Yashica produced more than just cameras during its boom years. As a leader in the field of electronic photography in the middle to late 1960s, Yashica’s early electronic devices ranged from such diverse items as transistor radios, record players, movie projectors, editing equipment and tape recorders to name but a few.
Most of the earliest electronic devices are rather rare now (as one would expect after 50 years) and only occasionally does something come up in auctions both on the web and in estate sales. I suspect that the more common electrical items such as projectors and editing equipment are still flooding eBay and other on-line auction sites.
Finding an early radio such as the YT-300 and YT-100 is a bit harder. Here we share some of what we’ve been able to collect over the years.
Nice complete set from around 1960.
Not a bad price for such a sophisticated radio.
Really really rare to find a working Yashica tape recorder!
Yes Yashica even branded their own magnetic tape for their recorders.
Yashica YT-300 portable transistor radio. Designed in late 1959 it was very popular in the early 1960s and was one of the many electronic devices that helped Yashica develop their hyper successful electronic cameras that followed.
Yashica YT-300 in its very elegant leather case. The case itself is a work of art and craftsmanship.
Thanks for your visit! If you come across a working Yashica radio or tape recorder snag it! They’re really rare and a fun little reminder of the first transistor radios and how cool they were.
Chris
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 
Reblogged this on Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris and commented:
It’s time to revisit this early post on my blog. Did you know that Yashica made electronics like radios and even a tape recorder?
LikeLike
That radio would be $650 in 2021 dollars!
How is the reception on it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s cool! I wish it did work but something somewhere is just not making a good connection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are at least three other Yashica portable reel-to-reel tape recorder models out there. One I have seen photos of online is the Yashica TR-100.
Two others I have in my collection—the YC-25, and the “Violet” Yashicorder. My Violet unit has its nameplate missing, and the model/serial number nameplate missing, but does say “Yashicorder” on the headcover. Both the YC-25 and Violet use the same mechanism as the Yashicorder 77 in your picture. The Violet also has a built-in AM radio.
Fun fact, the same mechanism is also used in the Standard Radio Corp. models Unicorder 88 and Unicorder 89, and the mech is manufactured by Copal. It is a rim-drive mech, but surprisingly well-made, and fascinates me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome! After years of searching I’ve given up on finding a good working TR-100. I’d like to see pictures of your two recorders. My email is ccphotographyai@gmail.com.
LikeLike