During the 1950s, comparatively light compact recorders were introduced for mobile news and film crews, including the Wirek Reporter (730113), the Kudelski Nagra (691031) and the Ampex 600 series (840016). Except among audiophiles, however, consumer acceptance of open-reel recorder-players was initially limited by their bulk and relative complexity. With the gradual spread of the transistor, solid state components began to replace heavy and power hungry vacuum tubes. As well, manufacturers developed various cassettes and cartridges to simplify tape operation. One, the 8-track cartridge (880270), was very popular from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s. In 1963 Philips introduced the "compact cassette." Initially the cassettes were used in office dictating machines, but by 1970 cassette recorders were being employed by a wide variety of professional and home users. During the 1970s the quality of cassette recordings was improved to the point where they became acceptable for music listening. Manufacturers introduced cassette "decks" as stereo components but the portable aspect of cassette players was not forgotten. In 1980, Sony introduced the Walkman, a headphone-equipped "personal" stereo that could be held in the palm of the hand and played anywhere. Soon after, manufacturers also began to build portable stereos or "boom boxes" that coupled a cassette player with a more powerful amplifier and speakers.

Fig. 29. Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (820114), 1980s. (CSTM)

Fig. 30. Pioneer CK-W300 portable stereo (870072), ca 1986. (CSTM)