Fisher TR-1 (1956)
The Fisher TR-1 appears to have been the first all-transistor product of any kind in the high fidelity field. Fisher's own announcement in High Fidelity (March 1956, p.9) made exactly that claim, calling the TR-1 a "little giant" and the result of four years of research and development. Audio (May 1956, p.72) repeated the claim and described it as believed to be the first all-transistor device in high fidelity. It was not a receiver, though. It was a preamplifier-equalizer, powered by battery or an AC supply, and period advertising says it consumed just 0.0217 watt.
The fact sheet for this model describes the TR-1 as a complete "receiver" with a 6-tube tuner and 15 preset pushbutton stations, rated at 25 watts per channel with more than 30 watts of undistorted power available. That doesn't match the period sources, which call the TR-1 an all-transistor preamp-equalizer. The fact sheet's listing source calls it a tube receiver. The fact sheet also flags that all its specifications come from a single sales listing with no independent corroboration. The most honest reading is that Fisher used the TR-1 name in 1956 for a pioneering transistor preamp, and the later "TR-1 Tube Receiver" listing is either a different product with the same name or a mislabeled listing.
Here is what the fact sheet documents from that listing source. The audio section is all-triode with ultra-linear output stages. The tube lineup is a 5AR4 rectifier, 7591 output tubes (2×), 12AX7 preamp tubes (2×), and a 12AU7 phase inverter. That makes 11 tubes total (6 tuner + 5 audio). Frequency response was rated at 20-20,000 cps, distortion at less than 1/10th of 1% at 25 watts, hum and noise 70 dB below rated output, damping factor 20:1, and phono input sensitivity of 2 mV. The unit was finished in walnut with brass accents, weighed 28 lbs, and measured 15-3/8 × 14 × 4-1/8 inches (W×H×D).
Known specifications (from the listing source):
- Output: 25 watts per channel; more than 30 watts undistorted available
- Total Music Power (IHFM): 60 watts
- Tuner: 6-tube, 15 preset pushbutton stations, FM sensitivity 1.5 µV
- Frequency response: 20–20,000 cps
- Distortion: less than 1/10th of 1% at 25 watts
- Hum and noise: 70 dB below rated output
- Damping factor: 20:1
- Inputs: 4; outputs: 1; 8 ohm speaker
- Weight: 28 lbs; dimensions: 15-3/8 × 14 × 4-1/8 inches
No original price, production years, or service manual have surfaced in the Archive's sources. The fact sheet notes the listing unit was "recapped and tested," which suggests recap service is customary for surviving examples. Collector interest in the TR-1 comes largely from its position as Fisher's first transistor product.
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