Radio Headphones [Sony Walkman SRF-H4]
Maker and role
Sony Corporation, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 2003
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2007.53
Maker
Production period
Description
Sony Walkman SRF-H4 Radio Headphones.
Part 1: Black and silver coloured plastic radio headphones consisting of an adjustable headband with an ear pad on each end. The ear pads are covered in black foam. On the outer side of the right ear pad, "SONY / FM/AM WALKMAN / SRF-H4 / FM/AM / AM / X10 kHZ / FM MHz" is printed above a small circular window which shows a yellow tuning scale beneath it. Along the back edge of the proper right side, there is a dial and a switch, "TUNING / FM DX LOCAL AM" is printed in white. An antenna with an orange light reflective cap protrudes upwards. On the inner edge, above the ear pad, "THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH / PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. / [...]" is engraved. On the proper left side, the outer silver panel slides outwards and hinges open to reveal the battery cavity. On the outer side of it "SONY / WALKMAN / MEGABASS" is printed. "OPEN" is engraved. On the back edge, there is a green switch and a dial "VOL / POWER OFF ON MEGABASS" is printed. On the inner side "SONY / DC: 1.5V SIZE AAA R03 / BATT OR EQUIV / MADE IN CHINA" is engraved. On the crown of the headband "SONY" is embossed.
Part 2: Blue and black cardboard packaging for Sony headphone radio. The packaging has a rounded top and box structure at the bottom. There are sections cut out in the cardboard for the headphones to be put through. At the front of the packaging, there is an image of a man wearing to product and printed text which reads "WALKMAN / AM?FM WALKMAN /SRF-H4 / BUILT-IN / FM/AM RADIO / DESIGNED FOR / HANDS-FREE USE / Flexible Antenna with Light Reflector / DX/Local FM Sensitivity Switch / Single AAA Battery Operation / MegaBass Sound System / FM STEREO/AM / HEADPHONE RADIO / MEGA BASS / SONY / "WALKMAN" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to represent Headphone Stereo products. WALKMAN is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. / "MEGA BASS" is a trademark of Sony / MEGA BASS is a trademark of Sony Corporation. / Please read the instruction manual. / Sony Corporation 3-261-361- / Made in China / www.sony.net/walkman/ / SRF-H4 / POS BAR CODE / 4 901780 857463 / CAUTION / PRECAUTION / When you do open the package, Please use / scissors and cut along perforation. / Do not use knives and cutters since these may / cause injury. / [foreign text] / The photograph and the actual / product may differ in appearance. / Requires / one / AAA / Battery / (not included)"
Part 1: Black and silver coloured plastic radio headphones consisting of an adjustable headband with an ear pad on each end. The ear pads are covered in black foam. On the outer side of the right ear pad, "SONY / FM/AM WALKMAN / SRF-H4 / FM/AM / AM / X10 kHZ / FM MHz" is printed above a small circular window which shows a yellow tuning scale beneath it. Along the back edge of the proper right side, there is a dial and a switch, "TUNING / FM DX LOCAL AM" is printed in white. An antenna with an orange light reflective cap protrudes upwards. On the inner edge, above the ear pad, "THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH / PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. / [...]" is engraved. On the proper left side, the outer silver panel slides outwards and hinges open to reveal the battery cavity. On the outer side of it "SONY / WALKMAN / MEGABASS" is printed. "OPEN" is engraved. On the back edge, there is a green switch and a dial "VOL / POWER OFF ON MEGABASS" is printed. On the inner side "SONY / DC: 1.5V SIZE AAA R03 / BATT OR EQUIV / MADE IN CHINA" is engraved. On the crown of the headband "SONY" is embossed.
Part 2: Blue and black cardboard packaging for Sony headphone radio. The packaging has a rounded top and box structure at the bottom. There are sections cut out in the cardboard for the headphones to be put through. At the front of the packaging, there is an image of a man wearing to product and printed text which reads "WALKMAN / AM?FM WALKMAN /SRF-H4 / BUILT-IN / FM/AM RADIO / DESIGNED FOR / HANDS-FREE USE / Flexible Antenna with Light Reflector / DX/Local FM Sensitivity Switch / Single AAA Battery Operation / MegaBass Sound System / FM STEREO/AM / HEADPHONE RADIO / MEGA BASS / SONY / "WALKMAN" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to represent Headphone Stereo products. WALKMAN is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. / "MEGA BASS" is a trademark of Sony / MEGA BASS is a trademark of Sony Corporation. / Please read the instruction manual. / Sony Corporation 3-261-361- / Made in China / www.sony.net/walkman/ / SRF-H4 / POS BAR CODE / 4 901780 857463 / CAUTION / PRECAUTION / When you do open the package, Please use / scissors and cut along perforation. / Do not use knives and cutters since these may / cause injury. / [foreign text] / The photograph and the actual / product may differ in appearance. / Requires / one / AAA / Battery / (not included)"
Brief History
The first affordable portable radios were available to consumers from the late 1950s and were made possible by the invention of the transistor, which allowed more durable and smaller radios. Sony’s Walkman, a portable personal radio and cassette player, was based on the technology used in the company’s Pressman; a portable cassette recorder marketed to journalists. Sony’s engineers, over a few design iterations, removed the record function and added stereophonic sound and small, lightweight headphones.
The Walkman was launched in 1979 and much of its success lay not in any technological advance but in its marketing. The name Walkman became a generic term for a personal stereo made by any manufacturer, and Sony has expanded its Walkman line to include CD, MiniDisc and MP3 based technologies. Portable radio remained popular alongside portable recorded music and these Sony Walkman SRF-H4 headphones were introduced in 2004 to provide this option for users including joggers and sports fans.
The Walkman was launched in 1979 and much of its success lay not in any technological advance but in its marketing. The name Walkman became a generic term for a personal stereo made by any manufacturer, and Sony has expanded its Walkman line to include CD, MiniDisc and MP3 based technologies. Portable radio remained popular alongside portable recorded music and these Sony Walkman SRF-H4 headphones were introduced in 2004 to provide this option for users including joggers and sports fans.
Marks
SONY / FM/AM WALKMAN / SRF-H4 / FM/AM / AM / X10 kHZ / FM MHz Printed
TUNING / FM DX LOCAL AM Printed
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH / PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. / [...] Engraved
SONY / WALKMAN / MEGABASS Printed
OPEN Engraved
VOL / POWER OFF ON MEGABASS Printed
SONY / DC: 1.5V SIZE AAA R03 / BATT OR EQUIV / MADE IN CHINA Engraved
SONY Embossed
WALKMAN / AM?FM WALKMAN /SRF-H4 / BUILT-IN / FM/AM RADIO / DESIGNED FOR / HANDS-FREE USE / Flexible Antenna with Light Reflector / DX/Local FM Sensitivity Switch / Single AAA Battery Operation / MegaBass Sound System / FM STEREO/AM / HEADPHONE RADIO / MEGA BASS / SONY / "WALKMAN" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to represent Headphone Stereo products. WALKMAN is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. / "MEGA BASS" is a trademark of Sony / MEGA BASS is a trademark of Sony Corporation. / Please read the instruction manual. / Sony Corporation 3-261-361- / Made in China / www.sony.net/walkman/ / SRF-H4 / POS BAR CODE / 4 901780 857463 / CAUTION / PRECAUTION / When you do open the package, Please use / scissors and cut along perforation. / Do not use knives and cutters since these may / cause injury. / [foreign text] / The photograph and the actual / product may differ in appearance. / Requires / one / AAA / Battery / (not included) Printed
TUNING / FM DX LOCAL AM Printed
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH / PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. / [...] Engraved
SONY / WALKMAN / MEGABASS Printed
OPEN Engraved
VOL / POWER OFF ON MEGABASS Printed
SONY / DC: 1.5V SIZE AAA R03 / BATT OR EQUIV / MADE IN CHINA Engraved
SONY Embossed
WALKMAN / AM?FM WALKMAN /SRF-H4 / BUILT-IN / FM/AM RADIO / DESIGNED FOR / HANDS-FREE USE / Flexible Antenna with Light Reflector / DX/Local FM Sensitivity Switch / Single AAA Battery Operation / MegaBass Sound System / FM STEREO/AM / HEADPHONE RADIO / MEGA BASS / SONY / "WALKMAN" is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation to represent Headphone Stereo products. WALKMAN is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. / "MEGA BASS" is a trademark of Sony / MEGA BASS is a trademark of Sony Corporation. / Please read the instruction manual. / Sony Corporation 3-261-361- / Made in China / www.sony.net/walkman/ / SRF-H4 / POS BAR CODE / 4 901780 857463 / CAUTION / PRECAUTION / When you do open the package, Please use / scissors and cut along perforation. / Do not use knives and cutters since these may / cause injury. / [foreign text] / The photograph and the actual / product may differ in appearance. / Requires / one / AAA / Battery / (not included) Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Sony Corporation. Circa 2003. Radio Headphones [Sony Walkman SRF-H4], 2007.53. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
On display?
On display
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