Chapter 128: Panda Brand Transistor Radio
Compared to East Germany, the old irons from Latin America obviously want to buy China’s products more.
This is not only because products from Japan, West Germany, and America are too expensive for them, but also because they are fellow Third World countries.
After all, China at this time to some extent holds a portion of the Scripture Interpretation Authority, especially in Latin America, with extremely great influence.
This influence can be converted into some advantages in trade.
A trade representative from Latin America came to the booth. Speaking English with an accent, he said: “Our country is at war and needs some radios. Are your radios suitable for Latin America?”
Li Mingyuan explained: “Our radios have simple designs, are easy to repair, affordable, have long battery life, and are suitable for areas with unstable electricity.”
The other party excitedly said: “This is exactly what we need! Japanese and West German radios are too expensive and hard to repair. Can you provide a sample?”
Li Mingyuan said: “Sorry, we can’t provide a prototype for now. If you want to learn more, you can only test it on the spot.”
Trade representatives from Latin America and Africa showed strong interest.
That day, they signed a letter of intent order for one thousand units.
Eastern European countries will doubt China’s products and want to wait and see first, but Latin America won’t—they will place orders directly.
No matter what your product is like, I’ll place an order for one thousand units first.
The next day, a Polish dealer, Yan Koval Ski, came to the booth.
He was skeptical of China’s electronic products: “Can China’s transistor technology compare to Japan’s? How is the quality?”
Li Hongbo’s confident response, after being translated by Li Mingyuan, reached the other party’s ears: “Our transistors have leakage current controlled within 5 microamps, and signal-to-noise ratio reaches 38 decibels.
We don’t have silicon transistor radios yet, but Japan doesn’t either.
Our products have much higher cost-performance ratio than Japan’s products.”
After testing the sound, Koval Ski frowned: “The sound quality is good, but the bass isn’t full enough. Your products have poor temperature stability, right?”
Li Hongbo responded: “No, we added temperature compensation circuitry. If you place an order, you can test it thoroughly.”
Koval Ski was half-believing and half-doubting, saying he would seriously evaluate it upon return.
Due to the 1950 war, America comprehensively prohibited trade between American companies and China through the Export Control Act and the Enemy Trade Act.
These two laws even prohibited allies from direct trade with China.
Therefore, those coming to consult were either from Third World countries or Eastern European countries.
Even so, relying on excellent quality and lower prices, the Chinese side still secured a batch of orders.
Purchasers from Eastern European countries such as East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia generally adopted a cautious yet optimistic attitude.
Everyone was really too lacking in good electronic products.
To what extent? To the extent that products like Spidola became the memory of a generation in Eastern Europe.
The sudden emergence of China’s Panda brand radio undoubtedly gave them another choice.
“Old Zhang, how are our orders this time?” Li Hongbo inquired.
Zhang Zhigang calculated: “To be precise, it should be 9000 units!
Totaling 180,000 US dollars, this is already unprecedented progress.
Moreover, most of these confirmed purchasers only bought one or two hundred units, with only one purchaser ordering one thousand units at once.
They are probably buying a small amount first to see how our stability and lifespan really are.
If good, they will gradually increase procurement quantities later.
But this is already a very good start!
I never imagined before that our electronic products could be sold to Germany.”
Li Hongbo felt that the nights endured at the Panzhihua base, the sweat and effort paid, all had returns and became worthwhile.
Being able to sell it out is already a historic step for China.
“Dear listeners, good evening! This is the Central People’s Broadcasting Station. Now broadcasting the news.
At the just-concluded Leipzig Spring Trade Fair, our country’s foreign trade workers and scientific and technical personnel, with high patriotic enthusiasm and unremitting efforts, once again showcased to the world the brilliant achievements of China’s industrial construction. It is reported that at this ten-day fair, our country’s independently developed Panda brand transistor radio received widespread acclaim from merchants from various countries, successfully selling nine thousand units. This achievement not only earned precious foreign exchange income for the country but also marks that our country’s electronics industry has stepped onto a new level.
The ‘Panda brand’ transistor radio is the crystallization of our country’s scientific and technical workers’ self-reliance and hard struggle. It is small in size, excellent in performance, and completely manufactured using domestic technology.”
In the staff dormitory in Shanghai, when Liu Guodong and Xiao Fang were listening to the broadcast and heard it, Liu Guodong frowned:
“I remember the factory director of Shanghai Radio Factory always wanted to take the Panda brand and make Panda brand radios. Have they succeeded?
Impressive, quietly making such a big splash.
No, I have to go ask Old Xu.”
Liu Guodong stood up, preparing to ride his bicycle to the radio factory to find Old Xu.
Xiao Fang asked: “It’s so late, can’t you go tomorrow?”
While putting on clothes, Liu Guodong waved his hand: “No, this is big good news. Their products sold nine thousand units in Leipzig, we have to celebrate properly.
Maybe their factory dormitory is celebrating right now, if I go now I can still join in.”
Upon arriving at the radio factory dormitory and knocking on the door: “Old Xu, are you in?”
Old Xu opened the door and looked: “Old Liu, why are you here?”
Liu Guodong said: “I heard on the broadcast that the Panda brand radio was very popular in Leipzig, thinking you guys are impressive, so I came to ask you about it.
What’s different about your Panda brand radio this time that it can be sold to foreigners.
I hadn’t heard of any factory’s products being sold abroad before. I also want to see if I can buy one from you to replace your Red Star.”
Old Xu first invited him in. Liu Guodong walked in and saw traces of packing everywhere, immediately shocked: “Old Xu, are you moving somewhere?”
After gesturing for him to sit, Old Xu sighed: “Sigh, that Panda brand wasn’t made by us at all.
It was made by Yanjing Radio Factory.
We have to move to the Southwest, the whole factory has to move.”
“Ah?”
Shanghai Radio Factory and Jinling Radio Factory both always wanted to revive the Panda brand.
In 1950, the radios made by Jinling Radio Factory were called Panda brand, but later renamed to Red Star.
Because the name Panda was selected by Jinling citizens. At that time, a designer named Zhang Yunlin proposed calling it Panda. The factory handed the naming decision for the new product to the citizens. The factory placed the designed prototype in the window of Jinling Xinjiekou Department Store, and announced more than a dozen names for citizens to choose from. Finally, the one with the most votes was Panda.
And Shanghai Radio Factory wanted to enter the Jinling and even the entire Jiangsu province market, so they always wanted to rename it, plus Panda cigarettes were originally produced in Shanghai.
“The higher-ups require it, so we must move.
You know the Panda brand, it was just broadcasted, made by Yanjing Radio Factory, said to be no worse than Japanese or German goods, uses transistors.
Although I don’t know what transistors are, they must be much better than the vacuum tubes used in current radios. Their factory calls this next-generation technology.” Old Xu said.
Liu Guodong looked puzzled: “I remember you mentioned transistors to me before, you said transistors and vacuum tubes each have their pros and cons.
How come transistors are now next-generation technology.”
Old Xu smiled bitterly: “Yes, but experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Physics Institute have already defined it: transistors are better than vacuum tubes.
So we must fully transition to producing transistors.”
After hearing this, Liu Guodong continued to ask: “Just because transistors are next-generation technology?
So you were eliminated by Yanjing Radio Factory and have to move to the Southwest?
In the future, Yanjing is responsible for transistor research and development, and you just continue producing vacuum tubes? Producing outdated technology products?”
In the eyes of Shanghai people, even Yanjing is not as good as Shanghai! Let alone the Southwest—going to the Southwest is like being exiled.
Old Xu smiled bitterly: “Yanjing has already moved.
All institutions and enterprises related to radio and semiconductors nationwide have to move to the Southwest.
This time, the one preaching at our factory was a representative from Yanjing factory. He said they took the lead, and the whole factory moved to the Southwest last month.
Including experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences also moving to the Southwest. This Panda radio was made under their guidance.
Anyway, when the Panda is released, you can buy one to try, it definitely won’t disappoint you.”
Hearing that Yanjing Radio Factory had moved, Liu Guodong had nothing to say. Although local people would think Shanghai is better, they wouldn’t think Yanjing needs to move while Shanghai gets privilege.
“Okay, take care. So in the future, you’ll be integrated into one factory?” Liu Guodong asked curiously.
“Don’t know, we don’t know the situation now.” Old Xu’s face showed some depression.
After the products were successively delivered, the first to receive the Panda brand radio were not consumers in Eastern Europe, but Adolf Ibit from Latvia’s VEF radio factory, the designer of Spidola.
This transistor radio with a smooth appearance immediately caught his eye.
After the radio started playing the broadcast, the sound was clear and full, on par with high-end products from Japan and America. This made Ibit slightly frown with a hint of inquiry on his face.
He reached out and slowly turned the volume knob to test the sound performance.
Volkov nearby leaned in close, carefully observing the radio’s casing and structure. His eyes shifted from initial doubt to surprise, with pupils slightly dilating.
When the radio emitted pure sound, the two exchanged a brief glance.
While Ibit lightly pursed his lips, he crossed his hands, clearly feeling the pressure.
VEF radio factory’s top engineer Volkov pointed at the radio and said in a low voice: “Look at this, our ‘friend’ seems to have done something remarkable.”
While disassembling the plastic casing, Volkov looked at the circuitry of this equipment with scrutinizing eyes, saying:
“The circuitry is very clever, with several uses I hadn’t even thought of. I think this is why their sound quality can compare to top Western products.”
Ibit agreed: “I have to admit, I didn’t expect the pressure that East Germany couldn’t give to Spidola to be felt on China’s product.”
Volkov adjusted the FM knob and mused: “Hmm, their progress is too fast.
I can hardly imagine this and the Red Star brand radio coming from the same country.”
Ibit guessed: “The Chinese side probably optimized the circuit design and redesigned some new components to achieve this effect.”
After listening carefully for a moment, Volkov said: “Better than I expected, no wonder many East German trading companies want to lower Spidola’s price. They used some advanced technology, at least advanced in our camp.”
Ibit added: “Yes, manufacturing quality is very high. This isn’t simple imitation; they have their own innovations.”
He continued: “Although our Spidola still has advantages in some aspects, China is indeed a strong competitor.”
Volkov shook his head in refutation: “No, we have no advantages left.
The reason East Germany and others still import Spidola is that China’s products haven’t been fully verified in quality yet.
Once their products are verified, that’s the end for Spidola.”
Ibit refused to admit: “Impossible, we have our own advantages.”
“For example?” Volkov asked.
Ibit said: “For example, our exterior design is much better than China’s Panda.”
Volkov thoughtfully: “Yes, but that’s the only advantage.”
(China’s Panda brand radio actual release version, compared to the exhibition version, adjusted the design by removing the Panda badge and instead embodying Panda elements through body coloring.)
“We are already behind in technology.” Volkov emphasized.
Ibit said: “Technological lag requires getting technical support from Zelenograd Microelectronics Center, tell them we are already behind!”
Petrov expressed approval: “We should notify the Zelenograd side as soon as possible!”
If VEF factory’s reaction upon receiving the Panda brand radio was feeling they had no time, then when the sample reached Zelenograd Microelectronics Center, the center’s reaction was shock.
In Zelenograd’s laboratory, comrades responsible for transistor research and development gathered around a stripped Chinese transistor for inspection.
Director Alexander, in charge of semiconductors, frowned and observed the sample with a magnifying glass:
“Natalia, what did your instruments measure?”
Natalia flipped through the test records, her tone carrying a hint of surprise:
“China’s germanium transistor precision exceeds 5N, already beyond our precision measurement limit.”
Here, several N refers to how many 9s in 99.9999%; if 99.99%, it’s 4N.
For germanium transistors, the Soviet Union mainly measures crystal resistivity through resistivity measurement to indirectly calculate impurity concentration.
But limited by probe quality, environmental control level, and the transistor’s small size, their measurement error exceeds 10%.
So generally spectrum analysis is used, mainly with East German Zeiss equipment.
But the sensitivity limit of such equipment is 5N.
“I can only determine that China’s transistor raw materials purity reaches above 5N, but whether it’s 5.5N or the same 6N as America’s most advanced level, I can’t confirm.”
Alexander was baffled: “Americans have technological accumulation and can achieve 6N; after all, they started earlier than us, which I fully understand.
But the Chinese are using the technology we gave them—how did they achieve catching up to us in precision in just a few short years?
Before, I was always confident that compared to America, they have more equipment and funds than us, but our scientists and engineers are no worse. We just need time and resources.
But how the hell did the damn Chinese do it?”
Natalia calmly analyzed: “I observed their crystal structure under the microscope, and it shows similar structure to our process.
They probably still used those furnaces we helped build to grow them.
So their purification process must have been optimized; they probably also learned the impact of environment on crystal purity.
Our furnaces have too much temperature fluctuation, and airborne dust control is poor. They likely improved the vacuum system and filtration devices, but beyond that, what other process improvements they used, I’m not sure.”
The Russians were also prematurely experiencing the helplessness of Americans sixty years later.
Clearly, they developed the semiconductor process themselves, but their own son Intel slowly fell behind in semiconductor process; with the same equipment and blueprints, American engineers couldn’t outperform those on the island.
Another engineer in Zelenograd laboratory, Viktor, guessed:
“Director Alexander, I think they improved the proportion of dopants and diffusion process. Can we possibly buy the process from them?”
Alexander glared at Viktor:
“This is admitting that Zelenograd Microelectronics Center is inferior!
We can’t disappoint the Ministry of Electronics Industry. China just got lucky with process improvements; we can buy a few more of their radios to replicate their process.
We’ll catch up sooner or later.
Falling behind is not terrible, what’s terrible is losing confidence.
This germanium crystal is the Chinese’s achievement, but we have our own wisdom and determination. Natalia, you’re responsible for purification process improvements; Viktor, you research their structure, but don’t forget secrecy discipline.
Tomorrow I’ll report to the Ministry of Electronics Industry; we need to strive for more budget.”
Alexander thought the Chinese just got lucky.
The Panda brand radio is sealed within the Soviet camp; America and Japan can’t get it at all.
Even if they got it, there’s nothing strange; Bell Labs achieved 6N germanium crystal purification long ago. Only the Russians would make a fuss.
If Alexander applies to the Chinese side through the Ministry of Electronics Industry to purchase this technology, the Chinese side would immediately realize that the Russians definitely didn’t obtain alien technology related to semiconductors.
And the small technological shock that China brought to the Soviet Union had spread from missiles to the Semiconductor Field.
In June, this much-anticipated so-called Panda brand transistor radio by Chinese Citizens was officially released domestically, but most of the public couldn’t buy it.
Begging for monthly tickets~ Recently two chapters per day, each five thousand words, adding up to daily ten thousand!
