Bone Fone BP-1

JS&A Group, Inc.; Northbrook, IL

Data

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Country
United States of America (USA)

Manufacturer / Brand
JS&A Group, Inc.; Northbrook, IL

Year
1979

Category
Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner

Radiomuseum.org ID
124459

Picture
Schematics

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 3289968) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)
eBay item number:157234270687

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1028565) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1028563) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 493617) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)
150286824170/ Pic. just as type proof!

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 549078) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1028564) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1030407) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1030408) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1030409) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 1030410) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (1)

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 3289969) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)
eBay item number:206599230698

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 3289970) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)
eBay item number:206599230698

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 3289971) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)
eBay item number:206599230698

Bone Fone BP-1; JS&A Group, Inc.; (ID = 3289972) Radio — JS&A Group, Inc.; Bone Fone BP-1 (2)
eBay item number:206599230698

Technical Specifications

Number of Transistors
Semiconductors present.

Semiconductors

Main principle
Superheterodyne (common)

Wave bands
Broadcast (BC) and FM or UHF.

Power type and voltage
Dry Batteries / AA: 4 x 1.5 Volt

Loudspeaker
2 Loudspeakers

Material
Plastics (no bakelite or catalin)

from Radiomuseum.org
Model: Bone Fone BP-1 - JS&A Group, Inc.; Northbrook,

Shape
Miscellaneous shapes - described under notes.

Dimensions (WHD)
27.5 x 1 x 2.75 inch / 699 x 25 x 70 mm

Notes
The Bone Fone was a wearable, scarf‑like AM/FM portable radio introduced in 1979, invented and patented by engineer William J. “Bill” Hass (U.S. Patent 4,070,553, filed 1977). Designed to drape around the shoulders, it housed two speakers positioned near the collarbones and was marketed as a bone‑conduction device—vibrating the upper chest and clavicles to create an immersive stereo effect while keeping the ears open. In practice, most audio came from conventional micro‑speakers inside its flexible blue Lycra/Spandex sleeve, with low‑frequency vibration adding physical resonance.

The Bone Fone incorporated a built‑in AM/FM radio receiver and operated on AA batteries. Product development and manufacturing oversight were handled by Hass Associates / Bone Fone Corporation, while large‑scale distribution and public visibility were driven by JS&A Group, which promoted the Bone Fone heavily through full‑page mail‑order catalog advertisements created by entrepreneur Joe Sugarman beginning in 1979.

More than 100,000 units were sold during its initial run, but the Bone Fone’s momentum quickly faded after the arrival of the Sony Walkman in mid‑1979, which established lightweight headphone‑based personal audio as the dominant format of the 1980s.

Made in Hong Kong.

Net weight (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
1.3 lb (1 lb 4.8 oz) / 0.590 kg

Price in first year of sale
70.00 $

Source of data
-- Collector info (Sammler)

Author
Model page created by a member from A. See "Data change" for further contributors.

Other Models
Here you find 3 models, 3 with images and 0 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.
All listed radios etc. from JS&A Group, Inc.; Northbrook, IL

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The model Bone Fone is part of the collections of the following members.

Detlef Geue (D)

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