Sears SR 2198 (SR 2100 series)

This was the Flagship boombox for Sears in 1983 with 20 watts per channel, line in, phono in, soft touch tape mechanism, Dolby noise reduction, six segment LED level meters, and detachable speakers that automatically sound when attaching to main unit without wires! (Wires needed when detaching which are coiled up in a little compartment on back of speakers) 60 Watts?! As seen (top left) in the 1983 fall/winter Sears catalogue

 

Interesting Stereo, thanks for sharing!
Made in Japan,
I am wondering how much did it cost back at that time?

 

I recall the price was $249.99 in the catalogue. I wonder if it's worth that now?

 

I love it , something about these old-school three pieces just does it for me I love them. I have as many 3-piece boxes as I do one piece boxes.

 

Same here! One and 3 piece! Especially in silver!

 

Well, according to the inflation calculator $249.99 in 1983 now is $602.43.
Cumulative rate of inflation: 141.0%.
Will you buy a minty, boxed one for 600 bucks today?

 

I think you would be surprised how much an actual Mint new in box radio would bring $600 wouldn't be unreasonable.

 

I assume someone must be buying these today

http://www.sears.com/jbl-authentics...Id=OneCall.com&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

While some of the 1980s prices may seem high you have to compare them with the expensive things people buy today like ipads, Macbooks.and Surfaces
Buying a Boombox back then was comparable to buying a Laptop nowadays i.e something you put a lot of thought and money into if you want(ed) something good.

p.s Whenever I see equipment "manufactured" by someone like Sears or Tandy I wonder who actually made it and whether there is an AKA.

 

I know, have a couple of such radios scored in Japan
but I was lucky enough not to pay a lot for them.
Of course it depends on the make and model of a mint NIB.

 

Btw, I was a bit surprised to see that the above model was made in Japan, only a vendor there remains
unknown.
Does it have an AKA?

 

I love these 'Generic' boomers sometimes they can really surprise you!!!

That Sears is a perfect example of what I mean

Beautiful design, dolby, manual level sliders & soft touch deck - what more could you want in 1983??

Looks japan made & in lovely silver I would love to own that

 

Yup, all the usual is in place.

 

This boombox has the exact same tape mechanism found in the GE Blockbuster 3-5259a and the Realistic 14-778 (SCR-8)

 

It is possible to ID the manufacturer by FCC ID number, well - sometimes possible.
Luckily, this is the case - this radio has a number, which says that Sears was made by Funai Electric Co, Osaka, Japan.
These ID numbers also help to say, that Realistic SCR-8 and GE Blockbuster also manufactured by Funai, even they made in Taiwan, because Funai has their own plants in Taiwan. (That explains, why they have the same tape mechanisms).

Sorry to say, but "Funai" was a kind of synonym of cheaply made electronics, even some of them were made in Japan.
Funai was making goods for many retail chains, but those always were lesser quality, than electronics from the Big Ones, such as Sony, Matsushita, etc. This is why all of those boxes have so called "generic" look. They have no such an "elegance" as Panasonic, Sharp or JVC radios do, because the major companies have put much more time, money, effort into design of the radios.

By the way, no one knows who is manufacturer of the well-known Rising 20-20 but FCC ID helps to find it out.
It was made by Hokuyo Musen Kogyo Co Ltd, which is also based in Osaka, Japan.
Not a famous company for the rest of the world, but at least the knowledge about source is always good.

 

Thanks for sharing this valuable piece of info, man,
never looked into those FCC numbers myself neither heard of them
from other hobby mates.
BTW, where did you check it to find out about FUNAI - some site with a database?
Aha, that FUNAI Brand does ring a bell here!

 

That's where I've seen this box! I recognize it as a Realistic! I had never seen it in Sears name before. That is a very classy looking box, well done!

 

Nice looking unit .

 

Funai appear to still be going strong and recently were the very last manufacturer to stop making VCRs.

https://arstechnica.co.uk/gadgets/2016/07/vcr-vhs-production-ends/

Although a few VCRs were branded as Funai you are right that the majority of their equipment was for other brands.
I remember reading that they made a lot of Amstrads stuff and their company timeline confirms this.

http://www.funai.jp/en/company/history.html

 

This would be the only accurate aka I've seen. The Realistic 14-782 Modulaire 1000. (Not my box. Got photo from Internet)