1987 WM-F109
The WM-F109 is a Walkman with a built-in radio.
1986
WM-109
The WM-109 is a playback-only Walkman with an automatic reversal function. It features Dolby B and remote control operation, and is compatible with AA batteries and gum-type rechargeable batteries. It is an early high-end model that enhances convenience through the introduction of electronic control functions.
Sony shifted more of the Walkman's interaction away from the main unit with the WM-109, a compact model built around the idea that daily control could occur through a wired remote rather than the player itself.
As portable devices became thinner and were carried in pockets and bags instead of worn externally, the remote allowed basic functions to remain accessible without handling the chassis.
The remote housed play, stop, fast-forward, and reverse controls in a small capsule that could be clipped to clothing or held in the hand. Once connected, the Walkman could remain in a pocket for extended periods, reflecting a change in how listeners used portable audio in the mid-eighties.
See also WM-F107
