Orbita 2 Pocket Transistor Radio (RRR, Riga) with Leatherette Case — Export Model

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

"Orbita 2" Pocket Transistor Radio (RRR, Riga) with Leatherette Case — Export Model

Entry/Object ID

2025.14.5

Description

Small Soviet pocket transistor radio with its black leatherette carrying case and wrist strap. The radio has a cream/ivory plastic cabinet with a gold horizontally-ribbed speaker grille and a black dial face printed with the "RRR" logo, MW and SW bands (scales "×100 KC" and "MC"; SW meter bands 75/49/41/31/25), "ALL TRANSISTOR," the model name "Orbita 2," and a "TUNE" thumbwheel at the side; a sliding pointer travels behind the dial window. The back bears an embossed "SW / MW" slide switch, "FINE TUN[ing]" and antenna arrows, an "EARPHONE" jack at upper right, a sliding battery-compartment door, one screw, and "MADE IN USSR" embossed at lower left. The case is black leatherette with a chrome trim strip, a punched speaker grille, a wrist strap, a snap stud, and a rear window exposing the tuning control; a strip of blue adhesive tape repairs the lower back. All markings are in Latin script — an export model.

Context

The "Orbita-2" was a small eight-transistor MW/SW superheterodyne produced from 1970 by the Riga Radio Works (named after A. S. Popov), part of the RRR / Radiotehnika production association in the Latvian SSR. As an English-marked "MADE IN USSR" export unit, it represents the Soviet pocket radios distributed widely abroad, including to Cuba.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.14

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Rīgas Radio Rūpnīca

Time Period

1970s

Place

City

Riga

Location

Latvia

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

Orbita 2

Notes

Manufacturer: Rīgas Radio Rūpnīca (Riga Radio Works im. A. S. Popov) / RRR – Radiotehnika, Riga, Latvian SSR, USSR. Model "Orbita-2." Date: circa 1970s — the Orbita-2 was introduced in 1970; this export unit postdates that.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

front

Transcription

ALL TRANSISTOR Orbita 2

Language

English

Type

Inscription

Location

back

Transcription

EARPHONE FINETUNE MADE IN USSR

Language

English

Notes

Front/dial: "RRR" logo; "MW," "SW"; "×100 KC," "MC"; SW meter marks "75 · 49 · 41 · 31 · 25"; "ALL TRANSISTOR"; "Orbita 2"; "TUNE." Back, embossed: "SW / MW" (slide switch); "FINE TUN"; antenna/tuning arrows; "EARPHONE"; "MADE IN USSR." All Latin script (export).

Dimensions

Height

3.5 cm

Width

7.5 cm

Length

14 cm

Parts

(1) radio (plastic cabinet, dial, side tuning wheel, rear switches, battery door); (2) leatherette carrying case with wrist strap and snap closure.

Materials

Material

Plastic, Leather

Material Notes

Molded plastic (cream and black cabinet); printed/laminate dial; metal (chrome trim and internal parts); leatherette/vinyl (case); textile/leather (strap); blue adhesive tape (repair).

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Rīgas Radio Rūpnīca

Notes

producer

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

acquisition

Place

City

Riga

Location

Latvia

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Web Links and URLs

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/radiotehni_orbita_2.html

Research Notes

Notes

The predecessor "Orbita" was a 4th-class portable transistor radio made by the Riga (Popov) Radio Works from 1965. "RRR" is the trademark of Rīgas Radio Rūpnīca / Radiotehnika, Riga.

Created By

Hana Flamm

Create Date

March 25, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 16, 2026