As discussed earlier, Collier & Beale released five versions of the original Trans-portable. The first model, No1, was released in 1957, the No2 model in 1958, the No3 model in 1960, the No4 model in 1963 and the No5 model in 1964.
Fellow collector Keith Annabell emailed me the following information outlining the differences in design between the first three models. This is very helpful when it comes to identifying which set you may have. Thanks Keith!
Email from Keith Annabell dated 31/07/2008 (edited):
The most obvious differences between the first three models are as follows:
MODEL NUMBER
No1. NA3201-106
No2. NA3201-112
No3. NA3201-120
LABELS & SCRIPT
The manufacturers labels found inside and the script located on the front brass strip are different on each model. The capitalised words are shown exactly as they are written.
No1. TRANS-PORTABLE inside, TRANSISTOR 8 on the front.
No2. TRANSPORTABLE «58» inside, TRANSISTORISED-58 on the front.
No3. «TRANSPORTABLE» inside, TRANSPORTABLE on the front.
NAME PLATE
No1. Has a plate behind the Pacemaker name badge on the front.
No2. No plate behind the Pacemaker name badge.
No3. No plate behind the Pacemaker name badge.
BACK
No1. The back is bottom-hinged.
No2. The back slots in and is not bottom-hinged.
No3. The back slots in and is not bottom-hinged.
TRANSISTORS
No1. Eight RCA transistors
No2. Seven RCA transistors
No3. Seven (RCA?) transistors
SPEAKER
No1. Rola speaker has size (4 x 6 F) printed on it.
No2. Rola speaker has ‘F’ written on it.
No3. Rola speaker has ‘F’ written on it.
CHASSIS SCREWS
No1. Three screws securing the chassis.
No2. Three screws securing the chassis.
No3. Four screws securing the chassis.
To remove the chassis on the No1 & No2 models undo the two screws holding it onto the handle brackets, and the screw at the bottom, beside the right transformer. The volume and tone knob pulls off, although it might be tight. To remove the tuning dial, first undo the central brass screw then carefully pull the two plastic pieces that make up the dial off. Then lift the whole chassis with attached speaker out the back.
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This Transportable «58» uses seven RCA transistors and a Rola speaker. This model was distributed in New Zealand by H.W. Clarke (NZ) Ltd.
