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“Hmmmph – kids today! Why, when I was your age and we wanted a computer, we had to build it ourself. None of them fancy fruit stores to take your money. You ordered the computer from a catalog, then get out the ole’ soldering iron and put it together! Continue reading Build-it-yourself Computers
Who is this Grecian goddess? Who is her girlfriend? Why is this radio literally on a pedestal, looking like a cross between a Greek Temple and an Art Deco skyscraper? Continue reading High Fidelity Art Deco
Who doesn’t love the idea of getting the latest tech as a holiday gift? And yet… Continue reading The Trouble with Tech
What happened here? The pages from this 1932 Spear catalog are absolutely accurate – they really ARE selling a $175 top-of-the-line phonograph for 30 bucks… Continue reading Highest Fidelity. Lowest Prices.
Behold that mighty marvel of miniaturization: two speakers, cassette tape recorder, AM FM radios, equalizer – the Boom Box. Continue reading When Boxes Boomed
One era’s common knowledge is another era’s “Hunh?” If you’re under 30, what could you tell me about the gadget pictured on the back cover of this catalog? Continue reading “Breaker-Breaker One-Nine”
“Take pictures and see them completely finished in only 1 minute – if it isn’t just the way you want, shoot another one immediately.” Continue reading The Miracle of Photos in a Minute
You could build a computer way back in 1956 if you were so inclined! The EC-1 came from Heathkit, and it resembles a modern computer in name only… Continue reading Build your own “Computor”
Once upon a time, and for a very long period of time, you could use the word “Kodak” as either a noun or a verb and folks knew exactly what you meant. That’s how ubiquitous the brand was in the days of analog, film-based photography… Continue reading When Camera Meant Kodak
Today, the trend is to hide our complex media electronics away. Build the TV set into the wall. Hide the electronics in a closet. In 1937, though, people were proud of their investment in technology, and didn’t hide it…. Continue reading Furniture that Plays Music
