So says the back cover of photographer Eilon Paz's recently published book: Portables: A Visual & Historical Exploration of 222 Vintage Portable Turntables in collaboration with friend and writer Dan Epstein. This 'newfound respect' also translates into broad appeal. Far from being the fetish of record collectors, these adorable little contraptions hold major nostalgic appeal and design cred too. "They show you the evolution of time and the evolution of industrial design," says Eilon. As for the Japanese examples, they're the ones that really bring the fun according to Eilon. Columbia's 1980s Singing Panda being the quintessential example, which "is as fun as it is ridiculously cute". Along with Singing Panda, we've gathered our favourite Japanese-designed portable turntables as featured in Portables.
Portables: A Visual & Historical Exploration of222 Vintage Portable Turntables is availablevia dustandgrooves.com
