The Hoffman model 719 solar powered radio was introduced in early 1964 and was the last solar radio in the Hoffman line. The earliest sets exported to the USA might have arrived from Japan in late 1963. It was also Hoffman’s only 7-transistor solar radio as well as the only known solar radio to be manufactured in Japan with a Japanese company brand and also in the USA with an American brand name (Hoffman). That is; the Hoffman 719 is virtually identical but for the model number and branding to the Japanese-made model P-711 displaying EITHER the brand name Toyko or the brand name Tokai. A couple of outer appearance differences (besides the brand and model numbers) include the addition of a small “solar” plaque lower left front corner of the Tokai and Tokyo sets, as well as no Cold War Conelrad Civil Defense markers at 640 and 1240 kc which appeared only on the Hoffman 719 station dial. These marks had been required on radios sold in the USA since 1953 but by 1964 the requirement had been abandoned and perhaps Tokai or Tokyo P-711 sets without the CD marks were exported to the USA after the Hoffman 719.
All of these radios were made by the Japanese firm, Tokai Wireless Co., Inc. and, as was the case for ALL solar radios made in the first 10 years of their introduction, the radio received ONLY the AM Broadcast band stations. It contained a 6 volt battery supply (four AA-size batteries) and a switch on the side (as with the earlier Hoffman 706 and 709 series) permitted the user to select either ‘Solar” or, when sufficient sunshine or light was unavailable, “Batt” (battery) power. The radio measures 4” x 5-5/8” and is 1-5/8” thick.
Initial list price for the Hoffman 719 was $49.95 but even as early as April 1964 saw some outlets advertising this radio at a bit under $40. Tokai and Tokyo P-711 versions we can assume would have been similarly priced.
Photographed from the Bill Burkett Collection
