The first boombox! The AIWA TPR-101 might be the first or Phillips might have put out the first. This was just relisted but they added $10.00 USD to the price. https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-AIWA-T...153136717713?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
Sanyo MSP-5 Speaker System, this looks interesting. https://www.ebay.com/itm/SANYO-MSP-...13.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xwalkman+with+speaker.TRS0
Complete the KLH Solo with this rare AM radio cartridge, brand new NOS. I love this packaging, I think these were about 50.00 USD back in 1981. There's some speculation that the KLH Solo was made by Marantz/UNIX due to their very similar styling but I have neither unit. https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AM-TUNER-CASSETTE-FOR-KLH-Solo-OR-INFINITY-intimate-Player/362315652267
This is first generation vintage and you won't find more buttons on any box this old, they seemed to have put in every feature available then, even a phono input. Throw in the Star Trekish Name and the Sears Com/Trek is pretty cool. The unit number in the listing, "564" shows it was made by Sanyo, either an AKA or maybe an original version. Check out the cassette storage in the back and the microphone that pops out of the top, it looks like you set up at least three different FM "presets" on this one with the little dials next to the main dial, I wonder how they did that? If my office wasn't a mess right now I'd be jumping on this one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-SE...171571?hash=item4682fa9773:g:rdkAAOSwAspbPub0
The Sharp GF-8, I think someone on the forum has one of these fairly rare and distinctive boxes. They look like something you would find on an executive's desk. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sharp-GF-8...378821?hash=item41ece62085:g:27sAAOSwDyxbksGi
This is cool but does the cassette do data back up or just audio? Sharp CE-125 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sh...593860?hash=item2ab550bd44:g:kxMAAOSwMPxbmHIo
Data backup. For the full manual look here. http://sharppocketcomputers.com/4HK7JnFJDuVm/Op/ce125_op_manual.pdf Probably the most economic way of storing data back then. The computer dates back to 1981. In 1989 I paid about £50 for a 32K battery backed memory card for a Yamaha synth. Switching for cool stuff that was for sale, while looking for the Sharp I found this http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs_extra/1981_rsc-04/ $4727 for a TRS80 "Starter System". We actually had a more expanded TRS80 system in the Quality Department at work. The investment was so high there was a dedicated Computer Operator to use and look after it..
I used to use tape for my Timex/Sinclair 1000 and sometimes for my Apple II (I also had a disk drive). I've never seen a microcassette data drive and I don't ever remember it advertised or for sale but I like it. I'd jump on this one but it's in that price range where there's a ton of other cool stuff for sale, maybe he'll drop the price.
Interestingly the Radio Shack catalogue shows one of their standard cassette recorders. I guess they thought there was more profit in selling those with an interface cable than a specialist docking unit. The interface would be even better if the cassette deck was full logic and controlled by the computer. That was done in a Texas Instruments data terminal I used to use.
I never saw many data tape decks outside of home computers, I was checking out the manual for the Sharp and it was bringing me back to the good ole early programming golden age in the early 80's. You had to write most of the programs or find some good magazines to get the code for most of this stuff.
Here are the details of the TI terminal. https://www.google.com/search?sourc...33i160j33i21.9KCp1MaqRDw#imgrc=IUfEymG9HmibWM: From what I remember the cassette decks were fancy dual capstan ones but I might be wrong. Anyway the whole thing was 100% reliable. Other equipment we had at the time either used computer tape cartridges https://www.google.com/search?sourc...60j0i8i13i30.eUMeIkro2YY#imgrc=WflBFi6MFG0jDM: which sometimes missed the end of tape hole and wound the tape complely off one spool, while the 8" floppy drives in our PDP11 computer regularly threw their belts off. As the Apprentice I was the one who had to fix these problems.
The little Sanyo MR TT-14 Microcassette Recorder I've been lusting after is for sale in Japan, these are in silly money territory but they have to be kind of rare. I think I'll wait until I find the red version. https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b330975934
I love Marantz Superscope's and I'd probably jump on this very rare, for the USA Market, multiband CRS-2104. It looks a little roached and hopefully the internals weren't ruined with the plug convertor, the tag says 50 Hz and we have 60 Hz here and there's probably a switch either internally or on the outside to switch the main voltage. It's cool but I it's a little too much for me at that price. https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SU...m=183322830640&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
@Mister X Now you R talking!!! I had finally found my match in National RX-5500 with a Real Trouble of noise in L channel, but once resolved this will be my next buy! Thanks!!!
Maybe get this instead, that Marantz needs some major love or PM me, my mule is coming back in a few weeks, a bunch just came up for sale over there. The Nintendo Gamecube Cassette Player that looks like a CD player! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-G...rentrq:32f43f311660ab64324a1249fff462ed|iid:1
I went through most of the Sony Clone Threads and didn't see this Rising, nor have I ever seen a Rising Personal Cassette Player. Maybe one of our Greek Members knows more? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-wa...m=273483909606&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982
@Mister X you are right, Marantz looked OK on my cell screen, but once I went to my PC to actually buy it, its condition stopped me I am still recovering after fixing/beautifying JVC mini, not quite ready for another beater. Today was a success in tracing down the noise in RX-5500 (MPX filter for the L.ch. was acting up, and sure enough it was the last thing I checked) so now fun time of cleaning/airbrushing begins!
Most Yamaha Boomboxes are worth buying and very solid units, but the Yamaha PC-9 is one of the nicest (I'm not sure if they have more than three). This is a beast, a true arm-breaker without the batteries and it's a compo system that breaks down for the long elegant dorm room look. The only thing I see missing is the back cover but nobody else will know. Don't laugh at the shipping I think these weigh over 25 lbs easily but it's one of the best looking boxes out there that can back it up. The bottom cover is for a front-loaded removable battery tray. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Por...904246?hash=item363b2af236:g:YWIAAOSwkHJblBWR