What is the most rare boombox? How did you choose yours?

[tsx387]

Since I am new to this I thought I would put out a few feelers for these questions.

 

[Master Z]

I think most classic boxes are gettin
g rarer by the day. But ones that stand out are the gold conion and silver jvc 550.
I didn't choose most of my boxes I was just lucky enough to find them in the wild.
Ebay is a crap shoot unless you bid really high.

 

[blu_fuz]

Not because I have one, but the Wheely seems to be pretty rare. I know of about 4-5 that members have and I have seen maybe another 4-5 of them on ebay in the last couple years. Also, I have only known of about 2-3 total that were fully working . Rare, big, usually damaged/missing pieces, and expensive.


I agree with Master Z's suggestions too. Any "gold edition" box is very rare to even find, let alone in good condition.

 

[Fatdog]

I would think that a boombox of which only one is known to survive would be the rarest. I imagine that there are plenty of boomboxes that are like that. The question is, however, is it a boombox that any of us would really want?

 

[ViennaSound]

I would think that a boombox of which only one is known to survive would be the rarest. I imagine that there are plenty of boomboxes that are like that. The question is, however, is it a boombox that any of us would really want?

The rarest one it that, you really want to get.
For me it must be a tiny PHILIPS 170 mono.
Maybe the greatest sh*t box on earth, but nearly impossible to find one in good condition... :annoyed:
(Want it, because was my first one)

 

[mellymelsr]

For me it wasn't about rarity, it was about what was that one must have boombox...well for me there was only one must have and it wasn't rare at all. The M70 has been my favorite box since I was 12 and initially was the only box I wanted. I now have 5 M70's and 20 other boxes with my eyes on several others. My best all around box and the one on most peoples must have list is my M90. Although I love the M90's sound my favorite is still the M70...more fond memories of it I guess...

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

My favorite rare boomer that I don't have is the silver JVC RC-550 mono.

My favorite one that I have is the gold JVC M-75.

 

[manimal347]

I understand my Panasonic RX-5600 is pretty rare. I bought it because it was only fifty dollars yet everything worked. 'course, there's a reason for that low price, not that people pay attention to cosmetics once the woofers are thumping.

 

[bill]

i dont really choose my boomboxes they kind of choose me.
whats the rarest box. hmmmm the one you dont have and want the most.

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

For me it wasn't about rarity, it was about what was that one must have boombox...well for me there was only one must have and it wasn't rare at all. The M70 has been my favorite box since I was 12 and initially was the only box I wanted. I now have 5 M70's and 20 other boxes with my eyes on several others. My best all around box and the one on most peoples must have list is my M90. Although I love the M90's sound my favorite is still the M70...more fond memories of it I guess...

I couldn't have said that any better, just replace M70 with TRC-920 and it's the same story! Although not rare in my case....but I still dig on that radio!

 

[Drew]

It would be interesting to find production data from various companies, like are kept for cars. Some electronics companies use consecutive serial number systems starting at a given number such as 4000001, 4000002, 4000003, these being units 1,2 &3. A few even started at 0001 - making it easy to see how many were ulimately produced.

I logged serial numbers for the KLH model 8 tube radio -- the highest number I found of 100 units seen was 11,677 which means about 12,000 were made.

Sony seems to have used this system with their early boombox's in he 1970s. The highest number I've seen on the CF-580 is 22,134.

 

[docs]

Define rare. Rare can be either exact or personal. Me, I have a few rare boxes but probably as Las and Bill say, it is a personal thing.

 

[Gluecifer]

Two words define 'rare' and utterly desirable for me in this hobby: Bombeat Forty



Rock On.

 

[redbenjoe]

imho --its a 'do the math' deal....

if only ONE were made ( like a prototype)
or there is only ONE survivor--

those are the most rare boxes .

 

[71spud]

Probably the rarest boombox model I own is a JVC PC-6. The rarest version of a grail I have is my white-drivered JVC RC-550.

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

It's hard to know what boomboxes are genuinely rare, because company data on these things is long gone, if it ever existed. But give yourself a few years of searching - in the wild, on eBay, and on boards like this - and you'll eventually get a pretty good idea of which boomboxes turn up often and which appear only once in a blue moon.

Of course, wanting a box just for its rarity seems a bit foolish, Unfortunately, I'm guilty of that, because I like to be different. (Sorry.) There are other folks who like to find (and flip) rare boxes for profit. But the best (and most satisfying) route seems to be simply to buy what looks and sounds good to you, no matter how scacre or plentiful it is, and no matter how many (or few) other folks like or want it. Be an individual, and try not to crave something just because other collectors crave it. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder (same goes for sound in the ear), as you collect, you're likely to snag a rare box or two along the way without even trying... just because you'll be one of only a few people who like it.

 

[redbenjoe]

good advice from BSL
-----------------------------

and dibs on all the spud & bsl rare crap

 

[ViennaSound]

I would think that a boombox of which only one is known to survive would be the rarest. I imagine that there are plenty of boomboxes that are like that. The question is, however, is it a boombox that any of us would really want?

The rarest one it that, you really want to get.
For me it must be a tiny PHILIPS 170 mono.
Maybe the greatest sh*t box on earth, but nearly impossible to find one in good condition... :annoyed:
(Want it, because was my first one)

Wohoooo!
Now i must correct myself.
Not rare any more.
Incredible story follows soooon.

 

[redbenjoe]

hooray for roman -
ANOTHER lucky streak

 

[Boom Shaka Laka]

Roman is the all-time King of Lucky!