It’s been a long time coming, but I have something I want to share with the Boombox community.
On September 1st, I will be traveling to Hong Kong as a guest of Rob Owens, CEO of Bumpboxx. It’s been a bit of a secret for sometime, but I want to share with you all why I am going and what the goal of having me there is.
Last fall was the first time I spoke to Rob regarding a review of the Bumpboxx for Boombox Magazine. We had a lengthy discussion about his vision of what a modern Boombox should be, how Bumpboxx came into existence as well as the classic radio’s we all know and love. We continued to speak throughout the end of the year and into 2017. I have found him to be a very interesting person in the fact that he is working very hard to improve the original designs based on so much input from this community. He has evolved his product, changed manufacturing facilities and is continuing to work towards better designs.
I told Rob that from 1984 through 1999 I ran an electronics’ company with my father, specializing in wire harness fabrication for numerically controlled milling machines (Fadal Engineering was our main customer). First, we talked about me possibly coming to Hong Kong to have a look at the manufacturing techniques to see if I could somehow help in the quality department, but then our conversation turned back to this forum.
Rob and I have spoken in great detail about what we both feel is lacking in the market place today in terms of portable music systems and of course about the complete lack of a true BOOMBOX.
I explained to him that I have personally been involved in or at least read every notable discussion on this forum, from poll’s that have been posted, to DYI projects to the favorite features we all loved from all the best classic designs, but mostly that I have heard everyone’s opinions on what we would want in a “New†design.
Since moving to Italy our conversation has continued. Rob has been working on HUGE projects that include large licensing deals and partnerships with retail outlets with the current Bumpboxx as well as some brand new, over the top KING KONG boxes. In our conversations Rob has continued to express a serious desire to bring a TRUE CLASSIC in all terms of the words, back to the market place. But he is also a very busy man.
So, this is where I come in.
Over the last few months I have been working extensively on creating brand new “Classically†styled boombox drawings. "The Bumpboxx Classic". With all of you in my ear and in the back of my mind I have scoured my personal collection as well as radios from this forum to pull design cues, features and components that make a classic a classic. I currently have five designs that I will be presenting to Rob in Hong Kong on September 1st. I will be there for a total of two weeks in hopes that we can work out what it will take to actually make this happen. I will then return as needed until we have achieved our goal.
Rob and I both know what is at stake here. The upfront manufacturing costs on a project like this are HUGE. In reality, there is not a 100% guarantee of this coming to fruition, but we are going to work extremely hard and do our best.
I am going to say one last thing…
For me personally, this is an opportunity of a life time. As a collector and a member of this community, the chance to design a product that may go into production is a dream come true. I am very aware that there is “Dreaming†and there is “Reality†and somewhere in between there is cost and limitations that will dictate the final product.
Please bear with me, please show this process respect and positive support. One of the greatest aspects Boomboxery has ever had, has been the true kindness of its members. I am going to need that more than ever to get my head around what will be needed to hopefully do the impossible…
Build a Classic Blaster that we all would want to own!
And yes….I know….
Build Quality, true stereo, not made of wood, folding handle, analogue VU meters. cassette deck, dual antenna’s ect, ect…
I’m on it!
Wish me luck!
This is for all of you......
On September 1st, I will be traveling to Hong Kong as a guest of Rob Owens, CEO of Bumpboxx. It’s been a bit of a secret for sometime, but I want to share with you all why I am going and what the goal of having me there is.
Last fall was the first time I spoke to Rob regarding a review of the Bumpboxx for Boombox Magazine. We had a lengthy discussion about his vision of what a modern Boombox should be, how Bumpboxx came into existence as well as the classic radio’s we all know and love. We continued to speak throughout the end of the year and into 2017. I have found him to be a very interesting person in the fact that he is working very hard to improve the original designs based on so much input from this community. He has evolved his product, changed manufacturing facilities and is continuing to work towards better designs.
I told Rob that from 1984 through 1999 I ran an electronics’ company with my father, specializing in wire harness fabrication for numerically controlled milling machines (Fadal Engineering was our main customer). First, we talked about me possibly coming to Hong Kong to have a look at the manufacturing techniques to see if I could somehow help in the quality department, but then our conversation turned back to this forum.
Rob and I have spoken in great detail about what we both feel is lacking in the market place today in terms of portable music systems and of course about the complete lack of a true BOOMBOX.
I explained to him that I have personally been involved in or at least read every notable discussion on this forum, from poll’s that have been posted, to DYI projects to the favorite features we all loved from all the best classic designs, but mostly that I have heard everyone’s opinions on what we would want in a “New†design.
Since moving to Italy our conversation has continued. Rob has been working on HUGE projects that include large licensing deals and partnerships with retail outlets with the current Bumpboxx as well as some brand new, over the top KING KONG boxes. In our conversations Rob has continued to express a serious desire to bring a TRUE CLASSIC in all terms of the words, back to the market place. But he is also a very busy man.
So, this is where I come in.
Over the last few months I have been working extensively on creating brand new “Classically†styled boombox drawings. "The Bumpboxx Classic". With all of you in my ear and in the back of my mind I have scoured my personal collection as well as radios from this forum to pull design cues, features and components that make a classic a classic. I currently have five designs that I will be presenting to Rob in Hong Kong on September 1st. I will be there for a total of two weeks in hopes that we can work out what it will take to actually make this happen. I will then return as needed until we have achieved our goal.
Rob and I both know what is at stake here. The upfront manufacturing costs on a project like this are HUGE. In reality, there is not a 100% guarantee of this coming to fruition, but we are going to work extremely hard and do our best.
I am going to say one last thing…
For me personally, this is an opportunity of a life time. As a collector and a member of this community, the chance to design a product that may go into production is a dream come true. I am very aware that there is “Dreaming†and there is “Reality†and somewhere in between there is cost and limitations that will dictate the final product.
Please bear with me, please show this process respect and positive support. One of the greatest aspects Boomboxery has ever had, has been the true kindness of its members. I am going to need that more than ever to get my head around what will be needed to hopefully do the impossible…
Build a Classic Blaster that we all would want to own!
And yes….I know….
Build Quality, true stereo, not made of wood, folding handle, analogue VU meters. cassette deck, dual antenna’s ect, ect…
I’m on it!
Wish me luck!
This is for all of you......
