The challenge was to make them easy accessible and safe at the same time. Units are resting on a L shape plexiglass, that is glued to the board. Board itself is bolted to the wall at an angle, so they also lean back a bit. I made recently LED lights, so it looks more like a display now next problem to solve is to make another display on other wall for 100+ more Walkmans.
Sony coolness! I have something similar for my Pioneer/Carver/Sunfire home gear, but I keep most of my portable gear in small protective cases/bags. Maybe I should rethink that. I used to sell audio as a day gig during the peak of the walkman's popularity. (How did we do it? VOLUME! Unfortunately.) The "walk-off the display" factor probably still operates on me at a subconscious level, I guess. They're easier to ignore and that's probably a bad thing.
Hi, great collection! Bravo for your installation, so cool!...It looks like a contemporary art museum !
In the early days I used to have a ton of Walkmans and a handful of boomboxes, that kind of flipped over the years. Walkmans are much easier to display.
This is EXACTLY how I'd love to display mine one-day. All I'm missing is the home of my own to do this! Absolutely love this!
That's amazing flyingcircus. I always asked myself how Sony did this for their 40th walkman anniversary exhibition and I think you nailed it. Bravo. I'm also considering this solution to display my collection and I would have 3 questions for you : - Do you have any reference to share for the best L shape plexiglass to use ? any brand/seller you recommend ? - I find your idea of leaning back the board really smart. I would have love to keep mine perfectly vertical but... how to avoid them falling without any additional glue /sticker/ adhesive velcro on their back that is the question. I really don't know how Sony managed to do this (see below) - I have some discman (circular) and md palyer (light + not always with straight lines) to display as well. Have you already tried to fix them as well or you are just on cassette players ? If you have any tips to share I would be super happy to know more Thank you ! PS : You can have a look at my profile to see the photos of the layout I would like to hang on a wall to understand better my challenge
I worked in plastic fabrication for a few years thewalkmangallery, acrylic is the plastic of choice for clear displays and bends easily with heat. You can also cut it with normal woodworking tools but blades made for plastic are preferred. If the unit has a belt clip you could also tap and thread the plastic to screw the unit right on the acrylic. Plexiglas and acrylic are very close but they are different plastics, both have unique characteristics.
I bought my first Walkman in 2017, but all started in 2015 when I purchased "again" after a long break Sony double-cassette player.
@thewalkmangallery for some reason I missed your comments, sorry about that. All my plexiglass L shapes profiles were custom made, and were produced in Poland, I believe you can get them made anywhere you like, just you need to send a few quotes. Mine cost like 0.60euro per piece, and I picked 3mm thickness. You can keep them upright at 90degrees but it simply could not be safe, they are close together and you can knock them down by accident, that's why mine are leaning back a bit. if you have units without straight sides, you can always use 2 profiles overlapping each other like I did for WM-55 (although sides are straight, see the picture). I think units on Sony's display are permanently attached (glued perhaps).
Wow, what a nice collection and what a good way to display these wonderful little machines. Good inspiration for me... I still need to make new displays for another 200 or so.... I will keep a large part of my collection at the company and later at an actual museum for temporary display to the public. What are your top 5 favourites in your collection? And why?