Just how big is our hobby?

[Jovie]

Every Monday and Tuesday,my job as a driver takes me past a certain thrift store.Usually speaking,I will stop there to see what they might have.I don't know why I've been persistent because they never seem to have anything.One day I finally decided to ask an employee if they ever got any boomboxes donated to sell.To my surprise this employee told me they get quite a few.She then said that boomboxes are very popular as they seem to sell almost immediately after having been put on the shelves.Unfortunately,I don't pass this shop during the time when the items are put out to sell."I don't know why they go so quickly",she added.My immediate response was to say "that's because they really don't make them anymore".Then I happened to see a lone boombox sitting on top of a coke machine at the front of the store."Is that one for sale?",I asked pointing to it.The employee gave me a smirk and answered "NO".

After leaving the store,I thought about this for a while.It seems that the only boomboxes you see new in the stores are very small nearly bowling ball shaped eggs.The sound from these seem to be universally "tiny".If you continue down the same sales shelf you begin to see wacky looking shelf systems.It's either tiny eggs or very big non portable separates to choose from and nothing in between.On another aisle you will find various Ipod docks.These usually are for dedicated use without the multifunction appeal of a boombox.Remembering the moderately sized unit sitting on the stores drink machine,I realized that the medium and large category of boomboxes really are only available used.

There were a lot of boomboxes produced through the years so there should be a lot of available used examples.If someone wants a boombox for utility,one is really all that's necessary.Besides In today's world there are many other ways for people to get radio and play songs.Obviously most of the boxes this store sees are from the '90s and '00s.Most of these are not yet recognized as valuable by who we identify as collectors.Many of these don't have line-ins making them non friendly to the digital music players of today .This should make them less desirable yet these thrift stores can't keep them on the shelves!

It then began to occur to me that maybe there is a much larger collector market for post classic era boxes than we realize.If this is true,why then do these newer not attract much attention on Ebay?I have a feeling that it's because they so frequently pass through thrift stores and are easy to find at yard sales.Since this is the case collecting '90s and some '00 boxes could be a very cheap hobby for those who can't afford the additional expense of shipping charges.Besides as I said they don't make them anymore.That's the quickest way to make anything collectible.

It's easy for those in a community such as this to assume that anyone who collects boomboxes has found us or is interested in joining us.Neither is necessarily the case.There may be those collecting boxes from the '90s who haven't a clue about what was produced during the 70s or 80s.These people might have never really thought of buying on the internet or the existence of forums.They might even use the computer for business or specific things but not for hobbies or recreation.Some might not even use computers at all.

Many of us have asked the question "Will most '90s and '00 boxes ever become collectible?" I have a feeling that they already have.There are probably many people out there totally unaware of us who get excited to see a shiny black "football" or a rounded 3-piece from the year 2000 at a thrift shop for a few bucks.Perhaps they even have a room full of them.If they can appreciate the variety and the differences in each and every one they have they might be as happy with their collections as anyone here.At least the newer an item is the more likely it is to still be fully functional.That counts for a lot!

 

[71spud]

Nah, everything made after 1985 sucks.... the world is dying and we are the last of our kind. :'-(


Sorry, I couldn't resist. I think you have a nice positive outlook. Hopefully the next generation will be around ready to buy when I need to unload some of my extras I have been collecting..

 

[BoomBoxDeluxe]

There's things that you just *CANNOT* do with eggs.......

(1) Boom 'em loud, and boom 'em hard,

(2) Make a wall, without the use of cement to hold them all in place.

(3) .............

(4) .............

(5) .............

Besides, how do you exactly 'intimidate' someone with an egg?

It just doesn't work. Sorry.

I invite the rest of the WGM to fill in points 3,4 and 5.


-BoomBoxDeluxe.

 

[monchito]

there are people who love collecting all kinds of stuff jovie i agree 100% on that,, i would not be surprized that there may be a few that really do have a collection of newer boxes and if you notice those are desappearing too for newer ipod, sattelite and even internet radio we are seeing the digital move at a lighting fast pace,, to a lot of us oldschool boomboxes for us anyday but for other it may well be those 90 and 2000 boomers

 

[Jovie]

71 spud,BBDLX - All very good points.However,I merely was trying to present the idea that not all boombox collectors are necessarily like the majority of us here.I really do feel this hobby could be a lot bigger than we realize.Most of us who "thrift" know how scarce Golden Era equipment has become in the wild.For this reason,some might not care or even know about the sound difference compared to older equipment.Maybe they just see "90s" and "00s" at thrift shops for little to no money and consider it an inexpensive hobby.At least they can add to their collections with some frequency without it breaking the bank.Despite some not being able to appreciate it,there are differences between different models of even more recent units.If you feel you have higher standards,that's fine. I surmise though that their are some people out there that feel differently or have different guidlines.Even so,they could be just as fascinated with their finds as any of us.These people are buying boomboxes by definition.If they buy a number of them,they are also by definition "collectors".

 

[Master Z]

There's things that you just *CANNOT* do with eggs.......

#3. Look cool with one on shoulder.

Give it 10-20 more years and eggs will be all the rage, cause thats what todays 20 something demographic (read: Dorks) would have grown up listening to.
They will also probably have a Forum dedicated soley to eggs. Thats if this internet thing is still around....

 

[71spud]

There probably are already street gangs in Japan that walk around with "Hello Kitty" eggs on their shoulders...

 

[MasterBlaster84]

There's things that you just *CANNOT* do with eggs.......

#3. Look cool with one on shoulder.

Give it 10-20 more years and eggs will be all the rage, cause thats what todays 20 something demographic (read: Dorks) would have grown up listening to.
They will also probably have a Forum dedicated soley to eggs. Thats if this internet thing is still around....

They won't have to worry about me running up auction prices when this day comes.

 

[ViennaSound]

Never found an interesting egg.

But some modern boomers are interesting.
For example the tubes (KABOOM) , or wedges/cobras.... (PANASONIC),.....

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

I always kind of liked these Philips eggs. A new series of (a slightly different) style and new colors came out every year around Christmas at Target... along with matching portable CD players and CD storage wallets.

 

[ViennaSound]

Oh, interesting!

Is PHILIPS-MAGNAVOX a double brand in USA?

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

It was for a while, about ten years ago. Philips, which was tyring to make its name well known on its line of consumer products in the U.S., used both names to try to ween us off the Maganvox name and make the Philips name a household word. A few years after the double brand was introduced, the Magnavox name was dropped. By then, the Philips name had taken hold.

Before that, the Philips name was rarely used in the U.S. In the early days, copyright rules forbade it, since it was so close to Philco (then owned by Ford). That's why early Philips products in the U.S. were all branded Norelco (North American Phi"l"ps Co.). When Philips bought Magnavox in the '70's, they began using that name, instead. Back then, only a few products came out branded as Philips: medical equipment, high-end TV's, a few high-end radios, and some home stereo components. Everything else was Magnavox. (For example, all Philips boomboxes in the '80's were released as Magnavox here.)

Then, about ten years ago, no longer hindered by copyright restrictions, and in an effort to make the Philips name commonplace in the U.S. (and to bring us in line with the rest of the world), the North American Philips Co. added the Philips name to its Magnavox products, so that "Philips Magnavox" was everywhere. However, the double name was only a temporary move, desgined to help consumers make the transition from Magnavox to Philips... and realize that both names were the same company. They eventually dropped the Magnavox part of the name. It worked! The Philips name had become ubiquitous in the USA!

P.S. The only Norelco-named line of products that remains in the U.S. is men's shavers. Philips felt the name had too much positive recognition and tradition behind it to drop it. Recently, however, they've added the Philips name, so men's shavers are now Philips Norelco. Do you suppose this is a prelude to their finally dropping the Norelco brand altogether, just like they once did with the Magnavox brand? Stay tuned to find out!!

P.S.S. In a final reverse-twist, in the last few years, Philips has re-introduced the Magnavox name (alone) on its line of low-end consumer electronics and parts.

(Sorry, Vienna. You ask a simple question, you get a dissertation. Thanks for providing an outlet for the trivia that fills my head.)

 

[Aiwa]

yo,


here`s some more info:

PHILIPS NETHERLANDS ROYAL DUTCH COMPANY
KONINKLIKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV



The foundations for what was to become one of the world's biggest electronics companies were laid in 1891 when Gerard Philips established a company in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, to 'manufacture incandescent lamps and other electrical products'.
The company initially concentrated on making carbon-filament lamps and by the turn of the century was one of the largest producers in Europe.
Developments in new lighting technologies fueled a steady program of expansion, and, in 1914, it established a research laboratory to study physical and chemical phenomena, so as to further stimulate product innovation.
Marketing companies had already been established in the US and France before the First World War, and in Belgium in 1919, and the 1920s saw an explosion in their number.
It was at this time that Philips began to protect its innovations with patents, for areas taking in X-ray radiation and radio reception. This marked the beginning of the diversification of its product range. Having introduced a medical X-ray tube in 1918, Philips then became involved in the first experiments in television in 1925. It began producing radios in 1927 and had sold one million by 1932. One year later, it produced its 100-millionth radio valve, and also started production of medical X-ray equipment in the United States.
Philips' first electric shaver was launched in 1939, at which time the Company employed 45,000 people worldwide and had sales of 152 million guilders.
Science and technology underwent tremendous development in the 1940s and 1950s, with Philips Research inventing the rotary heads which led to the development of the Philishave electric shaver, and laying down the basis for later ground-breaking work on transistors and integrated circuits. In the 1960s, this resulted in important discoveries such as CCDs (charge-coupled devices) and LOCOS (local oxidation of silicon).
Philips also made major contributions in the development of the recording, transmission and reproduction of television pictures, its research work leading to the development of the Plumbicon TV camera tube and improved phosphors for better picture quality. It introduced the Compact Audio Cassette in 1963 and produced its first integrated circuits in 1965.
The flow of exciting new products and ideas continued throughout the 1970s: research in lighting contributed to the new PL and SL energy-saving lamps; other key breakthroughs came in the processing, storage and transmission of images, sound and data where Philips Research made key breakthroughs, resulting in the inventions of the LaserVision optical disc, the Compact Disc and optical telecommunication systems.
Philips established PolyGram in 1972, and acquired Magnavox (1974) and Signetics (1975) in the United States. Acquisitions in the 1980s included the television business of GTE Sylvania (1981) and the lamps business of Westinghouse (1983). The Compact Disc was launched in 1983, while other landmarks were the production of Philips' 100-millionth TV set in 1984 and 300-millionth Philishave electric shaver in 1995.
The 1990s was a decade of significant change for Philips. The company carried out a major restructuring program to return it to a healthy footing. And more recently it has been concentrating on its core activities. Today, Philips is at the leading edge of the digital revolution, introducing world-class products that are helping to improve people's lives as we continue into the new millennium.Nowadays
Philips brown goods are manufactured by asian "BS"-manufacturers from Turkey to China .

Curious:
In the 60/70s Philips was not allowed to use the
"Philips" trademark in the US,because of conflict with another
company.So Philips used the Magnavox(Philips aquired magnavox 1974) and Norelco brands for its consumer products
in the US to sell them.Nowadays this conflict is solved.Several Philips products came on the us market branded Ampex Philco and Mercury too.


Some more Philips trademarks:
Erres,
Dux,
Pye
cossor,
Hornyphon,
Aristona( NSF ),
S.B.R.,
Sierra,
Stella
Zerdik
Radiola,
Mediator,
Magnavox,
Dynatron,
Rajisan,and more.

Among others: A "B(lack)S(eries)" mfg for PHIL-MAG: Starlight Marketing (HK,China...),Ltd.

Magnavox (Latin for "loud voice") was an electronics company founded by Edwin Pridham and Peter Jensen. The brothers invented the first loudspeaker in 1915 and named their brainchild "Magnavox." The company was formed in 1917 under the same name in order to market the invention.

With the introduction of the Odyssey in 1972, Magnavox began the home video game console market. Philips acquired Magnavox's consumer electronics division in 1974. In the late 1990s, some Philips electronics were marketed under the brand name "Philips Magnavox" in attempt to increase brand awareness of the Philips name in the Unites States. While it did work, to a degree, it also caused confusion to the consumer as to the difference between "Philips Magnavox" products and "Philips" products. Philips now once again markets the brands separately.

The defense group remained independent under the Magnavox Electronic Systems name until it was acquired by GM Hughes Electronics in 1995. When GM Hughes Electronics sold its defense operations to Raytheon, the former Magnavox defense operations were transferred as well.

The Magnavox name is still used by Philips to market value-priced consumer electronics.


(Exerpted by company statements)

 

[Johnny]

71 spud,BBDLX - All very good points.However,I merely was trying to present the idea that not all boombox collectors are necessarily like the majority of us here.I really do feel this hobby could be a lot bigger than we realize.Most of us who "thrift" know how scarce Golden Era equipment has become in the wild.For this reason,some might not care or even know about the sound difference compared to older equipment.Maybe they just see "90s" and "00s" at thrift shops for little to no money and consider it an inexpensive hobby.At least they can add to their collections with some frequency without it breaking the bank.Despite some not being able to appreciate it,there are differences between different models of even more recent units.If you feel you have higher standards,that's fine. I surmise though that their are some people out there that feel differently or have different guidlines.Even so,they could be just as fascinated with their finds as any of us.These people are buying boomboxes by definition.If they buy a number of them,they are also by definition "collectors".

Interesting point Jovie, once again we visit "to each there own".... My taste is different than yours or the next guy, we might agree on some, but not all for sure..

My dad was fascinated to give my an old Aiwa egg that belonged to my mom... but if it was in the wild I would have passed it up.. it does have sentimental value to me, but probably not many others...

Thanks for a interesting point of view Jovie..

 

[Gluecifer]

Always love you topics Jovie, and this is ones no different!

I'm certain there are loads of collectors of vintage (and newer) portable audio out there that aren't online. The internet is popular and accessible for most people, but the generation that's the least represented on here is the one that's the most probable to be a collector. I never want this to come across as age-ist, so I apologise if I offend our older grand-brothers, but the 65 and up age group are the most likely to appreciate 70s and early 80s radios, and probably later ones, but often don't find the internet to be a place to share their hobby. I know what it's like down here, older dudes with sheds full of vintage audio gear they've picked up for pittance over the years from garage sales and such.

As I work with seniors and retirees and teach them about the internet and such I often hear the same things over and over, 'it's too hard', 'I can't type', 'I'm too old', 'I don't have time'. But it's as soon as you tap into one of their passions that has an online community, a spark ignites and the effort doesn't seem so great anymore.

The other side of this is a lot of these kinds of collectors don't see the value in what they collect as a dollars and cents thing. They do it for the love and interest, and have probably heard one too many times from their partner's that it's 'junk' that they end up believing it. But Grandad's shed full of junky old portable radios would be an Aladdin's Cave to any of us, of course.

I'm certain theres hundreds of thousands of seniors around the world right now, pottering about in their sheds with dozens of classic ghettoblasters tinkering with them and enjoying their favourite radio programmes on them.

I do hate propagating stereotypes, but this one is one I'd love to be one day, so I say all this with the best and most positive of intentions. And I'm doing my bit to try and get as many of them online and sharing their love with the rest of the world!

Ahh well, one day hopefully anyway.



Rock On.

 

[monchito]

Always love you topics Jovie, and this is ones no different!

I'm certain there are loads of collectors of vintage (and newer) portable audio out there that aren't online. The internet is popular and accessible for most people, but the generation that's the least represented on here is the one that's the most probable to be a collector. I never want this to come across as age-ist, so I apologise if I offend our older grand-brothers, but the 65 and up age group are the most likely to appreciate 70s and early 80s radios, and probably later ones, but often don't find the internet to be a place to share their hobby. I know what it's like down here, older dudes with sheds full of vintage audio gear they've picked up for pittance over the years from garage sales and such.

As I work with seniors and retirees and teach them about the internet and such I often hear the same things over and over, 'it's too hard', 'I can't type', 'I'm too old', 'I don't have time'. But it's as soon as you tap into one of their passions that has an online community, a spark ignites and the effort doesn't seem so great anymore.

The other side of this is a lot of these kinds of collectors don't see the value in what they collect as a dollars and cents thing. They do it for the love and interest, and have probably heard one too many times from their partner's that it's 'junk' that they end up believing it. But Grandad's shed full of junky old portable radios would be an Aladdin's Cave to any of us, of course.

I'm certain theres hundreds of thousands of seniors around the world right now, pottering about in their sheds with dozens of classic ghettoblasters tinkering with them and enjoying their favourite radio programmes on them.

I do hate propagating stereotypes, but this one is one I'd love to be one day, so I say all this with the best and most positive of intentions. And I'm doing my bit to try and get as many of them online and sharing their love with the rest of the world!

Ahh well, one day hopefully anyway.



Rock On.

 

[Johnny]

Well said Glue!

 

[Old school Scott]

Yeh but...
The off-black footballs de-void of chrome,
On a tee-shirt someday?
Or a hand-bag?
Doubt it.
Ugly is ugly no matter what time it is in Retro Land.


Cheers OSS

 

[ViennaSound]

Thanks Boomshaka/Aiwa for the perfect discription!

Remembers me the end of Philips fridges, cookers,...
There was the brand PHILIPS-WHIRLPOOL .
Also own brands are IGNIS and BAUKNECHT.

 

[ahardb0dy]

"They will also probably have a Forum dedicated soley to eggs. Thats if this internet thing is still around"

no they will have a forum devoted to their I pods