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Boombox Archaeology

Discussion in 'Chat Area' started by Mister X, Mar 10, 2018.

  1. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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  2. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Amateur Radio from 1987, it's interesting what you find, this is a press release for the Sharp Twincam Boomboxes in a magazine for shortwave. Regardless, these are cool boomboxes although some are "budget models." The Twincam is two cassettes right next to each other in the cassette tray, Sharp is the only manufacturer I've seen that used this type of "dual cassette."

    Amateur Radio (AUS) 1987.jpg
     
  3. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Sorry, I don't under stand it but there's some nice Walkmans in this article from 1996

    Radioeletronik 1996 1.jpg
    Radioeletronik 1996 2.jpg
    Radioeletronik 1996 3.jpg
     
  4. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    There's also a Sony Minidisc Player and a really nice Casio Portable TV, I don't remember that model.

    Radioeletronik 1996 4.jpg
     
  5. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm starting to forget what I've posted, some of this stuff may be duplicates, hopefully this nice review of the Sony CF-580 isn't. From 2009, Antique Radio Classified Magazine, it even gives Stereo2go a mention at the end!

    Sony CF-580 1.png
    Sony CF-580 2.png
     
  6. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    A cool article out of The Straits Times (Singapore ) from 1976! A very early Crown Boombox siting and the meaning of "The Searcher" are all found here. The Crown Photo looks sooo old, it's amazing how timeless some boombox designs are.

    New portable features 1976 1.png
    New portable features 1976 2.png
    New portable features 1976 3.png
    New portable features 1976 4.png
     
  7. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Another article from New Nation (Singapore) 1978. Early mentions of Unisef and Silver.

    Make your pick from here 1.png
    Make your pick from here 2.png
    Make your pick from here 3.png
    Make your pick from here 4.png
     
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    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Cutting Down on Those Irritating Noise 1978, New Times (Singapore)

    Cutting down on those irritating noises 1978.png
     
  9. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    AIWA was a dominate force in cassette decks but hit the same wall that most other Japanese Companies did in the 80's, labor costs went through the roof. Moving production to local markets helped but sometimes we didn't see the same quality equipment being released. Was it because the work force wasn't as skilled or the market demanded cheaper products?

    The first article is interesting, maybe the first manufacturing for AIWA in Singapore? The rest kind of fill in the blanks, they moved cassette player production there, keeping the money products back in Japan.
    1976
    CHANGE OF NAME TO BOOST SALES 1976.png
    1989
    Aiwa Japan relocates one of its factories to Singapore 1986.png
    Aiwa Singapore raises output by 30 per cent 1986.png
    Aiwa expected to step up commitments here 1989.png
    Aiwa plans to make S'pore its hub 1989.png

    1987

    aiwa 1987 1.png
    aiwa 1987 2 biztimes.png
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2021
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  10. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    AWIA wasn't the only one to move manufacturing, JVC also did it in 1979, it looks like cassette players were the prized product to move. It's hard to tell what had the biggest advantage to getting offshored but cassette players seemed to be the favorite by every manufacturer. I feel like the black and white TVs they're talking about were mostly portables, by this time people wanted color TVs.

    One year ahead of schedule 1979.png
     
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    New Nation (Singapore) 1977, Portable Cassette Recorders In Demand

    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand 1.png
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    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand 3.png
    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand 4.png
     
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  12. Mister X

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    And then the demand started to wane, it says this was due to video products. I have a feeling the high cost of players and quality made it a big purchase that also lasted a few years. When video players started hitting a few hundred dollars, everyone was getting one of those and it was also a big purchase for a household. Before this you may never see a movie unless it was on late at night or Saturdays, movies like James Bond were only shown on Sunday Night ABC here, maybe twice over a dozen years, video was a whole new world where you could see a movie you liked.

    Fall in exports of cassette tape recorders 1983 1.png
    Fall in exports of cassette tape recorders 1983 2.png
    Fall in exports of cassette tape recorders 1983 3.png
     
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  13. Mister X

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    JVC Exciting World of Music from New Nation (Singapore) 1972, I bet this was a neat place to visit, at the time they had 17 portable cassette players!

    EXCITING WORLD OF MUSIC New Nation 1972 1.png
    EXCITING WORLD OF MUSIC New Nation 1972 2.png
    EXCITING WORLD OF MUSIC New Nation 1972 3.png
     
  14. Mister X

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    More information about AIWAs Expansion in 1988

    AIWA 1988 1.png
    AIWA 1988 2.png
     
  15. Mister X

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    Pioneer Soundtrek Boomboxes from 1980

    Pioneer SK from 1989.png
     
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    Carry a Song With You, New Nation 1979

    Carry a song with you New Nation 1979 1.png
    Carry a song with you New Nation 1979 2.png
     
  17. Mister X

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    I think they mean the Sharp GF-777 but it doesn't say, from 1981

    Portable sounds like home compo-system 1981.png
     
  18. Mister X

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    Some of the dual decks do some amazing things, I didn't know you could add a vocal track when dubbing, from 1982

    Portable cassette decks that promise to 'double' your fun The Straits Times 1982 1.png
    Portable cassette decks that promise to 'double' your fun The Straits Times 1982 2.png
     
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    Sharp's Amazing Turntable that plays both sides from The Strait Times 1981

    NEW IDEAS More music without turning record over The Straits Times 1981.png
     
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    Portable Cassette Recorders, Radios In Demand, New Nation (Singapore) 1977

    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand, New Nation 1977 1.png
    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand, New Nation 1977 2.png
    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand, New Nation 1977 3.png
    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand, New Nation 1977 4.png
    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand, New Nation 1977 5.png
    Portable cassette recorders, radios in demand, New Nation 1977 6.png
     

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