1980s
Remember the pens you could erase? Look back at Eraser Mate & Scripto Erasable Pen from the ’80s
100 million erasable pens (82 percent of them disposables) were sold in 1982. The two top movers were from Eraser Mate and Scripto.
100 million erasable pens (82 percent of them disposables) were sold in 1982. The two top movers were from Eraser Mate and Scripto.
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!’ Take a look!
When color TV was first invented, people wondered if you could convert a black & white TV to color, and which shows would appear in color – and when. Here are some of the answers they were given.
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!
Nikola Tesla’s life story is notable, as he saw the world of the covered wagon turn into today’s world of electricity & electronics – and he was a big part of how that happened.
Shrinky Dinks were invented back in 1973 by a woman who figured out how to create trinkets, and not with molten blobs of plastic on a cookie sheet.
Cash register history goes back to the Victorian era, and were used to both streamline accounting, and to keep cashiers from stealing money. Find out more here!
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!
Imagine getting paid to think up the wildest retro-futuristic space-age inventions. Back in the ’50s-’60s, that’s what commercial artist Arthur Radebaugh got to do.
George Eastman: The man behind Kodak (1854-1932) George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak, and often called “the father of photography” was many things — a
When these vintage Zenith ‘Space Command’ TV remote controls first came out, they were revolutionary tech – and everyone wanted one.
The invention of the dishwasher was a kitchen game-changer, and cleanly earned its inventor, Josephine Garis Cochrane, a spot-free finish in history.
Have you ever wondered where products like Formula 409, 7-Up, WD-40 and Preparation H got those famous vintage brand names? Find out here.
What’s the history of Q-Tips – the little cotton swabs found all around the world? This big brand had a little baby-sized beginning. (Also find out their terrible former brand name.)
The founder of Kodak built the George Eastman House, a 50-room Colonial Revival mansion in upstate New York. Now a museum, here’s what it looks like.
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.
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!
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.
‘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.
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, vintage vacuum cleaners debuted, including ones from the famous Hoover brand.
Free electricity for everyone? Here’s a look at some predictions from Nikola Tesla from a century ago – some we have seen, others… well, not yet.
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
While his name might not be as well-known as others, Hudson Maxim was an important American inventor, chemist and author.
Here’s a look back from 1964 at the career of “American folk hero” Thomas Edison.
Among the remarkable discoveries is that of photography, one of the most absolutely new revelations of all that have come upon many generations past and passing.
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…
Nikola Tesla filed 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
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
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
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.
A 1950s home tour: See inside a small house in San Francisco 
The real death of a cheerleader story (1985) 
47 dangerous old playgrounds that our great-grandparents somehow survived 
40 vintage backyard ideas so fab, you’ll want to re-create this relaxing sixties-style outdoor living vibe 
Pillsbury Space Food Sticks, the vintage snacks for astronauts that kids loved 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.
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