fatboyrafe - 2008-04-16 13:06
Hey all,
I am starting this thread as a way of displaying what I've collected in my way of collecting. I don't have the cash to go after all these wicked boxes a lot of you are collecting, so I decided to take a different route: I set myself a challenge to see what $100 in boomboxes looks like. I've been checking thrift stores and the flea market often, and picking only things that A. I could afford for my budget, and B. I personally liked. That means some tough decisions, like passing up a $15 max bass JVC that was pretty sweet, but the styling and price excluded it from this collection. During this time, i've also bought a nice Sanyo walkman and a very used Sony Watchman, but i'm not gonna count those. Also, if anyone is interested, i'd be happy to take offers on anything i post.
ANYWAY here's the boxes so far, I'll add more to this topic when I get more boxes.
This is the first box I picked up, therefore I love it even though it kinda sounds crappy. I found it at a thrift store for half price, so it was $2.50. It's a Sanyo m7000, and it's it great shape except for the missing battery cover and two small cracks by where the handle connects. Like I said, I'd give the sound about a 5, but on looks, I love this little box. Plus, it has EXPAND STEREO mode, which is so stupid and worthless that I love it.
Next I found this Sony egg, half off again at a different thrift store, so 3 bucks. I know eggs are pretty hated, but this thing CRANKS for it's size and i actually kinda like the white with the button colors. Perfect physical condition, everything works, though the tape sticks occasionally (messed up my copy of "He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper"...arrrrrghhh)
Found this Sanyo m9840 at a flea market. This is the one that powers on but no sound comes out, which i'm waiting for my chip to arrive to fix. I'm kind of cheating on this one, I only counted the purchase price towards the 100 dollar total, even though I've spent 25 on a multimeter and 10 more on the chip...anyway, this thing looks great, seriously brand new looking except for a small permenant marker line on the radio display face to mark a station, and the right speaker screen is bent. i'll fix that when i get inside it again to put the chip in though. the guy who sold this originally wanted 7, but when i pointed out that it didn't work, he said if i gave him ten bucks, he'd give me this one annnnnnd....
he threw this box in! It's a Panasonic RX-4930. it was in alright shape, and I was so excited about the Sanyo that I didn't really pay much attention to it till i got it home. As soon as i plugged it in though, it quickly grew on me for it's sound and loudness. At 1/4 of full volume, it's ear blastingly loud. This has quickly become my outside/bbq box of choice for that reason. it's missing it's antenna tip, has a bit of wear on the corners, some white line crap on the chrome, and the tape belt is snapped.
This is the box I picked up yesterday, again at a thrift store. It wasn't half off though, but the color and style were so rad I picked it up anyway, $7. It's a canary yellow Panasonic RX-FM14. the strap was hidden in the battery compartment, still in it's plastic. it took some time to degunk the stickers and oil pencil that were on the outside, but it cleaned up great. the only problem with it is 3 small spots on the speakers and chrome that have worn away, but otherwise it looks unused. This one is loud and clear too, just like it's panasonic brother above.
That's all for now, and if you're keeping track, that's $22.50, less than 1/4 there.
Wow -great score there!---thanks a lot for showing your boxes and thanks too for all the nice comments!
Awesome, I like the fact that you set a goal and have managed to collect some cool boxes within that goal. Your proof that it's still possible to collect some nice boxes on a budget.
The Sanyo 7000 series mini's are nice little boxes.
nice way to spend $100
---that panny 4930 looks great.
Outstanding thriftiness fatboy! I only wish I could have been as thrifty when I bought Ira's Philips! I only got ONE box!
Nice Panasonics
Nice to hear you find that chip, good luck !!
Nice ones fatboyrafe!I have a panasonic RX-3940 (not 4930 as yours) which looks nearly identical to the second one from the bottom.It is very loud as you have said of your RX-4930!Mine has only a tone control and volume control on the left hand side of the top panel.What is that third control for?The power consumption of my RX-3940 is 15 watts.What is your 4930 rated?Does yours have any inputs unlike mine?
thanks everybody for the comments...
jovie- my panasonic's extra knob is balance, so nothing all that important. it's 15 watts, and it has no inputs, just one lonely headphone jack in on the side in a rather large space for jacks. i love how the record button is set in on the play button on this box too, but i hate the plastic speaker covers.
if and when i get the Sanyo M9840 up and running, i'll be sure and edit the above description to say how it sounds. i'm kinda excited about it getting fixed because it's the only box i have that has 6 speakers (even though 2 are piezo) and equalizers, and i read in a really old post that it has great clarity.
I agree with MB84. That Sanyo mini is beautiful! It's nice to have someone else around here who's "fat".
quote:
Originally posted by oldskool69:
Outstanding thriftiness fatboy! I only wish I could have been as thrifty when I bought Ira's Philips! I only got ONE box!
OS, I spent my first hundred on boxes so fast I didn't see it leave my wallet.
Great finds Fatboyrafe!!!!!
oooh! i have a surprise for you all on this project, but i am going to wait till after i go to the flea market tomorrow to post anything, in case i pick anything else up i can photo it all at once. the surprise box is something of a slightly higher class than the other boxes i've picked up so far, but still was only $7.50. this box alone would probably fetch just under 100 on ebay in it's condition...
The Sanyo M9840 is a very unique-looking radio! The M7000 is a cute mini too!
