How-To: 8-track walkman

Music Technology
How-To: 8-track walkman

8trackWalkman_cc.jpg

XenonJohn recreates a portable audio player from an alternate timeline –

This is an admittedly mad project to see what might have happened if Sony had invented the Walkman earlier than they did – and made it so it took 8 track tape cartridges (which came before cassette tapes were invented).

In other words, can I make a personal 8 track player with just headphones in the style of a Walkman?
How small can I make it? Bear in mind it needs quite a bit of power to move the tape loop around inside the cartridge.

Indeed the 7 rechargeable batteries used add some bulk, but it’s certainly a unique portable player! Check out the how-to plus some interesting retro-tech info in the instructable.

4 thoughts on “How-To: 8-track walkman

  1. Steve Anderson says:

    I feel duty bound to point out that Philips’ Compact Cassette was introduced for sale in Europe in 1963, and the Stereo 8 (aka 8-track cartridge) developed in the US in 1964 (albeit based on earlier tape cartridge systems), so XenonJohn – insane genius that he is – has his history even more muddle than his creation…

  2. Raymond Vislenio says:

    It’s nostalgic seeing this 8-track. Now I really, really want that walkman.

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK