Stereo | radio | 8-track player:Weltron 8 Track Stereo AM/FM Multiplex

A stellar example of 1970s "space-abilia," this Weltron AM/FM/8-track tape player, manufactured in Japan, has an unmistakable profile. Christened "Model 2001" in reference to Stanley Kubrik's landmark 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey," it's shaped like an astronaut's helmet with a carrying handle on top. The twin speaker "ears" and 8-track tape player "mouth" add to the space-alien look. Sleekly designed to match the '70s sense of the modern, the Space Ball's 8-track tape feature placed it among the hottest trends in home entertainment. First introduced in cars in the mid-'60s, the 8-track was the first tape format to achieve a national mass market. This model's spherical shape was a common design element in homes of the early '70s. It fit right in with such other "futuristic" home furnishings as the popular globe-shaped spotlight and JVC's 1970 "Videosphere" TV. However, because it weighed more than the average bowling ball it resembles, Weltron's Model 2001 never caught on as a truly portable device.