The Boombox.

Precisely when the term was coined we're not sure. Department stores such as Sears and K-Mart began used it in their marketing as early as 1983. Merriam-Webster pins it at 1981, and defines the boom box as "a large portable radio and often tape player with two attached speakers". Initially, it became identified with a certain group of society, hence adopting epithetic nicknames, like ghetto blaster, and jam box. But as the masses began to embrace this assemblage of electronics gadgets as an indespensible form of portable entertainment, it became an icon of popular culture, and we've yet to let go. Your hosts of Pocket Calculator Show endeavor here to provide a retrospective, including as many photos, facts and accounts as we can provide, during your tour of the Vintage Boombox Museum.

News

Imagine viewing photos and information for thousands of boomboxes from all over the world in a few seconds, all from the comfort of you home PC...it's possible! Grab the world's first boombox software product, the Boombox Database, courtesy of Jens Gruber!

I've made my pilgrimage to Turbo Sonic, a little Tokyo shop that sells nothing but vintage ghettoblasters! Check it out some pictures from my visit here.

30lb_Krush from the boombox message board has constructed a Touchscreen Boombox PC! Imagine, a marriage of vintage stereo and modern day computer technology. Check it out here!

Wondering where boombox technology is heading? Imagine a giant ghettoblaster jamming out on your front porch on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Now imagine controlling the tunes from a computer in your living room! Well, the future is now and it's called the Bass Station!

Boomboxes from Behind the Iron Curtain: Our friend Alexi in Moscow sent us a terrific link to portable stereos from the USSR! Check out this one, another, and another.