TRANSISTOR RADIO DESIGN

This cute and chunky baby blue colored Toptone AR-65 was manufactured by Tokyo Optical & Radio MFG Co Ltd circa 1959. Collector Alan Kastner speculates that Tokyo Optical & Radio MFG Co Ltd is the company currently known as TOPCON (トプコン).

TOPCON was established in 1932 and was originally known as Tokyo Optical Co. Ltd. Initially they began manufacturing optical instruments for the Japanese army. In 1960 they became an affiliate of Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd (Toshiba). Today Toshiba owns 40% of TOPCON'S stock.

If you have a copy of Roger Handy's book 'Made In Japan' you can view a vintage ad for this radio on page 78.
 

 

This dynamic little Toptone AR-65 features an oddly shaped speaker grill and a tuning dial that reminds me of a pop art rocket blasting through an asteroid belt (look closely!). Its proportions and symmetry are outstanding and checkout its tiny dimensions; 3.1/4 x 2.1/8 x 1.3/8 inches.

This Toptone AR-65 can also be found branded as Mascot, Profile or Remington!
 

This beautiful little Toptone comes complete with its original gift box, leather case, and antenna wire. It also comes with a vintage earphone (free of vintage earwax too I might add!).

I love boxes and accessories and stuff!
 

Inside you will find 6 Hitachi transistors.