Headphone Radio
Manufacture Period: 1992-97
Brand: Sportsman
Model: T-95
The Sportsman Headphone Radio was designed by the Unifair Electronics Company in Hong Kong, being registered in the UK in November 1995. This is because Hong Kong was a colony of Britain until July 1997. This product was later imported by DS Max (now Innovage Canada) and was sold as the Sportsman to take advantage of the popular Walkman branding: a line of portable audio products by Sony.
Although there isn’t much information about this product available, you can see the development of technology that resembles Bluetooth headphones today. The product operates with two AA batteries and even folds up for convenience (see the picture below). Produced between 1995 and 1997, you could listen to AM and FM radio on the go. The right ear acts as the tuning knob and switch for changing band wavelength, while the left ear acts as the volume and power switch. Although seemingly not a notable product, these headphones are indicative to changes socially and technologically in the later half of the 20th century to how people listened to music.
Manufactured in the United States
On loan from Prof. Vincent Andriasani
Headphone radio in folded position
Monday, January 9, 2023 in Media Museum
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