I have four typewriters — guess I should open a museum! (One is an IBM Selectric I found beside the road — someone put it out as garbage, even though it works. I wonder what it cost new!)
The worst day at the museum isn’t when you see exhibits you could have bought new… it’s the day some smart-a%$e tries to stand one of those exhibit description boards in front of you!
On the laptop I’m using right now, the e-mail still has a cc choice…(carbon copy) Some older teachers still call copies mimeographs…..The odor could get you high, in the winter they were nice and warm to the touch, and the blue ink on your hands was a small price to pay..
or, the black circle things that play music. or, a reel to reel. or, a manual transmission with a clutch pedal on a car. a vhs tape and vcr. a laserdisc. colecovision. mobile phone with attached bag. tandy computers. an ashtray. card catalog.
My family had a wooden box mounted on the wall with a crank handle on it. We called it a “telephone” and 14 families were connected to the same line. Each of them had a unique ring, i.e. 1 long and 2 short that an “operator” would send when they got a call.
How many films noir and murder mysteries have used the vandalized telephone booth, or the lack of correct change for the phone as an added element of tension? Now, it would be a close-up of low charge bars on a cellphone. Or the message “Out of Service Area.".@ Gaijinrabbit : The Walgreens stores in our area still had those testers, early 1960s. We used to have a booklet with cartoon characters showing how to use it. Somebody with no sense for tradition threw it away a few years ago.
That’s like going to an antique store and seeing a hefty price tag on “stuff” you threw away when cleaning up grandma’s estate. Dang, I knew I should have kept that potato ricer
The phone company will still sell you this – it’s called ‘distinctive ring’. But if you look carefully at the bill, you’ll see you’re paying for a ‘party line.’ Ah, the good old days. Much worse than the good new days. Except for all the politics.
Everything old is new again. You may have heard the news blurb about Moscow looking for typewriters (this apparently is legit). No, not keyboards, typewriters. Why? Because paper is safer. Can you say “Snowden”?
I was pretty proud of my capabilities in keeping up with technology, until a Dilbert character referred to a desktop computer as a Grandpa Box. I realize now there is no hope.
We went to the Clark County museum a few months ago and they had just such an exhibit. While it wasn’t labelled “ancient”, it was things that used to be used in an office, like typewriters, dial phones, comptometers and such.
“I’m not out of it! I just decided to stop wasting money on crap.”
.If I had any sympathy for humans left I’d feel sorry for the kids of today. Pop McCulture advances so fast these days a person who was on top of things today could be miles behind tomorrow.
How can I find an old (or archived) Non Sequitur strip? Am thinking of a strip with two astronauts in a space station orbiting the Earth. Outside is a thug in a hoodie (and spacesuit) holding an extended gun at them. The punchline is “We must be passing over New York”.
Oh you children! I have an 8×12 Chandler & Price and can still set type from a California case. I have carbon paper, a 10-point typewriter (as well as a 12). In my tools, I have an adz, froe, and scythe. Any museum interested?
I remember how I forgot when American Girl came out with the “historical” doll for the 1970s, Julie. The 70’s are historical? I spent them in grade & high school.
I learned on a Remmington. Thing weighed a ton but was considered portable because it had a carrycase. Darn carrycase was just as heavy!.And the old rotary telephone….. that’s how you remember the phone number. Mid-air dialing.
The Nihilist over 11 years ago
Well vintage, not ancient, just yet…
chireef over 11 years ago
bet if you fallow the More Old Stuff sign you find a mirror
alviebird over 11 years ago
Dave’s not here, man.
Doosenbury over 11 years ago
As to hsawlrae’s remark: that’s a rotary dial I think you were referring to.
Destiny23 over 11 years ago
I have four typewriters — guess I should open a museum! (One is an IBM Selectric I found beside the road — someone put it out as garbage, even though it works. I wonder what it cost new!)
stuart_harrison over 11 years ago
The worst day at the museum isn’t when you see exhibits you could have bought new… it’s the day some smart-a%$e tries to stand one of those exhibit description boards in front of you!
Varnes over 11 years ago
On the laptop I’m using right now, the e-mail still has a cc choice…(carbon copy) Some older teachers still call copies mimeographs…..The odor could get you high, in the winter they were nice and warm to the touch, and the blue ink on your hands was a small price to pay..
Varnes over 11 years ago
Bird55,It’s funny ‘cause it’s true…..Like Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen…..
pelican47 over 11 years ago
This makes our hapless man think he should be one of the exhibits?
Varnes over 11 years ago
Radish, brilliant comeback…
watmiwori over 11 years ago
You can order typewriter ribbons from amazon….
WaitingMan over 11 years ago
I may be old but I saw The Rolling Stones with Stevie Wonder as the opening act for $6.50. And complained that the tickets were overpriced.
vwdualnomand over 11 years ago
or, the black circle things that play music. or, a reel to reel. or, a manual transmission with a clutch pedal on a car. a vhs tape and vcr. a laserdisc. colecovision. mobile phone with attached bag. tandy computers. an ashtray. card catalog.
Richard Nace Premium Member over 11 years ago
So depressing. All this stuff is in my attic. And today is my bday too.
gilmccarthy over 11 years ago
Those Urinal Phones were nasty.
puddlesplatt over 11 years ago
the days of Blue Fingers.
luvcmx over 11 years ago
My family had a wooden box mounted on the wall with a crank handle on it. We called it a “telephone” and 14 families were connected to the same line. Each of them had a unique ring, i.e. 1 long and 2 short that an “operator” would send when they got a call.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 11 years ago
oo.where’s the mimeograph machine cranking out reproductions of type on slick, peculiarly odored paper
davidh48 over 11 years ago
Those old keys make “cool” earrings.
emptc12 over 11 years ago
How many films noir and murder mysteries have used the vandalized telephone booth, or the lack of correct change for the phone as an added element of tension? Now, it would be a close-up of low charge bars on a cellphone. Or the message “Out of Service Area.".@ Gaijinrabbit : The Walgreens stores in our area still had those testers, early 1960s. We used to have a booklet with cartoon characters showing how to use it. Somebody with no sense for tradition threw it away a few years ago.
jprozeboom over 11 years ago
That’s like going to an antique store and seeing a hefty price tag on “stuff” you threw away when cleaning up grandma’s estate. Dang, I knew I should have kept that potato ricer
Raynagh over 11 years ago
Love it!
gorbag over 11 years ago
The phone company will still sell you this – it’s called ‘distinctive ring’. But if you look carefully at the bill, you’ll see you’re paying for a ‘party line.’ Ah, the good old days. Much worse than the good new days. Except for all the politics.
sbchamp over 11 years ago
Got my own collection a this stuffAt least I lived to BE old…
tahoeh2o over 11 years ago
Ditto…
tripwire45 over 11 years ago
Ah, the good ol’ days.
dabugger over 11 years ago
so what’s new?
YatInExile over 11 years ago
Does that telephone booth have a real phone book inside? That would be awesome.
bransom over 11 years ago
How about the iPhone 3, 4, and 5? Already passé!
Mickeylacey over 11 years ago
you could tell who worked in an office by the colour of their hands at the end of the day……Remember chalk dust???
georgiiii over 11 years ago
It’s fun to tell the young folks about life before shopping malls (and most of them don’t believe you). Remember old fashion downtown shopping?
thomgeno over 11 years ago
The sound of the typewriters I used was more clack than clink
watmiwori over 11 years ago
or why you ‘fire’ a gunor ‘sail’ a steamship
gosfreikempe over 11 years ago
YES!!
Whimsical Cats over 11 years ago
Saw on the news — Russians may start using typewriters for the top secret stuff — will cut down on cyber-theft.
dogday Premium Member over 11 years ago
Everything old is new again. You may have heard the news blurb about Moscow looking for typewriters (this apparently is legit). No, not keyboards, typewriters. Why? Because paper is safer. Can you say “Snowden”?
katzenbooks45 over 11 years ago
I love the smell of mimeograph fluid in the morning. Smells like…high school.
mistercatworks over 11 years ago
Ouch…it makes me craugh (cry and laugh at the same time).
TheAuldWan over 11 years ago
too true…..
kakabeka over 11 years ago
Wiley you are TRULY a genius!
You constantly manage to succinctly reveal the wellspring ofintelligent humans’ travails.
/We all thank you sir.
I Play One On TV over 11 years ago
I was pretty proud of my capabilities in keeping up with technology, until a Dilbert character referred to a desktop computer as a Grandpa Box. I realize now there is no hope.
JanLC over 11 years ago
We went to the Clark County museum a few months ago and they had just such an exhibit. While it wasn’t labelled “ancient”, it was things that used to be used in an office, like typewriters, dial phones, comptometers and such.
jack fairbanks over 11 years ago
move along bud before they put a rope around you
Ernest Lemmingway over 11 years ago
“I’m not out of it! I just decided to stop wasting money on crap.”
.If I had any sympathy for humans left I’d feel sorry for the kids of today. Pop McCulture advances so fast these days a person who was on top of things today could be miles behind tomorrow.
Ernest Lemmingway over 11 years ago
Damn straight!
neeeurothrush over 11 years ago
so far no one has mentioned typing a program on ibm data cards – inch thick deck of punched cards (no hanging chads please) for a simple program
tuffbud over 11 years ago
How can I find an old (or archived) Non Sequitur strip? Am thinking of a strip with two astronauts in a space station orbiting the Earth. Outside is a thug in a hoodie (and spacesuit) holding an extended gun at them. The punchline is “We must be passing over New York”.
hippogriff over 11 years ago
Oh you children! I have an 8×12 Chandler & Price and can still set type from a California case. I have carbon paper, a 10-point typewriter (as well as a 12). In my tools, I have an adz, froe, and scythe. Any museum interested?
WaitingMan over 11 years ago
Hate to tell you this but that is where the Republican Party is headed, full steam ahead.
Asharah over 11 years ago
I remember how I forgot when American Girl came out with the “historical” doll for the 1970s, Julie. The 70’s are historical? I spent them in grade & high school.
Don Winchester Premium Member over 11 years ago
I have about 1,500 CED Movies with 3 working players! HA!
Hunter7 over 11 years ago
I learned on a Remmington. Thing weighed a ton but was considered portable because it had a carrycase. Darn carrycase was just as heavy!.And the old rotary telephone….. that’s how you remember the phone number. Mid-air dialing.