A personal listening moment
Sony dates the first Walkman, the TPS-L2, to 1979. Its history describes a stereo cassette player designed around listening on the move. The appeal is easy to understand: a chosen tape, a pair of headphones and a physical set of controls.
Look closely at the object
When documenting a player, notice the arrangement of the transport keys, the battery door, the cassette window and the headphone connection. Make notes about the actual unit in front of you; a family name does not tell you the condition or features of every model.
Start a useful record
Write down the full model marking and photograph the exterior before changing anything. Keep any manual, case and accessories together in the record. Separate observed facts from memories and assumptions, especially when a player has a long ownership history.