1970s
How the Rubik’s Cube puzzle toy became a worldwide sensation
After hitting the market in the ’80s, it didn’t take long for the Rubik’s Cube to become one of the most popular toys ever. Here’s a look back!
After hitting the market in the ’80s, it didn’t take long for the Rubik’s Cube to become one of the most popular toys ever. Here’s a look back!
Today’s toddlers ride in style in the sleek and racy, brightly-colored, low-slung plastic numbers like the Big Wheel from Marx – that whiz, spin, skid, slide, race and even roar.
The history of Levi’s jeans shows that the power of a really good idea – like super-durable clothing that people like to wear – can make for a business that stays strong for more than 160 years.
This is the new, wonderful 45 rpm changer unit that lets you enjoy distortion-free music. It’s yours for the unbelievably low price of only $12.95.
Walkmans and other portable cassette tape players – ‘personal stereos’ – were hugely popular in the ’70s and ’80s, and packed more sociological punch than a load of hula hoops.
Want to know how to make an old-fashioned rotary dial phone work? Here’s your handy guide, straight from the fifties!
It was different then, The old enemy of distance prowled everywhere. And people were separated by the bigness of this land. That was what started
The dance music of the Edison Phonograph is irresistible. It offers the most fascinating waltzes and spirited two-steps of the world’s, great composers as well as the popular dance music of the hour.
Imagine getting paid to create retro-futuristic space-age inventions. Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, that is exactly what commercial artist and futurist Arthur Radebaugh got to do.
Imagine being able to call someone when you *weren’t at home*! It was a big deal back in the day. See the history of vintage payphones & phonebooths here!
Vintage View-Master reels offered a trip into another dimension – ‘with stereo color pictures so real, you’ll feel you are actually part of the scene!’
How much of today’s tech did Nikola Tesla predict a century ago? Here’s a look back at some spot-on predictions from Nikola Tesla — along with a few, that, well… we haven’t quite seen yet.
Ulcers bothering you? Try Silly Putty (1951) by Glenn Williams Well, sir, I’m here to tell you that in the past couple of days, I’ve
Never having to come up from underground? Cars routinely going 130 MPH? Completely automated cleaning? Solar power dominant? See these and many more predictions from 1906!
Who remembers Peter Coddle, Shoot the Hat, and Snap? They were old-fashioned games that provided hours of entertainment before radio and TV. Find out more here!
The new technology of 1930: Television unveiled by Robert Joyce Tasker Imagine a fire… hot, blistering, roaring and raging through a tenement district, impelled on
It took only 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, but the Wright Brothers’ first flight made the moon as reachable as sailing ships once made America.
Wherever you look today, electric service makes good things possible. Imagine what it’ll do for you tomorrow. Maybe there will be flying cars – or even flying campers that can plug in for recharging.
Back when radium was first discovered, people loved that it was new and cool and it glowed… so companies decided to put it into a variety of products, like this radioactive X-radium cookware. Yeah, that was a bad idea.
This new, revolutionary wall-mounted refrigerator and freezer that hangs from the wall is a completely new and advanced concept of modern living. Truly, it is the most convenient and magnificent refrigerator-freezer ever produced!
‘Just add water and you’ve got instant life!’ they said. ‘Over 150 amazing Sea-Monkeys born ALIVE before YOUR eyes!’ But, oh, the disappointment when the critters didn’t look anything like the pictures on the package.
The inventor of the dishwashing machine The patron saint of the emancipated woman of the future will be Josephine Garis Cochrane, the inventor of the
Reel-to-reel tape recorders hit the commercial market in the 1940s — and their evolution was boosted by the financial support of none other than Bing Crosby, who saw great potential in the technology.
Predictions of the future from the early 1900s included the idea that a subway shuttle across New York City would be replaced with a moving sidewalk built in three sections, one of which would offer seating.
Once electrical power became widely-available in homes, all kinds of appliances were invented – including these vintage vacuum cleaners!
Free electricity for everyone? It means that if Nikola Tesla succeeds in harnessing the electrical earth currents and putting them to work for man there will be an end to oppressive extortionate monopolies in steam, telephones, telegraphs and the other commercial uses of electricity
Who invented the sewing machine? That really depends on how much progress has to be made for something to be considered ‘invented.’ Find out more!
A look back at the computer age: “Today’s computer revolution is only getting started. In store are amazing new uses for ‘electronic brains’ that will reshape the industry and alter people’s lives.”
A bouncy new baby is wonderful fun – but quite a burden, too! This practical safety crib will make Baby even more fun, because Trimble’s Kiddie-Koop makes baby care easier for you… safer for Baby
100 million erasable pens (82 percent of them disposables) were sold in 1982. The two top movers were from Eraser Mate and Scripto.
Here’s a look back from 1964 at the career of “American folk hero” Thomas Edison.
Dr Nikola Tesla looks forward to the era when one titanic electrical wireless station shall supply power for the world — tells of other developments that we have good reason to expect
Here’s the original press release that a small California company called Apple released back in January 1984, announcing the launch of their new PC — the first mass-market personal computer featuring both a graphical user interface and a mouse.
Edward Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination – including the smallpox vaccine – and one of the greatest benefactors of the human race, performed his first test experiment in 1796.
They’re known by many names: 45 rpm record inserts, single record adapters, 45 rpm spindle adapters, spider inserts… all terms for the thingie that goes in the middle of an oldie
Professor Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, has witnessed the trial flights of the machine devised by Professor Samuel P Langley, formerly of Pittsburg. Mr Bell makes the following statement…
Who else would you turn to in order to build a better (electrical) mousetrap in the early 20th century? Nikola Tesla would end up filing a US Patent for his improvements on Ben Franklin’s almost 200-year-old lightning rod design.
Within 10 years, hikers may be able to buy a $10 wrist device that will absolutely guarantee they will never get lost.
The Shrinkage of the Planet An essay by Jack London What a tremendous affair it was, the world of Homer, with its indeterminate boundaries, vast
Tesla’s latest wonder: Illustrating the method by which electric power is conducted from one place to another without wares, the balloons act as the poles
Weird doings at the Tesla plant Natives around Wardenclyffe, Long Island, having the time of their lives guessing what the electrician is trying to do
Mme Demorest’s Emporium of Fashions – 473 Broadway, New York We think our lady readers will be both interested and benefited by having their attention called
Little change in turntable since Edison By Preston McGraw One part of a high fidelity stereo system is basically unchanged from the model Thomas A
Shrinky Dinks inventor speaks to local students By Randy Rendfeld The inventor of the “Shrinky Dinks” told Edgewood Elementary students Thursday not to let their
The history of 7-Up soda 7-UP Bottling Company of Bakersfield Adds Further Strength to the Enviable Industrial Structure of This Metropolis Its New, Beautiful and
Now Pan Am adds the DC-8 to world’s largest, fastest over-ocean jet fleet! This month, another brilliant star of the stratosphere — the DC-8 Jet
The mean trick of a Santa Cruz dairyman, who fools the stock by an electric plant Dairyman Wilder, whose milk-producing establishment is about ten miles
Some automobile accessories by Elizabeth Lounsbery The accessories of the automobile have grown apace in design and number with the progress of development in motor-vehicles, until
The first golf balls were made of leather of untanned bull’s hide, two round pieces forming the ends and a piece for the middle.
The telephone of tomorrow – featuring pushbuttons, missile-like speed and musical tones – represents a totally new signaling system and opens the way to vastly increased versatility in communications.
The wonderful X-ray is about to become a back number because of the potency shown by a newly discovered element known as “radium.”
Observers have also noted how quickly computers have pervaded American society. Princeton’s president Robert F Goheen thinks their impact can be compared to Gutenberg’s invention of movable type.
Want to remember to remember? Our weekly newsletter shows you the latest vintage, old-fashioned & historic stuff that we have published or refreshed during the past seven days. Sign up here.
Note: ClickAmericana.com features authentic historical information, and is not intended to represent current best practices on any topic. Material on this site is provided for education, criticism, commentary, cultural reporting, entertainment, historical reference, and news reporting/analysis.
Don’t miss out on the latest and greatest vintage stuff!
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.
