Vintage Gadgets: Fisher Boombox with Detachable Synthesizer


Today’s vintage gadget is a Fisher sc300 boom box with a detachable keyboard. This bad boy from the 80’s featured a cassette deck, AM/FM stereo and weighs 18 pounds without batteries. It takes 4AA for the synthesizer and 8 D size batteries for the stereo itself. If you’ve ever wondered why Americans are heavier than we were in the 80’s, it’s because we used to carry around 25lb boomboxes on our shoulders and now we carry around tiny iPods. Check out the top view:

The keyboard features standard keyboard features of the day like 8 preset instruments and 18 preset rhythms. You could even record your key playing onto the cassette deck. And best of all-it’s detachable!

Equalizers like this are infinitely more user friendly than the digital equalizers of today. It’s no wonder that most people don’t even adjust their equalizers but rather just stick with one of the factory presets. The sliders make it quick and easy to get the sound just right and fix it on the fly.

Unfortunately this boombox is no longer for sale but if you’re looking for similar retro electronics you can try a search for vintage boomboxes on eBay

2 thoughts on “Vintage Gadgets: Fisher Boombox with Detachable Synthesizer

  1. I have one of these that I was so fortunate to get new, as a gift! Detachable speakers and keyboard mean lots of fun with that system.

    My friends and I used it for years and played along to Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Van Halen and more.

    I’ve heard better sounding 80’s boxes, but that one to me is the most fun of any of them and loud in mids and highs. My brother got Omnibot…

Comments are closed.