Hi guys,
Earlier this week, I was searching EBay for an RX-DT680 box for another member. I wasn't using the usual 'Boombox, Ghettoblaster' search words - you tend to only find professional picker boxes with full retail auction starting prices! Anyway, after searching for 'Cassette player' up pops a local seller with a $100 'Buy Now' 'Fully working' RX-5500 with offers considered. This is a box I've always wanted and to find one locally is a very rare situation!
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/152068243453?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I sent a message to the seller asking a few operational condition questions. Plus I couldn't see a battery cover in the pics so I wanted to check it was included. After getting all the right answers, I made a cheeky offer of $50 cash. He came back to me with an offer of $70. The seller was north of Brisbane (miles away). We made a deal that he would bring it within 8 kms from home for a sale price of $60 - deal!!
We arranged for a 7:30 am meet up today. We both arrived on time. So we're in a servo carpark with no access to AC - no worries, as a Boomboxery member, I was ready with 8 D's, cassette test tape and line in RCA cable!
Batteries loaded, she fired straight up - controls a little scratchy, almost everything appeared to work - deck played at correct speed, tuner worked on AM & FM but SW1 & SW2 were quiet. You sure can't beat 'try before you buy'! 
I decided I'd give the late 70s box a shot at rocking the streets again so after handing over $60 I'm off home to tear this thing apart for some much needed TLC. After removing the battery cover, I discovered the door foam has completely disintegrated leaving a huge mess. The horizontal metal surfaces do have moderate corrosion including the deck keys. The usual dusty crevices and dust bunny filled speaker grills etc. Remove all the screws - self tappers and fine thread screws hold this old girl together!View attachment 27288
Found a large collection of wasp eggs etc inside - not too bad. Thankfully, it came from a non-smoker household. The seller told me he got it from an elderly couple who had it since new. The fully retracting antenna had a few bends that needed straightening. It slides in and out nice and smooth now. All internal screw posts are damage free. The case is also crack free and solid - a very honest box indeed. After spraying all the pots and sliding switches, all controls are now static free. The tuner is now working fine on all 4 bands. The deck heads needed cleaning but as with many Panasonics, the original belts look new!! The deck fast forwards and rewinds with authority so I'll leave the deck for the time being.
The speaker grills are rust and damage free - that makes a change!!
Back together and sounding very strong indeed. I prefer the front panel tuner control knob as the side controls just don't seem as handy. These 5500s really are tanks - they're so heavy considering the size. A step up from the build of the later, RX-5150s. View attachment 27291 This particular 5500 has a date on the deck motor of 7th August 1979 - must be an early build.
Hanging out with big Bro:
View attachment 27292
View attachment 27290 View attachment 27289
Anyway, here she is all cleaned up, battery cover foams replaced, fresh Ds loaded and ready for some outdoor action!! Really happy with this one - great box for sure!!
James.....View attachment 27293
Earlier this week, I was searching EBay for an RX-DT680 box for another member. I wasn't using the usual 'Boombox, Ghettoblaster' search words - you tend to only find professional picker boxes with full retail auction starting prices! Anyway, after searching for 'Cassette player' up pops a local seller with a $100 'Buy Now' 'Fully working' RX-5500 with offers considered. This is a box I've always wanted and to find one locally is a very rare situation!
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/152068243453?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITI sent a message to the seller asking a few operational condition questions. Plus I couldn't see a battery cover in the pics so I wanted to check it was included. After getting all the right answers, I made a cheeky offer of $50 cash. He came back to me with an offer of $70. The seller was north of Brisbane (miles away). We made a deal that he would bring it within 8 kms from home for a sale price of $60 - deal!!
We arranged for a 7:30 am meet up today. We both arrived on time. So we're in a servo carpark with no access to AC - no worries, as a Boomboxery member, I was ready with 8 D's, cassette test tape and line in RCA cable!
Batteries loaded, she fired straight up - controls a little scratchy, almost everything appeared to work - deck played at correct speed, tuner worked on AM & FM but SW1 & SW2 were quiet. You sure can't beat 'try before you buy'! I decided I'd give the late 70s box a shot at rocking the streets again so after handing over $60 I'm off home to tear this thing apart for some much needed TLC. After removing the battery cover, I discovered the door foam has completely disintegrated leaving a huge mess. The horizontal metal surfaces do have moderate corrosion including the deck keys. The usual dusty crevices and dust bunny filled speaker grills etc. Remove all the screws - self tappers and fine thread screws hold this old girl together!View attachment 27288Found a large collection of wasp eggs etc inside - not too bad. Thankfully, it came from a non-smoker household. The seller told me he got it from an elderly couple who had it since new. The fully retracting antenna had a few bends that needed straightening. It slides in and out nice and smooth now. All internal screw posts are damage free. The case is also crack free and solid - a very honest box indeed. After spraying all the pots and sliding switches, all controls are now static free. The tuner is now working fine on all 4 bands. The deck heads needed cleaning but as with many Panasonics, the original belts look new!! The deck fast forwards and rewinds with authority so I'll leave the deck for the time being.
The speaker grills are rust and damage free - that makes a change!!
Back together and sounding very strong indeed. I prefer the front panel tuner control knob as the side controls just don't seem as handy. These 5500s really are tanks - they're so heavy considering the size. A step up from the build of the later, RX-5150s. View attachment 27291 This particular 5500 has a date on the deck motor of 7th August 1979 - must be an early build.
Hanging out with big Bro:
View attachment 27292
View attachment 27290 View attachment 27289
Anyway, here she is all cleaned up, battery cover foams replaced, fresh Ds loaded and ready for some outdoor action!! Really happy with this one - great box for sure!!
James.....
View attachment 27293
