Well, it only took 33 years to get a Lasonic 931 for a decent price in my hands. Ever since I saw them brand new in Woolworth, 1987 at 17 years old, having just purchased ZZTop - Afterburner on cassette, I lusted after the wall of chrome switches and knobs on a display model. But the price was a bit high for a fast food worker, and they disappeared soon after, along with Woolworth. Never saw one again until about 1992, when I saw the rounded 3rd gen at a flea market, but priced about $300 and I passed.
Enter Ebay, and the pickings were plentiful, but I felt like I had to pay in blood and tears for a well-used portal to my youth. Missing switches, battery doors, handles, you name it, still had a price I could not justify, until I saw her for $75 BIN, untested. She's dirty, but complete, minus the obvious Deck B door and a power cord. She even has a old strap mounted to the handle.
Antennas are perfect (yipee!) and nothing rattled inside. The function switch has the dreaded 360 free spin, but the radio select knob seems solid, but I did not turn it yet. She has all her "teeth", but the FF switch floats and is snapped inside. Untested is a chance you take, and there was a cut power cord, so does she work on DC? Plugged in the adapter, and she powered up! Scratchy pots and a ground hum, but both speakers respond. Probably stuck on Phono for now. Did not try any tapes yet while it is so dirty. But Deck B spins for as much as I can test it.
I don't know what the random wire and terminal hanging in Deck A is for, but at least I did not try to shove a tape in there! The battery terminals look really good. Anyone have a spare Deck B door?
Wish I could read the date code to see exactly when she was made. Don't know about the serial numbering either. Overall, I am extremely happy I got my 931 after 33 years. Hopefully after a little cleaning, I can give her a full test.
Enter Ebay, and the pickings were plentiful, but I felt like I had to pay in blood and tears for a well-used portal to my youth. Missing switches, battery doors, handles, you name it, still had a price I could not justify, until I saw her for $75 BIN, untested. She's dirty, but complete, minus the obvious Deck B door and a power cord. She even has a old strap mounted to the handle.
Antennas are perfect (yipee!) and nothing rattled inside. The function switch has the dreaded 360 free spin, but the radio select knob seems solid, but I did not turn it yet. She has all her "teeth", but the FF switch floats and is snapped inside. Untested is a chance you take, and there was a cut power cord, so does she work on DC? Plugged in the adapter, and she powered up! Scratchy pots and a ground hum, but both speakers respond. Probably stuck on Phono for now. Did not try any tapes yet while it is so dirty. But Deck B spins for as much as I can test it.
I don't know what the random wire and terminal hanging in Deck A is for, but at least I did not try to shove a tape in there! The battery terminals look really good. Anyone have a spare Deck B door?
Wish I could read the date code to see exactly when she was made. Don't know about the serial numbering either. Overall, I am extremely happy I got my 931 after 33 years. Hopefully after a little cleaning, I can give her a full test.
