Patreon Exclusive - Japanese Junk Box
A behind the scenes ramble about importing vintage technology from Japan. The sometimes high-stakes tech gamble where you may find gems amongst the junk.
If you are interested in seeing the auction description for the item I purchased after you’ve watched the video take a look at this link https://www.jauce.com/auction/t543468225
Comments (85)
I've said this on YouTube and I'll say it here: this machine is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for posting this!
They’ve been selling for silly money recently, so I was fortunate to get this one when I did.
Ah, I can see the “Tomorrow’s World” approach now you mention it. It’s that very approach that’s made your channel a success and the fact you shrug off the comments with good humour. I’m a Projectionist for a living (thankfully counteracting all the very things that you used to suffer back in your cinema-going days) and I used to see that mentality in some of the older people I used to work with. They’d rather show off, then explain and every comment was an opportunity for them to correct you or to shoehorn in their own “expertise”. You can’t learn with that attitude I find which is sad. You’ll probably find a lot of them are fellow techies with poor social skills. (Your Mr. Pedant character is drippingly spot on!) The very reason why I favour your videos is your friendly approach and the fact you take the audience in with you and I think that “wonder” in something (for want of a better phrase) is why we love the videos and why they are a bigger success than most, your music analogy perfectly encapsulating that. As I say, I’m proud to support your channel.
New Patreon, proud to be here and support Mat's work. Literally sit for hours watching these videos as they're perfectly hosted, without pretention and informative without boastful techno-jargon....which is why the techno-jargon lovers probably are quick to critique in an effort to push themselves rather than appreciate that the videos are just fine for those who arent't initimadated by them. (They're more than fine, to me they're the best thing on YouTube!) It's clever man who can seek out equipment from yesteryear and invite the viewer in with him to learn about it and repair it but it's an even cleverer one who can recycle the barbs too and turn them into hilarious puppet-routines to give it a more refined return serve. The videos and Mat's dedication is a work of brilliance and my pledge is worth every penny! Keep it up Mat!
Thank you very much. I’ve always wanted to mimic the approach that the TV shows of my childhood had, most notably Tomorrow’s World. The presenters on there weren’t experts in whatever the thing was that they were demonstrating that week, but they had gained enough knowledge to be able to accurately show and talk about it on TV. I think part of the problem nowadays is that someone who is intimately familiar the device being demonstrated would demand to know why a certain aspect that they considered important hadn’t been covered in the short presentation...they can’t seem to comprehend it’s just an introduction, and then if the viewer was interested in learning more it would be up to them to do more research into the subject. Just like introducing a friend to a musical artist, you might play them a track or two, and suggest an album to start with. You wouldn’t sit them down and play everything they’d recorded from beginning to end. So I’m glad that there are people like yourself who understand the simple idea, of showing interesting things and then moving on to the next one hopefully before it gets boring. Youtube is a funny medium as whatever anyone does it’s simultaneously too long, too short, too in-depth and too superficial...it’s all things to all men and vice versa.
What a beautiful piece of technology. I find much of the audio gear from the 1970s has a level of build quality and an aura of dignity / a presence that is not much found today. Perhaps that is why we are seeing some companies working to recapture that 70s magic in replicating it in new lines (Yamaha and Technics for example). Thanks for the video.
Emtech is what used to be BASF tape. They spun off their tape manufacturing business and called it Emtech. Emtech tape is really good stuff.
What a cool find! The title "Junk Box" had me worried for the outcome, but fortunately neither of us were disappointed!
Great video! I really enjoyed this type of off-the-cuff presentation. Very excited that your gamble paid off and it worked out for you!
Sony stuff off that generation always seems to be beautifully made and designed so you just want to get your hands on the controls and have a play. Lovely piece of kit and happy it worked for you!
Glad to see you Matt and a new update! Hope you had a merry christmas and happy new year
The shipping tape from Japan! Yes!!
Brilliant! I have noticed often if i purchase stuff from Janap (off the US amazon by a remote seller) it usually is in ridiculously good condition, even if marked used. For me it is mostly varied media or video games. I also get plenty from the states since that is where i am. from JP it is usually really well cared for and shipped proper. From the US.. haha.. total gamb le. From the UK it is also very well packed and cared for. Sad we are so lax.
My favourite place to buy things from is Germany. Usually very well cared for, and maintained. Well packed and efficiently delivered. I ordered two things at the same time once, one from Germany and the other from someone locally and the German one arrived first.
wait... there's a pile of shame? Why have you been keeping us from this great monolith of greatness. Don't underestimate our interest in failure.
It’s more of a loft of losses.
This video is arguably as good or better than a polished review. You've invited us all over for coffee on a cold winter day, to chit chat and share the unboxing , wafting and tinkering experience with an electronic toy. What a fun and relaxing day!
The funny thing is that something like this takes an afternoon and a proper video takes almost a week. Perhaps I’ve been approaching things wrong.
That was really satisfying to watch, and even more satisfying that it worked perfectly!
I rather enjoyed this stream-of-consciousness style of video, gives me a slightly different perspective on the mind behind the channel. Half expected boring bits, but there were none! Thanks again for doing this to the level of quality that you do.
That was really cool. Can't wait to see your video on this one. Also perhaps as a patreon exclusive could you go thru some things in the pile of shame, I think that would be interesting xD
It’s more of a figurative pile. Most things had to go to a recycling centre.
Seeing this video prompted me to watch Mindhunter on Netflix. The deck is really very nice. It looks like they move on to use something like a Sony TC-D5 later on. Have you watched much of the series at all?
Not yet, I’ve only seen the credits. I do intend to though.
What a gorgeous machine. And I had to go and check out the Mindhunter credits after watching this video.
I’ve only seen the credits, somebody asked me what the machine was. I should try and watch the show at some point.
"UNI-PHASE" is a new SONY development which allows a SONY two-channel stereo tape recorder to record and reproduce 4-channel matrix-encoded sound. Units bearing the UNI-PHASE symbol employ SONY's precision-molded F&F (Ferrite and Ferrite) heads to maintain accurate phasing and thus assure perfect recording and playback of any SQ or regular matrix discs. So, it was a quad thing.
Thanks for that info.
Your videos keep getting better and better. Thank you for the time and money you put into your videos. Take care! :D
SUPER pretty piece of kit you have there! How do you manage all of the stuff you acquire, in what appears to be a small house? Do you rent storage somewhere? Have a firm “one comes in, one goes out” policy?
This is a problem that I really need to figure out this year...things have got just a little bit out of control.
Whoa! Very cool device! Thanks for posting these. We won't see this kind of stuff if it wasn't for you, Mat
Now on my TTD list for January - if I come across it, it’s yours. Have a good New Year, and keep up the good work! Raymond
Thanks old chap.
Thank you Mat - I bought one of these New Years ago and it cost a fortune! You’re not missing a battery cover, but a slide in battery case (which you loaded the HP2’s in). The idea was to have several, and you could quick change a pack and continue recording in 5 seconds - unlike a Nagra where the batteries flew off in all directions until you put the lid on it. It was also mains powered - with the battery pod removed, you slid in another pod which had a 2m cable permanently attached with a 13a plug (fused at 3a) when back at base. Indeed, I may still have this item, let me know and I’ll try and track it down.
Thanks, yes I already added searches into eBay for the AC26 AC adaptor, the BP55 rechargeable pack (even though it won’t work now) and the battery pack. If you do have a spare of any of these it would be very much appreciated.
Wonderful. So happy for you, Mat. That's my era too. When very young, I managed to buy a Ficord 202a - see if you can find one of those these days! That machine started me freelancing in local radio. I always wanted a Uher or Nagra, but never got one. I'd have given anything for that Sony machine!
Nice on Matt. The Jauce website looks interesting. Also check out the Aramex global shopping service. It's a global shipment forwarding service with 23 addresses around the world (including Japan).
Good fun and great info as usual. Between yourself and Bigclive, the other faculty and myself at work have lots to discuss. Always looking for new videos to share with the media students.
I know what you mean about the packaging tape, I've had many parcels from Japan sealed with that 'medical' style tape. I assume it is a Japanese equivalent of Sellotape or Scotch tape. In my days of retro video game collecting, I became a bit of an expert at translating broken Japanese translations. 'Junk', as you said, means 'Could be broken, might just need a power lead, pay your money, take your chance.' My favourite was 'Item has a dirt on it' which I worked out meant in the best case scenario 'Not new, might have a scratch, crease or mark on it' or at the worst 'Smells like Shane MacGowan's front room.'
I interrupted myself while talking about it - something I do often, but it’s my favourite tape....if it’s possible to have a favourite. It sticks well, but can be torn like paper, it doesn’t leave a sticky residue and it seems waterproof and substantial. If it was in the shops here I’d buy it. It’s kind of a half way point between duct tape and parcel tape, but better than both.
I regret not keeping the TEAC r2r machine my dad had that he gave me (because it could also just be used as an amplified set of speakers). I was too young to understand it or appreciate it.
Yes! Another Techmoan ramble! *Settles down with cup of tea* Lets do this :)
I have very little interest in things like reel-to-reel tape players or turntables (aside from a general interest in technology) but I always find your videos fascinating. I was on the edge of my seat toward the end! :)
That is one fine-looking and well-crafted tape recorder. I suspect Sony tried to compete with the Uher Reporter series and maybe even the Nagra machines with it. Your customs office should have its head examined: Roughly 25% import duty on an obsolete machine that competes in no way with British products, as well as on overseas packaging and forwarding which (obviously) did not deny employment to any Brits? That is as absurd as the duties paid by Greek and Spanish buyers of the equally-obsolete analog camera equipment which I export from the USA. Outrageous!
I don't know why but I expected a "HARUMPH!!" at the end of that. But yeah, Customs in the US is a bit dodgy as well, although the cheap crap (the small electronics that BLATANTLY rips off American, Canadian, or UK products) slide through without so much as a peep... slowly... sometimes 30 days+, but no duties.
Great video, I really enjoyed it! I often use Sendico or Buyee to ship stuff from Japan to the UK. Both shipping companies are good but the guys at Sendico are a bit cheaper and are particularly helpful and will ship almost anything as long as it's legal. Looking forward to watching your next 'behind the scenes' video!
I'll look into those, thanks for the info.
That by-the-way Apple rant imitation was brilliant! Excellent video, so happy to be a patron.
Once again, awesome material! 👍🏻
I liked this video a lot, to see your unedited reactions and musings about the process of getting stuff for your show. I was half-expecting you to make a prank about what was in the box, since it took a while for you to open it :-) I was wondering how you store everything you get, is there any free space left in the house?
Not an inch.
The bit about "demonstration only" might have meant it was a display unit in a store or something, so it sat on a shelf instead of being sold.
I’m pretty sure it’s more like “for display/collectors only”. However here’s the text for anyone who wants to provide a better translation than Google. 本体のみの出品となります。
I do pay to patron because I believe in supporting your and your videos. I don’t mind if no videos are ever patron exclusive video to make me feel good. I believe all your video should be available to all your fans. Thank you for your video and I am thrilled this is your full time job.
I’ll keep it a Patreon exclusive....but I’ll be making it available to everyone to view here on Patreon only in a few days. There are some things that just don’t seem to go down well with a general YouTube audience.
Another great video, Mat. It feels a bit of a treat having one in the lull period between Christmas and New Year :) I agree with the other comments, I love these type of behind the scenes videos as well.
I was on the edge of my seat hoping it worked. :) Looking forward to your video diving into more detail on the machine.
It was fun to watch a "behind the scenes", unpolished, and raw video. I hope you do more of these. Maybe even discuss some of the failures that never made it to final production (even if it was a 90%, almost there type of failure as you mentioned in a previous comment).
"but without the murders", you are getting so funny. I loved this and how 'ad hoc' it all is. Thanks for sharing.
I like these type of videos. It's almost like sitting down with a buddy with the similar interests talking about cool stuff we have run across.
Loved this behind the scenes look. Would love to see one of these every once in a while!!
If you know any hobby machinists, those spin on things on top of the reels would be super easy to make for anyone with a lathe.
Very interesting . Two thumbs up
I could related to your story about receiving packages every day. The mail man has something for me almost every day, and often UPS for Fed Ex 2 or 3 times per week. They know me by name and also watch my channel so they usually know they are delivering something for that.
This was an absolute privilege to watch. Please try and make a few more of these even if you plan to go in depth for a public video. It was nice to hear a little bit of backstory about you as well.
Thanks Mat, what a treasure! You take the same gambles I do when ordering Tech, always worth the risk (most of the time). Great choice of music for the test, a favorite for many fans, including myself. Have a great new year! Oh, I got myself a cracking turntable for Christmas - Retro of course!
Oooh you must tell me more about your TT.
Always boggles my mind how high UK import and customs fees add up to for even relatively low cost things like this! Jeez. Also didn't realize you were doing this full-time now, I hope this continues to be a good thing for you :)
I was re-watching your IBM PC AT new-old-stock un-boxing video yesterday and I knew I shouldn't take a look at the prices on eBay, but I did it anyway :D I think importing stuff from the US to anywhere Europe will be insane. :| At least I had some fun trying out the machine in the PCE emulator :) Eg. i never knew the 5150 had a cassette connector on the back. Would love to see that in action though. In the emulator I could load the diagnostic cassette at least.
To take the gamble out of the power supply negative or positive tip, I usually use my multimeter on continuity test and use the negative on either the case or outside of phono jacks (as long as the are not balanced output I know).
It could only be one piece of music on that tape :)
I like these type of videos. Wouldn't mind seeing the ones that fail too. Thanks for the treat!
The failures usually only become apparent further down the line. There was one thing that was 90% of the way there, but a critical component snapped just as I was demoing it, putting the whole project back on hold until I can find a replacement.
Please try and do some more of these. Great stuff Mat. Now, I really must check soon if there's still the reel to reel machine in my folks' loft I played with as a kid.
You can often find out whether a barrel connector is tip negative or not by using a continuity tester and seeing if there's a short to something you can reasonably expect to be ground, like the outside of the RCA connectors.
I’ll try to remember that, thanks.
Great insight. I don’t know what it is about reel to reel machines that is so alluring, but I have craved one since the late seventies. There is absolutely no practical reason for me to have one, yet I still feel incomplete without one. (Hope you checked all that packaging before you threw it out to check for the battery cover 😃)
I did and it turns out from reading up on it that the battery pack is one of those large plastic blocks that is interchangeable. One version holds 8 D cells, another one is a rechargeable nicad and then there’s an AC adaptor version that can be slid in it’s place. I’m keeping my eye out for any of these three options to plug up that hole at some point.
That was a fun watch. I know you're super busy making the videos for the main channel but there are those of us who love and appreciate unboxing videos. Thank you for making this.
Whenever I get the opportunity to do something like this, I’ll try to fit it in. With this one I thought that even if it doesn’t work, at least there would be a video produced as a result of buying it.
I cheered/groaned when sound came out/didn't come out of it. (Edit to remove spoilers!)
You’re not the only one. Since shooting I’ve noticed that rewind isn’t working, so I may need to buy a belt for it after all, however I was planning on opening it up to give it a good clean, so that’s not too much of a concern.
I did not know this was your full-time gig, missed that if it had been mentioned. Good for you, no man worth the name really wants to work for another person in a hierarchy. I made the move myself 3 years ago.
I’d been commuting to work two hours a day for 25 years and it had really taken its toll. I took a pay cut to do this, but I couldn’t be happier.