Sony Watchman (1982-2000)

✅ Sony Watchman FD-210

🥇First Television to Fit in a Pocket

The Sony Watchman FD-210, launched in 1982, was the world’s first truly pocketable television—a miracle of engineering that allowed commuters to carry the evening news in a coat pocket. To achieve a depth of just 1.3 inches, Sony engineers literally folded the television components: they developed a unique "flat" picture tube where the electron gun was positioned parallel to the screen, firing onto a glowing internal plate viewed from the front through a clear window. This tiny, 2-inch black-and-white display was housed in a sleek, silver-finished chassis that retailed for roughly $240 at the time (about $800 today). Though the analog broadcast signals it was built to catch have long since been turned off, the FD-210 remains a high-status icon of 1980s design, celebrated for its futuristic styling and its incredible feat of shrinking a bulky living room appliance into the palm of a hand.

Source: Estate Sale 

✅ Sony Watchman FD-20A

The Sony Watchman FD-20A, released in late 1983, was the rugged, "everyman" evolution of Sony's portable television line. While the earlier Watchman was a sleek, silver status symbol, the FD-20A shifted toward a more durable, textured black or white plastic body that became the face of the 1980s pocket-TV boom. It kept the ingenious, flat 2-inch picture tube—where the electronics are mounted at a sharp angle to keep the device incredibly thin—but optimized the internal parts to run much more efficiently on four standard AA batteries. Despite being a budget-conscious model, it didn't skimp on practical features, adding a built-in kickstand, a long telescopic antenna, and an external antenna jack that made it an instant favorite for hikers, campers, and sports fans who wanted to catch the game in remote areas.

Donated by: Dan Cassin

Fun Fact: 

Unfortunately, Sony Watchman's no longer receive a signal due to all television broadcasting in the United States being digital instead of the Analog signals needed.