Boomboxラジカセ Creators

Help spread the word and find the boombox creators before it's too late!

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Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Siu-Kwong Tse (Disco Lite)

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The Boomboxラジカセ Creators Documentary Preview is Here!

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Takemi Ebata, Yoichi Hisano, & Bruce Springsteen (RS-466)

It's not every day that the creators of a boombox in an iconic photograph are identified, but today is one of those days.

While we still don't know who created the JVC RC-M90 immortalized on LL Cool J's platinum-selling first album Radio, the creators of the Panasonic RS-466 that Bruce Springsteen is rockin' in this 1978 Lynn Goldsmith photograph are now known.

Takemi Ebata and Yoichi Hisano created 245038 AKA, the Panasonic RS-466 in 1975. Today - over 35 years later - their names are finally known but their stories are still untold and unsung. We want to change that.

Year Panasonic introduced RS-466: 1975

Creators: Takemi Ebata & Yoichi Hisano

Current age of creators: 75-85 yrs.

Do you know Takemi Ebata or Yoichi Hisano or their family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us: creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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Murray Camens and Graham Hinde (D 8007)

With its primary colors, simple geometric forms and patterns, the Philips D 8007 (Roller Radio) is a classic example of a boombox influenced by the 1980s Memphis design movement founded by Ettore Sottsass.

Created by two Dutch designers in 1985 during the waning years of the boombox's golden-age, the D 8007 creators' names are now known but their stories are still untold over 25 years later.

Year Philips introduced D 8007 (Roller Radio): 1988

Creators: Murray Camens & Graham Hinde

Current age of creators: 65-75 yrs.

Do you know Murray Camens, Graham Hinde or their family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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Jean-Michel Basquiat (PH 480K)

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One of the most celebrated painters/poets during the boombox's golden age - 1970s-1980s - Jean-Michel Basquiat always enjoyed his music during his meteoric rise to the top of the international art world. Whether sharing Ravel, Bird, or Eno, JMB couldn't live without his radio in the studio or on the street, beach, or plane.

The images above are from the excellent documentary, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child.

The boombox he's drawing with on the beach is similar to the Sanyo M2422. Does anyone know the exact model?

The Fisher PH 480K was created in 1981 - over 30 years ago - and its creators are still unknown and unsung. We want to change that.

Year Fisher introduced PH 480K: 1981

Current age of creators: 65-75 yrs.

Do you know a boombox creator or his/her family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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The First Boombox? (22RR482)

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The generally accepted definition of a boombox is a handled, portable, battery and mains operable radio receiver with a cassette player/recorder and one or more speakers. 

According to Wikipedia, in 1969 Philips introduced the first machine that expanded this definition. The innovation of the Radio Recorder Spezial 22RR482 was the ability to record the radio signal directly to cassette tape - previously only possible using cables or a microphone directed at the speaker. This new feature contributed to the popularity and proliferation of boomboxes during the golden-age - the 1970s and 1980s - and made possible the creation of countless mixtapes which became an integral part of early hip-hop and music sharing culture.

It's been over forty years and the creators of the 22RR482 are still unknown and unsung. Can you help change that?

Year Philips introduced 22RR482: 1969

Current age of creators: 80-90 yrs.

Do you know a boombox creator or his/her family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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4.2 Million Boomboxes Sold! (RQ-543)

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Wow! 4.2 million units sold of one ラジカセ in 15 years - that's an average of 767 boomboxes sold per day for fifteen years - (is that a record?)

The company that achieved this feat - Matsushita Electric Industrial Company - (parent company of National, Panasonic, NAIS, Quasar, Technics, Ramsa, Rasonic, Victor/JVC, Sanyo) was founded in 1917 by Konosuke Matsushita. The museum bearing his name and showcasing important Matsushita company products has at least one ラジカセ displayed: the gold National Panasonic RQ-543 created in 1975 exclusively for the Middle East market. While rare outside the region, 4.2 million units were sold during 1975-1990 making this one of the few boomboxes of which actual numbers-sold are available.

Konosuke-san may have had a hand in the strategic and marketing decisions for the RQ-543, but it's unlikely that he designed/created the actual gold ラジカセ. Given the similar design elements to the National Panasonic RF-5410LBS, it's quite possible that Kazumasa Takenaka, Kikuo Ohta, or Benito Mishiro helped create the RQ-543. Today unfortunately, the actual creators are still unknown and their stories untold. We want to change that.

Year National Panasonic introduced RQ-543: 1975

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Do you know a boombox creator or his/her family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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The Fantastical and Real Boomboxes of Richard Culbertson (3-5252C)

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Richard Culbertson, an industrial designer at General Electric during the 1970s-1980s, passed away in 2011. While working at GE he created fantastical and real boomboxes. Here are some of them.

Birth year of Richard Culbertson: 1932

Year General Electric introduced 3-5252C (D268755): 1983

Current age of creator: Deceased

Do you know a boombox creator or his/her family/friends/colleagues? Please contact us and help us preserve their stories before it's too late: creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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August 11, 1981 (Sharp GF-999 & Bruce Springsteen)

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At least two great things happened on August 11, 1981. The back of the above Sharp GF-999 was manufactured, soon making yet another grail boombox available to the music sharing masses. And on that same Tuesday, Bruce Springsteen played the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan as part of The River tour (Bruce is rockin' a Panasonic RS-466 Mk II S in front of New York's ritzy The Stork Club in this Lynn Goldsmith picture).

While not this 999's definitive created-on date, it provides a good estimate of when this piece of plastic started its journey to becoming an iconic boombox over 30 years ago.

It existed in the minds of its creators well before August 11, 1981 and today they are still unknown and unsung. We want to change that.

Year Sharp introduced GF-999: 1980

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Do you know a boombox creator or his/her family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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Happy International Boombox Day!

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Today, July 20th, by sharing music through their creations, we celebrate the anonymous creators of the international cultural icon ラジカセ - the boombox/ghettoblaster.

Beginning in 1978 with the Victor/JVC RC-550, the boombox Golden Age (1978 to 1985) saw dozens of manufacturers competing to innovate and outsell each other. Exact numbers are difficult to come by, but a conservative estimate is 400,000 boomboxes were sold worldwide during the Golden Age.

And yet today, over 30 years later, the creators of these amazing machines are unknown and unsung. We want to change that.

Year Victor/JVC introduced RC-550: 1978

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Do you know a boombox creator or his/her family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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Hey Sharp, Where's the ラジカセ? (GF-909)

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It's admirable that the Sharp Corporation makes available public tours of its museum. Contained within are important Sharp products: televisions, led lighting, and solar panels.

However, one product appears to be missing: a ラジカセ (radio cassette, aka, boombox). Sharp made many boomboxes that have become international cultural icons and at least one should be represented in its museum. Is there a ラジカセ such as the GF-909, GF-999, GF-1000 or VZ-2000 in the History area of the museum? If not, there should be.

Year Sharp introduced GF-909: 1981

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Price when new: ¥118,000

Do you know who created the GF or VZ series of boomboxes or their family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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Six Boomboxesラジカセ Created by Kazumasa Takenaka (re-do)

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To make the previous Boombox Creators post more mobile friendly, here it is redone with just images.

During the years 1974 to 1982, Kazumasa Takenaka created several boomboxes for the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (parent company of National and Panasonic). Here are six of them.

1974

Created in 1974, D250190 was introduced as the National Panasonic RF-5410BA in 1976.

1976

Introduced as the National Panasonic RF-5410LBS in 1977, D244102 was created in 1976.

1978

Created in 1978, D259785 was introduced in 1982 as the National Panasonic RS-4360 DFT and Panasonic RX-7700.

1979

Created in 1979, D250190 was introduced as the National RX-5200 and sold for ¥56,800 in 1982.

1980

Created in 1980, D266664 was introduced as the National RX-7200 in 1982.

1982

Created in 1982, D278144 was introduced as the National RX-C60F in 1984.

Year Kazumasa Takenaka created D250190 (aka National Panasonic RF-5410BA): 1974

Current age of creator: 75-85 yrs.

Kazumasa Takenaka is a true boombox creator.

Do you know him or his family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org

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Only thirteen days until International Boombox Day (July 20)

Boomboxery.com

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Six Boomboxesラジカセ Created by Kazumasa Takenaka

During the years 1975 to 1982, Kazumasa Takenaka created several boomboxes for the Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (parent company of National and Panasonic). Here are six of them.

The images below are an interactive timeline. Click on edges of top/photo area or drag on timeline to discover the boomboxes created by Kazumasa-san and music and events from the year in which they were created.

Year Kazumasa Takenaka created D250190 (aka National Panasonic RF-5410BA): 1974

Current age of creator: 75-85 yrs.

Kazumasa Takenaka is a true boombox creator.

Do you know him or his family/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] com.

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El Diablo (RC-550)

Arguably the first boombox created for the street, the massive monophonic RC-550 with its roll-bars, 10" woofer, and carrying strap turned heads with its looks and sound. Introduced in 1978 by JVC/Victor and known as El Diablo悪魔 for its flashing red LEDs and thunderous sound, some of its notable design elements can be seen in a patent filed in March 1976: the large speaker, top-mounted tape deck keys, and rotating microphone.

Did Kazumasa Takenaka, Kikuo Ohta, and Benito Mishiro also create the RC-550?

Year JVC/Victor RC-550 introduced: 1978

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Do you know Kazumasa Takenaka, Kikuo Ohta, Benito Mishiro, or their families/friends/colleagues?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] org.

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Graph of the Creators

This interactive diagram shows some of the creators and their creations (mouse-over the names to see the connections).

Year Hong-Shie Chen created D583357 (aka Lasonic i931): 2008

Current age of creator: 65-75 yrs.

Year Hoi T. Vong created D254734: 1977

Current age of creator: 75-85 yrs.

Year Kazumasa Takenaka, Iwao Nakajima, and Benito Mishiro created D262367: 1978

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Year Kunio Hoshino, Kazumasa Takenaka, Teruyuki Nishimoto, Shuhei Taguchi, Kikuo Ohta, and Benito Mishiro created D266664 (aka National RX-7200): 1980

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Year Richard Culbertson created D268755: 1981

Current age of creator: deceased

Do you know Hong-Shie Chen, Hoi T. Vong, Benito Mishiro, Iwao Nakajima, Kazumasa Takenaka, Katsuya Satoh, Hideto Ueno, Satoshi Itoh, Kunio Hoshino, Teruyuki Nishimoto, Shuhei Taguchi, Kikuo Ohta, or Richard Culbertson?

If so, please contact us! creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] com.

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The Sensor (C-100F)

One of several products created through a joint venture between Coney and Onkyo in Kobe, Japan, the Conion C-100F had the looks and sound that defined a grail boombox. When new it cost so much, and was so desirable, that it came with its own burglar alarm! Widely acknowleged as one of the loudest and most iconic boomboxes, nearly thirty years later its creators are still unknown.

Year Conion C-100F introduced: 1984

Current age of creators: 70-80 yrs.

Do you know who created this amazing machine? If so, please contact us: creators [at] boomboxcreators [dot] com.

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