An abroad pick up

[koleloi]

Yes, it's my first purchase outside of my country, a pick up in-person.

There's something I want to share before you got to know which boxes come this time. It's going to be quite a long post I guess.

Ok guys, I'm only 27 and have been collecting boomboxes 2 years for now. Usually I make my purchase over the internet but sometime I go pick up my self. The boxes that I've collected so far come from two ways:

First, the majority, boxes that recently went from Japan to Vietnam (directly or to another country like China, Cambodia then be transported to Vietnam by dealers), I got them mostly from dealers in other parts of the country. This is the case for my 5400, 5700, 2 S90s, TPR-990 etc. The other boxes are which were staying in Vietnam for few years, or maybe all their live since being sold here in late 70s to early 80s. Like my 7000, 4360, 5600, Sanyo C-9 etc. I got them directly from previous owners, other collectors or sometime from dealers too. All in all, never bought a box from another country. Then it's last weekend when thing changes .

I moved to this city (Hochiminh city) a few months ago from Hanoi, it's 1800 kilometer far. On last Saturday I had a meet the first time with one of my close collector fellow, who is also a big dealer on old vintage radios & cassette players. I got my 5700 and few other boxes from him. He's in his fifties and is quite busy with his own business. He told me he doesn't have much time to spend on this hobby like he used to and had already sold most of his collection. He then told me where and how he collect/buy his boxes. Like I mention above on first source of boombox, he collected most of his collection by going abroad to other country (Cambodia), searching, picking up and then bringing them home. He spoke highly of this boombox source over the second source (local pick up), that's what I already knew.

The places is not very far from my city and it's weekend, so later that day I quickly decided that I will have a short trip to try my luck .

**** Oh well I have to go out, I will continue the post later.

Thanks.

 

[redbenjoe]

cool story
and you already have some of the finest boxes

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

I like where this is going!

 

[koleloi]

Before I went, I did call the old guy to get some advice. He said maybe I will hardly find any good boombox there nowaday because it was much rarer compared to few years ago, and very few shop still selling that low-profit stuff and those who still, they prefer whole selling to the dealer other than retailing. Baring that in mind, I only hope can find one or two decent boxes, that's nice enough.

I get on bus at 11pm and arrived to the city near border at 6am, after having breakfast, some drink and a long walk through the city center, I hire a man to drive me to the place by motorcycle, it's only transportation suitable to come across the border here.

About the place I'm going, it's just small Cambodia village, with two Casinos, an area for cock-fighting, a small market with about 40-50 shops selling Thailand and Japanese secondhand products, including Audio equipment, household electronic, bicycle, shoes and groceries. Seller, buyer, gambler, transporter etc are 99% Vietnamese, there're only dozens Cambodia families, working as transporter or Casinos guardian. People here doesn't want visitor to take pictures so I only take a few:

Seen from VietNam, the red building are Casinos:

Here's how the village looks like, every house has a shop, they transport goods to there by small boats:

There go the market, around 40-50 apartment located side by side:

In one kiosk:

Thanks for reading, it's dinner time now, my next box is show off soon.

 

[koleloi]

That's enough for an introduction I think

My old friend is absolutely right about it. Among tons of thousands of audio equipment all over the place, like speakers, amplifier, tuner, mini-component, very few time I spot shop with Boomboxes displayed. And most of them, were just mono or small one, and they're nearly already sold beforehand to dealers. I was very tired of walking under 40oC heat for hours and was thinking about buying something different. Then suddenly I spot a huge box that looks familiar, took closer, it's a Sony CFS-99, covered by few layers of plastic bags. I enter the kiosk and ask the guy if he has some boxes for sale. He say yes then take me to a corner where were sitting around twelves mid-size boxes. It's hard to tell exactly what model they are because all of them was wrapped by plastic bags and it's very dusty outside. The seller told me if I buy all of that, the price would be $25 each, and if I buy some of them, the price would be $30 each, except for a Sony V-8, which is $40, because of its wooden side. The price seems very nice, right? Well, not that much, NO box will be powered up for checking, can only buy as it is And most of them seem to be in very bad shape, as I can see some missing/broken part through the plastic bags. I told him I'm gonna unwrap one by one and will take 2 that seem finest to me.

Well, they're all very good model, in bad to very bad physical condition. A fine Sony CFS-99 with some missing knobs, tape door, broken tweeter grills, It's the first time I seen one in person, very unique design, much smaller than what I've thought. Then a Sony V-8 in good cosmetic but missing some knobs too, A really "rotten" and filthy National Rx-5500, well this is the first time I see this famous box too, it's really heavy and classic I still remember a video of one 5500 in youtube that has brought me into collecting boombox . A filthy National RX-4250, a Boombeat 16, an Aiwa CS-770, a JVC RC-838 (in quite good condition but I don't like its look) and few more that I don't remember well.

I end up picking two, one Aiwa and one Sharp, the Aiwa is in quite good shape compared to the rest, is one of the models I have been wanting for long. The Sharp, in contrary is one of the ugliest boombox ever made in my opinion. Have seen it/its family many time on forum but just scroll over. Actually I didn't bother removing the plastic bag to see if it's in good shape or not, because I knew its look would turn me around very quick It's the heaviest one out of them, very heavy for its size, so I took it, simply

The seller don't want me to take photo and my hands were very dirty by then, so there's no picture unfortunately.

I did cost me $10 more to pay for shipping them to city. So basically I paid 70 for two boxes, that is similar amount that I usually pay for a single box, like my 5700, M70, TPR-990. And the first one (Aiwa) turn out to be a very good deal indeed.

Apart from broken belt, everything seems to work as it should. It's an Aiwa CS-80, a Japanese model of TPR-955 I believe, sound very nice as most of you have known. Will take better pics later, my phone camera is totally blind in evening

Pic of the Sharp will come later, as I didn't pull it out of the package yet.
Thank you!

 

[MyOhMy]

What a fascinating story this is! I just can't imagine going to something like The Lost Boomboxes Graveyard and seeing all those sad looking boxes so congratulations on doing so well and many thanks for the very interesting story!

 

[ralrein1]

I think I like your taste in boomboxes!Also thank you for the nice story and cool pictures.Sounds like you had some fun on your boombox treasure hunt,I'm happy for you and can't wait to see your other score.Good on ya mate!

 

[Reli]

Awesome story

Always wanted to visit Cambodia. A country the US dropped more bombs on than all of WWII, without even telling Congress

 

[redbenjoe]

that aiwa model is special and beautiful and sounds sooooooooooo good

and thanks for this wonderful story

 

[koleloi]

What a fascinating story this is! I just can't imagine going to something like The Lost Boomboxes Graveyard and seeing all those sad looking boxes so congratulations on doing so well and many thanks for the very interesting story!

I think I like your taste in boomboxes!Also thank you for the nice story and cool pictures.Sounds like you had some fun on your boombox treasure hunt,I'm happy for you and can't wait to see your other score.Good on ya mate!

that aiwa model is special and beautiful and sounds sooooooooooo good

and thanks for this wonderful story

Thank you very much for your comment and encouragement.

 

[koleloi]

Awesome story

Always wanted to visit Cambodia. A country the US dropped more bombs on than all of WWII, without even telling Congress

Thank you Reli.

And the country you're talking about, is Vietnam, not Cambodia

 

[redbenjoe]

koleloi
did you travel that mission all by yourself ( alone ) ?
is it at all dangerous to cross borders to another country ?

asking because i thought cambodia may be unfriendly to outsiders ?

 

[koleloi]

koleloi
did you travel that mission all by yourself ( alone ) ?
is it at all dangerous to cross borders to another country ?

asking because i thought cambodia may be unfriendly to outsiders ?

Very good question Redbenjoe,

Yes, you're correct, the Cambodia is really unfriendly to outsiders, especially to Vietnamese due to some historical matter between these two countries. There're a lot of reports about Vietnamese go there for gambling then loss the game but unable to pay debt which they rent from Cambodia, they then be confined by Cambodian, beat & threaten till their relatives come from Vietnam and pay money for them. Few people never return to Vietnam

But fortunately I got some helpful information for which should or shouldn't do beforehand. My purpose is shopping and the place is located very near the border (only 200 meters) so I just go by myself. The whole trip was safe and sound and was a very nice experience for me

 

[Reli]

Thank you Reli.

And the country you're talking about, is Vietnam, not Cambodia

Nah, I was talking about Cambodia. The USA secretly bombed them without telling Congress. And this bombing indirectly supported Pol Pot's rise to power, who later murdered millions of citizens.

 

[koleloi]

Nah, I was talking about Cambodia. The USA secretly bombed them without telling Congress. And this bombing indirectly supported Pol Pot's rise to power, who later murdered millions of citizens. Both Nixon and Kissinger should have been assassinated for this.

Sorry I'm was misunderstanding. But I'm very sure the country that get more bombs than total bombs use in WW2 is Vietnam. Don't know much about Cambodia Civil war but I'm quite sure its scale is just tiny compared to Vietnam war = one of the biggest war in 20th century.

My mother lost two of her brothers fighting in that war.

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

That is an amazing story. Thank you for taking the time to tell it. It is interesting to me the broad reach these radio's had and still have.

I think it is so cool that your are making the travel to get radio's. Over the years, members have told stories of driving hundreds of mines, taking trains, traveling in blinding snowstorms (well, that's all the Canada's can do ). But this is a very unique story for sure.

If you ever feel like telling more of these stories, I will gladly read them!

 

[Reli]

Total was 7.7 million tons of bombs dropped on Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

This is triple the amount used in WWII

2.8 million on Cambodia
2.5 million on Laos
2.4 million on Vietnam

Sorry for the threadjack

 

[koleloi]

That is an amazing story. Thank you for taking the time to tell it. It is interesting to me the broad reach these radio's had and still have.

I think it is so cool that your are making the travel to get radio's. Over the years, members have told stories of driving hundreds of mines, taking trains, traveling in blinding snowstorms (well, that's all the Canada's can do ). But this is a very unique story for sure.

If you ever feel like telling more of these stories, I will gladly read them!

Thank you very much for appreciation Lasonic. I feel it more fascinating when sharing my own activities with other people who has the same hobby/interest, so I'm sure will be sharing more like this in future.

Total was 7.7 million tons of bombs dropped on Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

This is triple the amount used in WWII

2.8 million on Cambodia
2.5 million on Laos
2.4 million on Vietnam

Sorry for the threadjack

Your number is correct Reli, but one thing you may not know or clear about: out of that 7.7 Milion tons, 7 milion tons of bombs was used to fight against North Vietnamese, actually all the bomb dropped in Lao & 80% dropped in Cambodia is to cut off North Vietnamese supply lines through our neighbor countries.

 

[soundboy]

I like what you done
I enjoy this type of story
Have had similar experiences

 

[Reli]

Thank you very much for appreciation Lasonic. I feel it more fascinating when sharing my own activities with other people who has the same hobby/interest, so I'm sure will be sharing more like this in future.


Your number is correct Reli, but one thing you may not know or clear about: out of that 7.7 Milion tons, 7 milion tons of bombs was used to fight against North Vietnamese, actually all the bomb dropped in Lao & 80% dropped in Cambodia is to cut off North Vietnamese supply lines through our neighbor countries.

I understand that, but in doing so, hundreds of thousands of Laotian and Cambodian civilians were killed. And these were countries that we had not even declared war on.

To the average American at the time, Asians were inferior savages, and therefore civilian casualties did not matter. Unfortunately this way of thinking persists today in our Middle Eastern wars.