I bought one of these very soon after they came out. Used it while I walked my mail route. That had to be like the middle of 1980 maybe? I used it so much I wore out the drive belt. I went to where I bought it and in 3 days I had a new belt mailed to me. Opened it up and restrung it and it was as good as new.

Now, wow. 40 years is a long time or technology. I just stick a thumb drive into my car radio and listen to whatever I have copied to it. The irony is this. I do0n't really like listening to music anymore. I can watch TV on my phone with the sound running through Bluetooth, so as I drive I usually have a TV show playing in the background with the phone hanging from the magnetic vent mount. I'm not "watching" watching, but it's playing in the background. Add to that things like Amazon Music and the many streaming services... Wow what a time we are privilege to live in.

I had an uncle who was an old school polka accordion player and he had one of the first vinyl record players in his big old boat of a car. I think it was a 60s Chrysler Imperial but all I remember is that it had those big fins on the back. (I would have been like 9 or 10. A lot of notes have crossed my ears since.) Surprisingly that record player didn't skip nearly as much as you'd think. It was funny to watch him driving as he was constantly changing records. The one he had only played 45s, and one at a time. I don't even know if there were other models.