENERAL (Yaou) speaker. I know very little about Yaou. I do know that in 1957 Yaou were making refrigerators and in 1964 they were making televisions but other than that I don’t have any other historical information on them.

This Skymaster also resembles very closely the Fuji Denki TRB-603 featured in Bob Davidson’s collection. It looks like the same cabinet is used on both radios. Fuji Denki was formed in 1923 and later became Fuji Electric (REF 1a). This Skymaster also uses ‘Fujitsu TEN’ brand transistors. Fujitsu is a spin off company of Fuji Electric (REF 1b). Given these connections there is a slight possibility that this radio could have been made by Fuji Denki. Regardless, it appears at the very least that Fuji had some sort of a business relationship with Yaou, supplying them with transistors and Yaou in turn supplying them with cabinets.

REF 1a 'Japans Computer and Communications Industry' by  Martin  Fransman

REF 1b  Fujitsu History: 1935 -1949

This Skymaster features outstanding symmetry and proportions. It has a metal escutcheon, cloisonné badge and a unique beveled back, for better grip!

It measures 115mm x 75mm.
 

I have seen this Skymaster branded as a GENERAL, Petite 1 and as a YAOU.
 

 This 6G-620 uses six ‘TEN’ brand transistors made by Kobe Kogyo/Fujitsu.