Sony TCM-100
Sony PRESSMAN
(april 1978 - 1982)

THIS is the original Walkman - only it wasn't named Walkman and didn't benefit from a large marketing coup.

Launched more than a year and before its very well-known TPS-L2 version (aka Walkman), the TCM-100 was targeted at the press people who'd need a lightweight and easy to handle portable cassette recorder. Weighing only 400g, operating on batteries and measuring 2,9 x 13,35 x 7,85cm, the TCM-100 was to replace big bulky units such as the TC-164SD - only the TCM-100's bandwidth wasn't as good: 90Hz...10kHz ;-) This would be changed in the TPS-L2 but not by much.

Redesigned for the TPS-L2 were the output controls (L/R independent controls using linear sliders) and the enlarged "stop" button. On the TCM-100, one of the two minijack slots naturally is a MIC input if one were to prefer not to use the built-in electret microphone. The famous "talkback" orange button of the TPS-L2 was the record button on the TCM-100 (located on the other side of the top). The TCM-100 was available in silver and in black (TCM-100B) ; the difference in weight (400g vs. 300g of the TPS-L2) was achieved with some internal parts swaps, less functions and more plastic for the L2.

Bar these small differences and the absence of the tape counter, the TCM-100 already sported the same overall design as its much more remembered TPS-L2 sibling - in fact, it was the very same recorder. Amazing what marketing can do, isn't it ?