Horizontal cassette decks, also known as front-loading cassette decks, were a popular design for cassette players during the 1970s. Unlike traditional vertical cassette decks where the cassette is inserted vertically into the player, horizontal cassette decks allow for the cassette to be loaded horizontally into the player, similar to how a VCR loads tapes. While giants like AIWA and AKAI dominated the scene, today we're spotlighting a rare example of the horizontal cassette deck: the elusive Mayfair 2070 Stereophonic Cassette Player/Recorder. Mayfair Electronics Company, based in Chicago, Illinois, was an American company specializing in transistor tape recorders and transistor radios, manufactured under the Mayfair brand in Japan and Hong Kong. Our Mayfair 2070 was made in Japan in 1972. Ease of use takes center stage with the Mayfair 2070. Its horizontal loading mechanism offers fresh air, simplifying the inserting and removing tapes, especially in tight spaces. The sleek piano-style operation buttons beckon your fingers to dance across them, while four potentiometers grant you control over record levels, channel balance, volume, and tone. Versatility reigns supreme with DIN sockets, mini-jack connections for external devices, and an integrated amplifier that lets you plug into the deck's built-in speakers. As the sun set in the 1970s, the era of horizontal cassette decks faded into memory. The inability to stack audio towers may have contributed to their decline, but their legacy lives on. We proudly showcase the Mayfair 2070 as a shining example of this bygone era at the Retro Audio Museum in Lelystad, the Netherlands. Take a step back in time and experience the magic of horizontal cassette decks in all their nostalgic glory.
Is that a component deck, I see the volume which makes me wonder if it has an internal speaker. I really like the design and colors, they really pulled it off, I wonder if there was matching equipment?
I am not sure that it was a kind of matching equipment to this deck. As for the volume knob, there is no fitted speaker, but you can connect external speakers as the deck has an internal stereo amplifier.
Most of those early Japanese units came with Amstrad style speakers similar to the ones with this 8 track. Made from the thinnest chipboard available and just deep enough to accommodate the speakers inside. Damping material ? Not necessary as nobody will ever look inside. Sound quality obviously wasn't a priority. In the U.K. British Loudspeaker manufacturers did a good trade selling replacements. Swap these speakers for the cheapest loudspeakers from a company like Wharfedale and get a big uplift in the sound quality. p.s. Horizontal mechanisms like that fitted in well with the 1970s fashion of long and low music centres. It looks like £199 (£1800 inflation adjusted) got you some slightly better speakers as well as a record deck and tuner.
