1987 WM-503
The WM-503 is a playback-only Walkman equipped with auto-reverse.
1987
WM-501
The WM-501 was a slim auto-reverse Walkman that represented one of Sony's most important packaging advances of 1987, integrating its rechargeable gumstick battery directly into the body instead of relying on a separate external holder. That allowed the player to approach cassette-case proportions while still offering Dolby B noise reduction, Dynamic Bass Boost, an amorphous head, and one-hour quick charging. The metal frame, hold lock, and self-contained layout gave it a sense of completeness that earlier slim Walkmans often lacked.
This is the moment when Sony's compact rechargeable players stopped feeling like clever compromises and started to feel properly resolved. The WM-501 did not simply make the device smaller; it removed one of the last obvious drawbacks of the slim-body format by making the power system part of the design. It stands as one of those late-1980s Walkmans where the achievement was not a single feature, but how little of the object still felt unfinished.
The WM-501 became closely tied to one of Sony's most recognizable advertisements, a television commercial featuring a Japanese macaque sitting quietly with headphones on and a WM-501 beside him.
Directed by Shigeyo Yuki and filmed over several early mornings at Lake Ashi, the production relied on natural light and a calm setting to focus on stillness. The key shot came when the monkey, Choromatsu, briefly settled and closed his eyes without prompting, creating the moment that defined the campaign.
The commercial required multiple takes, but none of the units brought to the set were damaged, and the final image appeared widely in magazines and television broadcasts.
