solid state voltage regulator

[jacksauto]

took my voltage regulator cover off to paint it ,found it was full of newer ristors , transistors and capacitors .looks more like a transistor radio,this is not what they had back in 1954,when did they start making solid state voltage regulators.i'm guessing they are more efficient? this is all new to me.

[w30bob]

More efficient and more reliable. But probably harder to repair when they do go south. I don't know when they started using them, but I'd guess early 70's. Anybody know for sure?

regards,
bob