National Panasonic

This is something of a special radio. It was purchased new on the Fairstar coming to Australia in late 1967, (Yes, I'm British.) by my parents. My father had been an engineer for General Electric Corporation in the television division, and a radar technician in the Navy during the Suez crisis.

These radios had quite a long history, being released as the T-100 in the early 1960s and still around in the mid 1970s. There were a few variations of the R-100, this being a battery only, four band (MW, and three SW.) Some were sold with A/C power. In other markets the bands changed, some including an FM band. There was even a variation to the arial, some having a frame that folded to the body, whilst others had an extendable whip.

This example lived on the end of the counter in the kitchen for ten years, followed by many more in a similar position at Warrandyte. It ended up in the bathroom where it was subjected to a great deal of steam. It finally died after 30 odd years of service. My father tried to fix it, but the tracks on the circuit board lifted.

I have since obtained an other example and will eventually meld the two to make a good set. 

2023 update. I have rebuilt the other set. It had a slipping dial shaft among other minor problems. I've used it for a couple of months, but it will be retired in favour of the RF-1350BA.