At some stage in the 1980s I wanted to have a radio and – more importantly – a tape recorder as well. And for some birthday I got one!
A portable radio with tape recorder by Telefunken, that is. One that was labelled ‘Radio of the year 1985’ or some such thing. I played and recorded countless tapes with that machine and it had a number of nice features which included AUX inputs and radio tuners for all of FM, AM, long wave and short wave. The radio also had an interesting button or two which were supposedly improving stereo sound – and turned on an extra light.
I had the machine for a couple of years and it got good use in other rooms of my parents' house after I got my first proper stereo. I used it again when living in England for the first year, piping the discman’s music through its speakers thanks to its AUX input. The radio is still working, but I don't think it is getting any actual use now.