electronic - Anything In Particular

Vintage Sony ICF-C17L Digital Clock Radio, 1985

Jon Nix — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 20:08:12 +0000

Dating from 1985, this is the Sony "Digimatic" ICF-C17L digital clock radio which is a very compact bedside electronic alarm and radio with a slanted design which one can only characterise as "very 80s". It's mostly a silver-coloured affair aside from the expanse of black at the front where the time display and tuner are situated. It also has a rather pleasing blue-green display and a rolling bar at the side for the volume and three position radio band selector. On top is a familiar style knob for the radio and alarm functions, common to many of the "Digitmatic" range - it's a rotating selector with a push button to activate the time setting position so as to prevent accidental changes. Nice. A battery backup provides clock power in the event of the unit being unplugged or losing power. Also nice.

This one is in good condition where it counts - the display is nice and clear with only minimal superficial scratches and the body is on the whole in good condition. There's some wear to the buttons on the top and to the corners, and the odd graze, but it's far from being the worst we've seen. Overall, for a 35+ year old item which would have been used on a daily basis, it's very good indeed. The unit measures 25cm long (9¾ in.) with a height of 9cm (3½ in.) and a depth of 8cm (3¼ in.)

The post Vintage Sony ICF-C17L Digital Clock Radio, 1985 appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Vintage 1980 Toshiba CR-3000 Stereo Digital Clock Radio

Jon Nix — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:21:06 +0000

Looking rather like a black plastic "Toblerone" packet, this is the Toshiba CR-3000 Stereo Digital Clock Radio, which dates from 1980. No surprises there - the glossy black finish, minimalism, and angular shapes are typical of that cross-over from space-age design to the 1980s. In many respects it's a fairly standard electronic clock radio, aside from the design, but there are some interesting features which set it apart too. First of all, that long design means that the stereo speakers do indeed have some spread to them and, what's more, two inputs on the left-hand side of the unit allows for further speakers to be added to enhance the sound. All of the controls are very neatly located on the top edge of the unit in a slightly recessed groover or are to the rear on the sloping surface, which means the front it gloriously uncluttered - just the two speakers and the clock and tuner displays. If you're a fan of sleek and stylish design then it ticks all the boxes.

This unit is in very good condition overall. There are, as to be expected, signs of use - notably some marks to the rear and superficial scratches to the high-gloss front, but otherwise the plastics are in very good condition, no chips or cracks. As a bonus, the original box and instructions are present, albeit the former has more obvious signs of age and wear.

The unit measures approximately 42cm long with a height of 5cm and a depth of 6cm (16.5 in., 2 in. and 2½ in. respectively).

The post Vintage 1980 Toshiba CR-3000 Stereo Digital Clock Radio appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Vintage Rockwell 8R 8 Digit Red LED Calculator, 1975

Jon Nix — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:30:27 +0000

Cutting edge... in 1975. A Rockwell calculator with an eight digit display in classic red LED style with original leather-ish case and instruction booklet. Powered by a HP7 / PP3 battery with optional power adaptor (not supplied). In full working order and in good condition, with only some very minor signs of age and use.

The post Vintage Rockwell 8R 8 Digit Red LED Calculator, 1975 appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Vintage 1970s MB Games Computer Battleship MB Electronics – 1977

Jon Nix — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 09:16:48 +0000

With its distinctive (and not at all annoying) soiund effects and electronc target selection, MB Electronics took the traditional "seek and destroy" game of battleships to a new level with the launch of this computerised version in 1977. Certainly, for those of us of a certain age, *this* was most definitely on our wish lists...

The computerisation comes in the form of "recording" the location of each player's ships and then with the co-ordinate firing system, which remembers those locations and reacts accordingly. All of this computerisation is accompanied by beeps, naturally, and appropriate sound effects for missed and hit targets and ultimately for complete destriuction of a player's fleet. It's a lot of fun and extremely nostalgic. We know this because it has been tested as working!

This one comes complete with all vessels and counters and instruction booklet (which you will probably need!). The battery terminals are good and clean (often they aren't). The outer box isn't going to win any prizes for aesthetics, but it functions and all of the inner packaging is present and in good order.

The post Vintage 1970s MB Games Computer Battleship MB Electronics – 1977 appeared first on Anything In Particular.

1980 Boxed MB Electronics Genius Sliding Lights Puzzle Handheld Game

Jon Nix — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 11:25:47 +0000

A game that might have passed you by back in the day is this MB Electronics "Genius" game. It's an electronic variation on the familiar sliding tile puzzle games of the past, but instead of trying to complete a picture by manipulating the tiles, the twist here is that the tiles are uniform and indicate their correct position by lighting up. It's weirdly addictive, frustrating, and fascinating... a test of memory and strategy as well as patience!

It runs on two AA batteries and is fully working, complete with original box and instructions. It's in good condition with no chips or cracks to the plastics.

The post 1980 Boxed MB Electronics Genius Sliding Lights Puzzle Handheld Game appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Intercept – Electronic Search and Destroy Game by Lakeside 1978

Jon Nix — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 22:14:11 +0000

This is "Intercept" by Lakeside which dates from 1978. It's an electronic game for two players played on a tabletop board resembling a gridded map. One player takes the role of fighter pilot (attack) and the other takes the role of missile commander (defence). The aim of the game is for the pilot to avoid detection and make it across the grid to the target and destroy it, and for the defence commander to obviously seek out and destroy the fighter before that happens. If you can imagine it, it's a little bit like an evolving game of computer battleship. It's part mechanical, part electronic and is a noisy game... and also engaging once you get the hang of it and the strategy.

It's uncommon to find this electronic game in working and complete condition, including the original instruction manual and all the playing pieces, but here is one. It takes one 9V battery and the battery compartment is nice and clean. Otherwise, very little cosmetic signs of age and wear. The box does have some signs of both, but it's in good shape considering its age.

The post Intercept – Electronic Search and Destroy Game by Lakeside 1978 appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Late 1970s White Hitachi Digital Clock Radio Model KC-675E

Jon Nix — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 16:45:36 +0000

Crossing over that period where space-age design gave way to something different, the Hitachi KC-675E is a bold slab for the bedside. A white plastic case with space-age curves and unusual layout gives way to a black metal section housing the speaker, and controls, which wraps around the lower front part of the unit. The only side control is the alarm setting switch. The clock radio has all of the features one might expect, including a three band radio (FM/MW/LW), wake to buzzer or radio option (set by the aforementioned switch), snooze and sleep modes, clock display dimmer, and illuminated tuner display. Everything appears to function as it should and the sound from the speaker is very rounded and impressive.

A good-looking piece for the bedside and in good cosmetic condition. There are some very minor losses to the black metal surfaces on edges and corners, but the plastic casing is in very good clean condition with no chips or cracks. You might be picky and say that it's very slightly yellowed, but it's only just "off-white", more of a cream in reality and it's consistent throughout which makes a big difference.

The post Late 1970s White Hitachi Digital Clock Radio Model KC-675E appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Vintage Jones Sewing Machine Co. Electronic Clock Radio ECR37

Jon Nix — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 20:45:17 +0000

A chance to buy a highly unusual item in exceptional condition, complete with original box and paperwork, this is the very snazzily-designed but rather tamely-named ECR37 made by Jones Sewing Machine Company. Yes, you read that right. Sewing Machine Company. Formed in 1860, the company made sewing machines right through to the 1980s under their own name and for others, whilst Brother of Japan formally took over the company in the late 1960s. So, this item is a slight conundrum for several reasons, notably because the eagle-eyed will have realised it's not a sewing machine, and because Brother don't seem to have made digital alarm clock radios. Puzzling.

In any event, there's more than a hint of space-age design to it - it's certainly bold in shape and style. The green LED digits, the protruding front section, the illuminated tuning display, and the complementary speaker grill and button panel design being the key elements to what makes this truly stand out from the crowd. It's unusual in so many ways.

It's in very good (possibly even completely unused) condition with funky orange and yellow box design featuring a couple enjoying some "snooze" time perhaps, and it comes with its original instruction manual. Find me another one!

Serious offers welcomed.

The post Vintage Jones Sewing Machine Co. Electronic Clock Radio ECR37 appeared first on Anything In Particular.

Texas Instruments Little Professor (1976)

Jon Nix — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 11:26:12 +0000

Complete and in very good condition, this Texas Instruments Little Professor dates from 1976 and was a colourful attempt to make maths more fun. Despite looking like a calculator, these early models rather bizarrely lacked that functionality, instead solely providing mathematic puzzles which vary from simple arithmetic to number finding games, led by the included activity cards.

This one is in fully working order, has the complete set of cards, and the box isn't in bad shape either.

The post Texas Instruments Little Professor (1976) appeared first on Anything In Particular.