Your Sony Walkman From The '70s Might Be Worth Hundreds Now - Here's Why

There could be rare vintage treasure hiding in your grandparents' attic. It's not a porcelain figurine or a treasure map, like in "The Goonies." In fact, it's several years older than that iconic '80s film, and it was a cultural phenomenon that's seeing a resurgence today. We're talking about the Sony Walkman TPS-L2, which can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars these days to collectors and retro enthusiasts.

Sony introduced the Walkman to Japan in July 1979 and to the U.S. in June 1980. There were already AM/FM radio headsets, stereo cassette recorders, and expensive personal cassette players that cost around $1,000, but the TPS-L2 ditched the radio function and the high price tag. Costing just $200, the Walkman was more accessible to the average consumer, and within two years of the Walkman's release, record labels were dropping albums on cassette that weren't available on vinyl. This helped the cassette tape surpass the popularity of records.

Stereo mixing was standard when the Walkman arrived. It put vocals in the middle and instruments across the left and right channels. The TPS-L2 set you inside a soundstage thanks to a stereo tape head, an upgrade from the mono recorder it was based on. Its two-position tone switch let you play higher-quality recordings like chrome tapes and Dolby-encoded cassettes without harsh treble. It also featured two headphone jacks, perfect for listening with a friend. Of course, the big reason why the TPS-L2 took off is obvious: It was mobile.

In the '80s, you slid those orange foam headphones over your ears and the world drifted away. Your favorite songs became the soundtrack of your day. Peter Quill gets it. In "Guardians of the Galaxy," the Walkman is integral to his story. He plays "Awesome Mix Vol. 1" on his Walkman to keep him connected to his mother. In the opening scene, he's lost in a world of music, dancing to Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love" while exploring the Temple Vault on Morag. Appearances in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" films and shows like "Stranger Things" and "The Last of Us" have helped fuel a resurgence in the Walkman's popularity.

Collectors looking for one in good condition should check certain components to make sure the Walkman still works properly. Degraded drive belts will cause tapes to fold and jam, while a warbling sound may indicate hardened pinch rollers or idler tires. Pay attention to the player's classic metallic blue housing to ensure it has survived without dings and scrapes, but even beaten-up units can still sell for a couple hundred bucks to be harvested for parts. If you get your hands on a TPS-L2, and you want the best audio quality, you may want to upgrade the headphones, which have come a long way since the days of the Walkman.