Also Known As. The typical scenario for the faithful collector is to find out that his/her coveted box, the one that seems nowhere to be found, in fact exists in alternate versions. Per se, this is not a problem. Far from it! If we want a box of a certain brand, we simply go after our grail. But if we are pleased with an easy-to-find replica and want to save money, we just get it and amen. It’s all that simple. Or is it? What if the aka is not exactly a cheap copy but a box with a beauty of its own?

Here I’ll limit myself to four examples, all involving my beloved Sanyos. The aim is to get as many feedback and additional examples as possible. I believe that, in so doing, we can pinpoint that Shakespearian ring evoked in the title: the mysterious je ne sais pas quoi of an aka.

The most common case of a Sanyo aka is almost certainly a variation on the theme of the M7900:

I bet there are more aliases for this mini than things in heaven and earth dreamt of in our philosophy. As a way of example, I offer a box that in my opinion is one of its most elegant variations: the Radiotone RRC-377:

This is a case of successful restyling. Again it's my opinion, but I find that the Radiotone has a personality of its own, and its' definitely a pretty box. Alas, what is true of design is not of quality: the difference between original and copy is strikingly in favor of the former. Hence my second example involves a case that I somehow anticipated in a previous post (see http://REPLACEMENT ERROR/topic...a-aka-queen-of-sheba): a quality aka:

A most desirable box, the Saba RCR-420 is in fact the European version of the spectacular Sanyo M-X620:

When I wrote the Queen of Sheeba post, I was in doubt about which of the two boxes I liked best. At that time I only had the Saba. Now that I got myself the real thing, however, I know better: the Saba is wonderful, but the Sanyo is magic. Eminem would probably approve, despite the fact that in the Rolling Stone pic he's carrying on his shoulder the M-X520 model:

Things gets tougher when the aka is produced by a mirror brand. A textbook example is provided by the Fischer-aka-Sanyo boxes. Being Fischer an offspring of Sanyo, examples abound. For the sake of this post, I’ll limit myself to two rare birds: the Sanyo M-W50...

...and its merkwurdig double, the Fisher PH-M77:

These two boxes are outstanding and unique — and not only because of the rare microcassette. They're elegant and technically flawless. It's a close call, but again I prefer the Sanyo. Possibly, it is just the elegance of the details and the lovely rounded woofers that make the difference. I don't know, but I believe that no serious collectors should overlook the opportunity to get them both. At least, that’s what I thought when I decided to bag one beauty after another. Was I wrong?

I’ll end with a borderblur case, one that actually calls into question the very notion of aka. Could you tell the original from the copy when comparing the incredible Sanyo M-X650...

...to its Aiwa double, the magnificent CS-770?

I simply worship these blasters. They both look the nuts, both sound gorgeous, both are creative variations on the same design. But how about their inside? Technical observations would be greatly appreciated, as well as comments and pics of the akas that certainly abound in your collections...

It was one of your posts that convinced me to get the Queen of Saba. Found a minty one and repaired the deck. Sometimes i think it's better looking than the 620. But alas....no Line-in.  

I know. And the Saba still is one of my favorite midsize boxes. However the devil is in the details. My pic does not make justice to the Sanyo, but cosmetically the 620 has magic touches of blue around the woofers (as in the M-X720) and in the radio scale. Technically, at least my box sounds even better than the Saba. As for line-in, the M-X520 has one, which probably explains Eminem's choice. I am still looking for one...

in about 2 weeks time I can give you a side by side interview of the Aiwa 770 versus the Sanyo 650 as I wanted to know too & I have both models now, but in due time, I'll answer this question.

thanks James. meanwhile somebody can post on the subject of remarkable akas. Some are real stunners. The Radiotone brand is a specialist of beautiful remakes: how about the Radiotone Tarragona 800...

http://REPLACEMENT ERROR/topic...---nice-chrome-model

...and its inspirational model, the Conion V-121?

http://REPLACEMENT ERROR/topic...n-v-121f-resurection

pics! pics! post your akas, even better if you post them alongside the "originals"...

Great post indeed Sam! I like aka's a lot! An aka is in my opinion the same box, only with some styling differences. Basically they share the biggest part or whole service manual and schematic. I suspect this is only the case for the Sanyo W50 vs Fisher M77 in your examples. The rest I consider different boxes and not aka's No idea if this the general conception tho.

I have the Supertech aka of this box!

http://REPLACEMENT ERROR/topic/an-other-invisible-box

hi Michiel, one of the reasons behind this post is to find out what an aka is. A case in point is the Conion C 100F /Clairtone 7980/Helix HX-4635. They are, as you correctly say, aka in the sense that they are the same box produced by different brands.

What happens when boxes are not exactly the same (like the other three examples I provide), but look like variation on a theme? They are not exaclty akas, or are they?

It also occurs to me that certain brands only produce akas. I suspect that Helix is one of them, as so far I have never seen a Helix that was not the copy of some other box. Radiotone is another case in point, as is Clever, the obscure brand of the box I discussed in my very first post on this site.

I believe that a lot has to do with industrial design and standard electronic components, let alone agreements among brands. But I have little competence on the former subject, and virtually nothing on the latter, so contributes from forum members are welcome!

Btw your Supertech is a stunner of a real aka! and you got two NIB! This is the most remarkable example of an aka that is even more desirable than the original --if any such thing exists! 

I think a true aka is the same box just with different labels...I have an International which is the exact same box as the Rising 20 20 just with an International badge

I agree Si. My opinion was an AKA is just a re-badged box with some very minor cosmetic differences. 

Trident and Prosonic and Teleton and Candle are just a few makes that don't stretch the imagination when cloning each other.

Fisher and Sanyo 7750

What I think what happened with aka's is that some kind of (trading) company goes shopping along boombox building plants and chooses an existing model that fits their program, a model they expect to sell with nice profit in their home market.

Than they ask the manufacturer to change the appearance of the box to their specs, considering the taste of the local market and the amount of money they want to spend. Next they put their name on it. Think this is the case with for example Supertech, Audio Sonic, Palladium, Helix, etc.

There is also the variant were the manufacturer isn't able to use their own brand name because of market rights in a region. For instance Philips using Magnavox in the States.

Sanyo and Fisher have more to do with one manufacturer that wants to sell more boxes to different market levels (high-end, low-end, etc). Philips done the same over here with brands like Aristona and Erres for example.

But basically the akas are existing boxes rebranded and/or restyled to suit a local market.

Cars do this like base brand versus Premium brand of same car just a different name with same tech under the hood,  like: 

Toyota versus Lexus

Chevrolet versus GMC

Nissan versus Infinity

Honda versus Acura

in cassette radios

Sanyo has Fisher

and there are others i just cant think of right now - not home yet

All this is very interesting. how about the Sanyo/Aiwa boxes though? Both are major brands, so the question is which of the two is the originator of the design. I think it may be Aiwa, since the line of the 770 is the same of most in the CS-series, whereas M-X Sanyos have different shapes. But that's just guesswork...

These are two similar looking boxes. Like the Crown SZ-5000 and Lasonic TRC-931. I wouldn't call them aka's as they share nothing, except the rough shape. No idea who was the first, maybe James can check the motors when they arrive

Originally Posted by Northerner:

I think a true aka is the same box just with different labels...I have an International which is the exact same box as the Rising 20 20 just with an International badge

I agree Si. My opinion was an AKA is just a re-badged box with some very minor cosmetic differences. 

Trident and Prosonic and Teleton and Candle are just a few makes that don't stretch the imagination when cloning each other.

Forgot I've also got a Goldstat TSR641 which has several other labels including Candle...exact same box tho 

These are two similar looking boxes. Like the Crown SZ-5000 and Lasonic TRC-931. I wouldn't call them aka's as they share nothing, except the rough shape. No idea who was the first, maybe James can check the motors when they arrive

I do not have the  Crown SZ-5000 ever and I have picture's of the inside of the  Lasonic TRC-931 but none centered on the motor, also I no longer have this model either.   Crown SZ-5000 is Never arriving   and I am not getting another cassette version Lasonic 931, so I may not be too much help with these Two models.

I'm interested to know how the Sanyo sounds. It looks to have the same layout as the Aiwas but Sanyo's from that era although they sound nice are not renowned to be heavy on the bass.

The 770 however is a genuine classic thumper. Especially 770A.

Here is a Yorx boombox from the pocketcalculatorshow.com site

http://pocketcalculatorshow.com/boombox/birth/

I have that boombox as an AKA..... JVC RC717W!!!

I have seen this one also as an AKAI !! and another brand I don't recall at this moment.

It is well made but some finishing details make me believe that this is not a JVC.

So it must be a fake AKA of a JVC model that doesn't exist !!

Sorry for the belated answer Rudy, I missed this post of yours. I compared my Sanyo M-X650 to the Aiwa CS-770 and 770A (I've both) in stereo mode. There follow my ramble thoughts on the audio test, but remember that none of my boxes is in top-notch technical conditions. All work well, but none is pristine.

Sound-wise, I do not perceive major differences between the Aiwa CS770 and 770A. If I had to chose, however, I'd say that the latter is slightly preferable because of DSL control.

With DSL both Aiwas sound slightly bassier than the Sanyo M-X650. But don't be fooled:

1) The difference, for Aiwas plus DSL vs Sanyo is not that great.

2) I love the warmth of the Aiwa sound, and the 770s are no exception. But they are warmer, in my opinion, without DSL. With DSL sound tends to lose somewhat in definition. Yet you need DSL if you want them bassier than the Sanyo.

3) On the contrary, the M-X650 has a better, well-defined overall sound (by which I mean better balanced, better equalized sound): loud and clear also at a distance. And with very satisfying basses 

Last year I passed the boombox bug to a friend and now I am not anymore alone in my area to play the game. We like to go hunting together and he recently scored two units that fit well in this thread. To wit:

LENCO LW-599

TURBO TEC MX-935

These boxes are not my cup of tea, but they are so visual that I have a project for them. Actually it's a joint project with my friend, but more about it in a forthcoming post  I have seen other names associated to this jumbo unit, although I have failed to register them. They all look to me like simplified -- ie, more sober -- versions of the famous

LLOYD'S PT 003

Are they akas or are they not? According to the technician who serviced the Lenco and the Turbo Tech, at least these two are not. Inside the differences are serious, and it's not difficult to imagine which box is technically preferable. Whenever I read the name Lenco I think of the Swiss turntables. I can't say how good they were but people used to speak well of them. Whereas I've never heard of Turbo Tech. And you? 

As a result of my ignorance of whole families of boomboxes, my previous post resulted in a mix-up of units and akas. From the images available on stereo2go and the pocketcalculators sites, it turns out that the

LENCO LW-599

and the

TURBO TECH MX-935

have at least an alias (only Jens knows how many others) in the famous

HELIX 4634

Before reading the contributions to this thread, I would have said that the Turbo Tech is an even better aka than the Lenco (same visual impact). In fact, it is very likely that things are exactly the other way round (4-bands vs 2-band radio suggests that the boxes are technically two worlds apart).

Meanwhile I have changed my opinion on the status of the

LLOYD'S PT 003

In addition to resembling the Lenco/Turbo Tech/Helix trio, the Lloyd's has colors and features distinctly associable with other famous Lasonic/Crown/Unisef units. It even shares finishes of a rather different box like the

HELIX 4631

So the LLoyd's is hardly an aka, especially since it has its own akas, as I've just found in an old post of deech's that had escaped my attention:

SOUND PC-173

I would call it a box of synthesis or a Frankenstein-like creature  (just joking: it's undoubtedly an extremely visual unit) 

I love the way those big double decker boxes look. The silver and the dark grey ones in particular.

Here a little Fisher PH-540 to go with the red Sanyo M7870. Both of of high gloss nice quality mini's and fairly uncommon.

The Sanyo/Fischer duo is irresistible. I have only the former but having seen yours I wish I had the latter too. Just lovely!

samovar posted:

Before reading the contributions to this thread, I would have said that the Turbo Tech is an even better aka than the Lenco (same visual impact).

The Turbo-Tech only has 6-inch speakers, while the Lenco has 8-inch.

JamesRC550 posted:

Originally Posted by samovar:

 But how about their inside? Technical observations would be greatly appreciated, as well as comments and pics of the akas that certainly abound in your collections...

in about 2 weeks time I can give you a side by side interview of the Aiwa 770 versus the Sanyo 650 as I wanted to know too & I have both models now, but in due time, I'll answer this question.

Maybe a year later....

This week my New Canon EOS 70D EF-S with a 18-135mm IS STM Lens Kit will be arriving and then as the Sanyo 650's are already moved and the Aiwas are still here but they will be moved next and then when I can get them all together and with a learning curve of how to use my new camera, I expect to be taking some really good pictures.

This is a great thread!  What is the point of the AKAs or do we have any other information on them?  For example, are both versions produced in the same factory for different brand names?  

Michiel answered it in his post.  Same factory, different trim.

A favorite aka picture of mine  

JamesRC550 posted:

A favorite aka picture of mine  

That's a great one!  Why would a company do this?  For example why not just sell under Panasonic?  It's not like a customer is going to buy one of each.

JamesRC550 posted:

A favorite aka picture of mine  

 

Very useful Info - thank you for sharing,  James! 

WheelyPanamax posted:

This is a great thread!  

I agree

While the "Same Factory" definition is quite good we have to remember that some manufacturers had multiple factories around the world, often to avoid import duties. Sony used to have a huge factory in Wales producing goods for Europe for this reason. Nowadays it is making Raspberry Pi's

I think the "same service manual" definition is better as that implies that internally the boxes are very similar, if not the same.

Now lets consider why this happens.

Some brands, such as Realistic etc sold by Radio Shack, Prinzsound, Saisho and Matsui sold by Dixons and Nick's favourite, Triumph sold by Currys never designed or made anything themselves. Instead they commissioned a manufacturer to make them a quantity of a unit with their brand name on it. I used to have fun going through the Tandy (UK Radio Shack) catalogue playing spot the manufacturer. Sharp certainly made them loads of stuff.

Wiith Currys (DSG) I have noticed with things like cameras that even with models from established manufacturers like Canon they sometimes have exclusive models, instantly recognisible as an AKA of a model everyone else is selling. My guess is that it is to keep other stores, especially those who operate a "Never Undersold" policy like John Lewis happy. "Yes I kow it is £50 cheaper but Currys are selling the ABC122 while we sell the ABC123 which has much nicer trim on the front.

As implied already sometimes different brands or even model numbers are used to distinguish between the regions where items are sold. The only difference between the Sony 2010 (Americas) and 2001D (Europe) shortwave radios was the model number and the price. People in the UK will probably be aware of the term Dollar Pound. On top of that is the question of whether Sony Shortwave radios were actually made by Sony or Towada audio.

Earlier in the thread Sanyo and Fisher are mentioned. The only Fisher products I recall seeing in the UK were VHS VCRs. As Sanyo were supposed to be in the Betamax camp it would have been rather embarrassing for them to start selling VHS VCRs. Fisher VHS machines, probably made in the  the same factory, weren't a problem though. Did the same apply in the USA ? 

The item that interested me in the thread was the York / JVC. Assuming it actually existed what could be the story behind it? Firstly it looks very old, my guess would be 1970s. Even large companies can be caught out by bad forecasting. Maybe there was a board meeting in which the designer of the  RC550 convinced the board that making a Stereo unit with the speakers so close together was a stupid idea (I remember a few people making that comment in the 1970s). Not long later they see sales of stereo boxes increasing while mono units suddenly look very old fashioned. Since it will take them some time to come up with their own design and put it into production they get a manufacturer already making stereo units to make some "JVCs" while they come up with their own design.

Do I have any evidence that this sort of thing goes on. Well it is well known that the later Sony HXD DVD recorders such as the HXD870 (which I own) were made by Pioneer. One even had a S / P setting in the firmware or on the circuit board to select the appropriate manufacturer in the displays !    

I think there is probably even more "brand engineering" these days than in the past. When sports companies like Nike started selling watches two thoughts were
"I would love to see the Nike watch factory (I suspect it is owned by someone completely different and makes lots of different brands) and "why don't Timex start selling trainers" ?

Good to see this old thread alive and kicking. When I started it I had very unclear ideas about what an aka was. So thanks to everybody for your contributions, I appreciate all of them.

My original idea was that design was important to determine the "aka" status of a box, but apparently I was wrong. Those boxes who looks alike from the outside but have different mechanics have been defined "similar" boxes, as opposed to the true "same service manual" akas -- even if their design is not exactly the same.

This leaves at least a question unanswered. But I guess I'll have to open another thread to ask it. Follow it here:

http://REPLACEMENT ERROR/topic...designed-those-boxes

Love this thread

Watch Out!! Here's the same AKA of our favourite mini & is of course a Triumph RR-3005

A few internals of the Triumph:

https://onedrive.live.com/?id=...cid=BEA218B70F2B18D1

& inside the 7900 - This one is now with T-Ster:

I still shake my head over the electromechanical intricacies of all these radio cassette-recorders.

For instance, how many pre-amplifiers does the boombox in the bottom-positioned photograph have? Two of them? It seems that one of them is positioned near the top of the last photo' -- the apparent top of the stereo -- while the other is closer to the lower edge of that image, where the stereo's base would be.

And, to begin with, is the portable stereo in the bottom-positioned photo' a Sanyo M-7900L -- the longwave-tuning European version? I think that I've said before that the "-L" version of the '7900 isn't the variation that I'd spring for. But it's still the well-made M-7900, so better not sneeze at it, right?

And, uh, Mr Eccles ... is someone babying that Sanyo in the last photograph? (Wink)

Longman posted:

WheelyPanamax posted:

This is a great thread!  

I agree

While the "Same Factory" definition is quite good we have to remember that some manufacturers had multiple factories around the world, often to avoid import duties. Sony used to have a huge factory in Wales producing goods for Europe for this reason. Nowadays it is making Raspberry Pi's

I think the "same service manual" definition is better as that implies that internally the boxes are very similar, if not the same.

Now lets consider why this happens.

Some brands, such as Realistic etc sold by Radio Shack, Prinzsound, Saisho and Matsui sold by Dixons and Nick's favourite, Triumph sold by Currys never designed or made anything themselves. Instead they commissioned a manufacturer to make them a quantity of a unit with their brand name on it. I used to have fun going through the Tandy (UK Radio Shack) catalogue playing spot the manufacturer. Sharp certainly made them loads of stuff.

Wiith Currys (DSG) I have noticed with things like cameras that even with models from established manufacturers like Canon they sometimes have exclusive models, instantly recognisible as an AKA of a model everyone else is selling. My guess is that it is to keep other stores, especially those who operate a "Never Undersold" policy like John Lewis happy. "Yes I kow it is £50 cheaper but Currys are selling the ABC122 while we sell the ABC123 which has much nicer trim on the front.

As implied already sometimes different brands or even model numbers are used to distinguish between the regions where items are sold. The only difference between the Sony 2010 (Americas) and 2001D (Europe) shortwave radios was the model number and the price. People in the UK will probably be aware of the term Dollar Pound. On top of that is the question of whether Sony Shortwave radios were actually made by Sony or Towada audio.

Earlier in the thread Sanyo and Fisher are mentioned. The only Fisher products I recall seeing in the UK were VHS VCRs. As Sanyo were supposed to be in the Betamax camp it would have been rather embarrassing for them to start selling VHS VCRs. Fisher VHS machines, probably made in the  the same factory, weren't a problem though. Did the same apply in the USA ? 

The item that interested me in the thread was the York / JVC. Assuming it actually existed what could be the story behind it? Firstly it looks very old, my guess would be 1970s. Even large companies can be caught out by bad forecasting. Maybe there was a board meeting in which the designer of the  RC550 convinced the board that making a Stereo unit with the speakers so close together was a stupid idea (I remember a few people making that comment in the 1970s). Not long later they see sales of stereo boxes increasing while mono units suddenly look very old fashioned. Since it will take them some time to come up with their own design and put it into production they get a manufacturer already making stereo units to make some "JVCs" while they come up with their own design.

Do I have any evidence that this sort of thing goes on. Well it is well known that the later Sony HXD DVD recorders such as the HXD870 (which I own) were made by Pioneer. One even had a S / P setting in the firmware or on the circuit board to select the appropriate manufacturer in the displays !    

I think there is probably even more "brand engineering" these days than in the past. When sports companies like Nike started selling watches two thoughts were
"I would love to see the Nike watch factory (I suspect it is owned by someone completely different and makes lots of different brands) and "why don't Timex start selling trainers" ?

The fisher VCR's were Sanyo 100% - VCR's are my area of knowledge & addiction until they became extinct  Sanyo VCR's were dull but reliable - sadly the late 90's early 2000's saw the cheap & nasty VCR's most of which were crap even the well known brands!!

nickdoofah posted:

The fisher VCR's were Sanyo 100% - VCR's are my area of knowledge & addiction until they became extinct  Sanyo VCR's were dull but reliable - sadly the late 90's early 2000's saw the cheap & nasty VCR's most of which were crap even the well known brands!!

I recall that was well known at the time as it was mentioned in magazine reviews etc. Lots of people I knew had the Sanyo VTC5000, which for a long time was the cheapest VCR on the market. The reason I remember Fisher is that I missed out on getting a £299 Fisher top loading VHS VCR when Laskys had them in their sale at the end of 1984. I ended up spending £340 on a Mitsubishi HS700B. I never did get the Camera and Battery Pack to make it a portable. In contrast I once came across a friend filming Bristol Balloon fiesta from his car using a VTC5000 running from a inverter.

 I wonder how many AKAs there were of the common JVC models ?

Just like with boomboxes you have to remember the prices. The people I bought my first house off in 1986 had a £600 Panasonic HiFi sound VCR in a £24000 house ! I spent the next six years lusting after Hi Fi VCRs and in about 1992 bought the first one I saw for under £300 (an ex display Akai).

I slightly disagree with your last comment. Sat under my TV I still have a JVC SVHS VCR from 2002. Because it has a Frame store / Time Base corrector in it is definitely the best VCR I have ever used. Even better it only cost about £100 brand new as an discontinued by Argos item. 

Officially VCRs only became extinct this year although I haven't seen a new one for sale for years. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/br...-month/#38285cc470a2

***** OBVIOUS STATEMENT: GREAT WALL OF TEXT LOOMS *****

Longman wrote (in part):

As implied already sometimes different brands or even model numbers are used to distinguish between the regions where items are sold. The only difference between the Sony 2010 (Americas) and 2001D (Europe) shortwave radios was the model number and the price. People in the UK will probably be aware of the term Dollar Pound. On top of that is the question of whether Sony Shortwave radios were actually made by Sony or Towada audio.

I’m not fond of the idea that few, if any Sony world-band receivers were actually made by the brand company, Sony. I have an ICF-SW40. According to the J&R Music World receipt that I still have, I bought the unit – new, obviously – in July 1998.

This unit has being “glitching” and mis-tracking its tuning for years. But maybe that’s beside the point – for the moment. (For one thing, this device kept me informed with news-radio info’. And it kept me inspired with, well, portions of a vaguely familiar female-vocals pop song. I encountered the song before I tuned into 89.9 MHz – the emergency-amalgamated WUFT/WJCT broadcast – during the power outage caused by Hurricane Matthew.)

I see the embossed, well-known SONY logo reassuringly “heading” the also-embossed, lower-right-hand rear data. The data state the 4.5-volt DC requirements. And the embossed data also state: MADE IN JAPAN – a decades-old suggestion of quality.

Of course, “Made In Japan” doesn’t disprove “Made By Towada Audio.” (Yes, “Towada.” No, not “Towanda.”)

I’ve tried looking for printed-name signs that the ICF-SW40 was Towada-made. Perhaps obviously, there are none on the black – or “charcoal grey” – cabinet shell. I’ve tried using this nine-LED mini-flashlight to examine portions of the green-faced IC board for telltale, “Made By …” markings. Of course I’ve found none; too little of the IC board is showing through – or past – the battery bay and through the eight-slit rear grille above the abovementioned Sony logo and data plate.

Maybe it’s a well-worn saying of mine online, but I’m not about to open up this device out of curiosity or whatever. Look how well my portable-audio-opening odyssey has gone with the Aiwa! (Frown) And, oh yeah:

Where, where, where, where’s Seb968?

(Kind of set to the “Waldo” jam)

Longman wrote (in part):

Earlier in the thread Sanyo and Fisher are mentioned. The only Fisher products I recall seeing in the UK were VHS VCRs. As Sanyo were supposed to be in the Betamax camp it would have been rather embarrassing for them to start selling VHS VCRs. Fisher VHS machines, probably made in the  the same factory, weren't a problem though. Did the same apply in the USA ? 

No? Sanyo never made VHS VCRs in the 1980s? Not even a few rare models? Earlier today our nickdoofah stated: The Fisher [brand] VCRs were Sanyo 100%. He next attested that he would know: he was a VCR aficionado – that is, “until they became extinct,” he glumly notes.

It would seem that Sanyo’s contract with the inventor of the Betamax format required this outcome: “Made By Sanyo But Badged As Fisher To Handle Betamax.”

Indeed, I remember commenting on an S2Ger’s minty-looking Fisher boombox a while ago – whatever its model number. I don’t remember if it was from a member’s comments or from Wikipedia’s “Sanyo” or “Fisher” entry, but I discovered that Fisher products were – or have been – routinely made entirely or mostly with Sanyo components.

So the Sanyo-wrought, Fisher-logoed VCRs of old had plenty of “American face, Japanese parts” company.

Longman wrote (in part):

Well it is well known that the later Sony HXD DVD recorders such as the HXD870 (which I own) were made by Pioneer. One even had a S / P setting in the firmware or on the circuit board to select the appropriate manufacturer in the displays !

A Google check minutes ago with the term “Sony HXD-870” reveals that there was in fact a Sony RDR-HXD870. It was part of the RDR-series of Sony DVD recorders for the European market.

A further check – this time of Google Images – shows an image on the PickClick.co.uk website. It’s a close-up of the rear data plate of an RDR-HXD870. Among other things, the image reveals that the recorder has a 49-watt power input – presumably ample “oomph.”

The rear plate also reveals that particular RDR-HXD870 – if not all ‘HXD870s – as being “Made In Hungary.”

No, I haven’t viewed that Central European nation as an electronics powerhouse. Then again, the 2012 Oxford Atlas Of The World states on page 46 in its Hungary entry: “Leading manufactures include … electrical and electronics goods, and telecommunications equipment.” So what do I know?

There’s also a set of copyright dates: first 1996, then 2002 through 2006. So the RDR-HXD-series Sony DVD recorders were marketed by 2007.

Perhaps the first copyright date is relevant to my point. Didn’t the Pioneer brand live up to its name as just that – an innovator, a trendsetter – back in the mid-Nineties by debuting one of the first obviously single-disc DVD recorders?

Didn’t that innovation lead them to make DVD recorders for long-established companies that usually made their own consumer and "prosumer" electronics?

Or am I confusing Pioneer’s premiere CD-burner with its later-made DVD recorder? (Shrug)

_{***** OBVIOUS STATEMENT: GREAT WALL OF TEXT HAS ENDED (SO SMILE ALREADY) *****}

Nick does that Triumph have any kind of line-in facility?

Only the usual for the time - 5 pin DIN & no line in function as such!