Best deals: Walkmans

I don't care how crested they are and or also if they don't work but they must have all their parts. The only thing I will forgive not having is the antenna because I can always replace that but anything else is model specific and I'm not buying something that's missing a knob or especially the battery cover for me because I play everything in batteries and if it doesn't have a battery cover hell no.

 

Besides aesthetic matters, the Aiwa HS-J09 etc. are special problems if the battery cover/lid is missing. Because the spring loaded AAA batteries defy any elegant attempt to secure them. This is even worse while repairing them with the back removed.

The battery lids are a really bad design prone to breaking and falling off to begin with. I've learned how to make reasonable facsimiles, but I wish someone would 3D print a bunch of them.

These units frequently are missing the tiny white slide knobs, which were poorly attached. Especially on the early production. Later ones had tiny bumps on the knobs that made them more secure. I make these too. Very difficult to match the appearance.

Then there's the green slide knobs. People break them because they think they come off like the white ones. But they don't. They are completely different inside and can't be pried off from the outside.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405143885578

... I received the red Aiwa HS-J9 as per the current (and puzzling) eBay ad, but my purchase came from the original Buyee listing. From end of auction to delivery was about 3 weeks. It looks like someone was getting rid of their donor unit. Missing and mismatched screws to begin with. I haven't opened it yet. But no tape functions work. The radio works but has all sorts of issues. Luckily I have an intact main board from my own donor unit.

It's fine if various collectors want functionality over appearance, or vice versa, or neither, or both. Each to their own and the different preferences make the hobby more interesting.