Retro Thing

Victrola Favorites: 78 RPM Records Go Digital

It's not often (never, in fact) that one comes across a 144-page clothbound color book accompanied by a 2 CD set featuring recordings taken from vintage 78 rpm shellac records from the 1920s through the 1950s. The book is crammed with images of record labels, needle boxes, instruction booklets and other 78-related curios. It's heavy on images rather than text, but I think that's the way a collection of this nature should be presented. The visual presentation is part of what makes exploring these recordings special, unlike the standardized album art provided by iTunes.

Victrola Favorites was put together by Seattle-based experimental musicians Jeffrey Taylor and Robert Mills of Climax Golden Twin. The songs were mic'd straight from a classic Victrola, in an attempt to preserve the authentic listening experience.

The 48 tracks feature a diverse range of music that spans the world - everything from Chinese opera to Hillbilly & Persian folk songs (though not together on a single track). If I had a time machine, I'd love to take this back to the original performers to get their reaction to the digital magic we take for granted less than a century later.

Inquisitive retro fans will also appreciate the Victrola Favorites audio sample page, with Real Audio excerpts of each track.

Victrola Favorites: Artifacts from Bygone Days [via Boing Boing]

Drive A Locomotive on the Wensleydale Railway

Any Thomas the Tank Engine fan will tell you that diesels should be watched carefully, lest they cause trouble. The Wensleydale Historical Railway in North Yorkshire, England does just that. They maintain a number of vintage locomotives and rolling stock including a 1960s-era Class 101 trainset similar to Daisy the temperamental diesel from the Thomas books. Parts of the line date back to 1848, but passenger service began to decline in the mid 1950s and freight service ceased entirely in 1992.

The Wensleydale Railway Association was formed in 1990 in a desperate bid to restore passenger service along at least a portion of the line. Help came from an unusual ally. The Ministry of Defense provided funding to restore a significant portion of the line to transport armored vehicles to Catterick Garrison - the largest British Army garrison in the world. The MoD was only too happy to allow the Wensleydale Railway to take over the line, and continues to use it to haul equipment today.

Passenger service resumed in 2003, and five stations along the line have re-opened. The Railway now owns a number of diesels, diesel multiple units and even several electric multiple units. Trains run three times a day, with daily service throughout the summer months. It's worth checking the schedule in advance, especially since there is sometimes steam service on the line.

If you're the sort who likes to take control of the action, the railway offers a day long driver experience course that includes a safety briefing, instruction and a supervised driving experience on a diesel multiple unit train, along with breakfast and lunch. The cost is £225, which is reasonable for the opportunity to drive a 32.5 tonne DMU.

The Wensleydale Railway

Pong Embedded In Table; Breakfast Just Got Bleepier

I don't know what it is, but I'm still entranced by Pong.  What started out as a simple demonstration of early computer technology has endured as a lasting symbol of the video game era.  Games have changed a lot since then, but there's something endearing about the simplicity of this ur-game. 

Pong so inspired designer Moritz Waldemeyer that he embedded 2,400 LED lights under the surface of this table, with touch sensitive surfaces at either end to control each side's Pong paddle.  The slick part is that since the LED's are concealed beneath the surface, you can still use it as a regular everyday table.  Enjoy a healthy breakfast, do a paint-by-number, or even set up an actual real-world game of Ping Pong if you forget to pay the energy bill.

MOMA: Design and the Elastic Mind [via hack-a-day]

related:
Another artist builds a clock inspired by Pong
Ping-Pong ball shooting tank
Build your own Pong from a kit

Yazoo: 80's Synthpop Is Back With Five Disc Box Set

For many of us, Yazoo (or "Yaz" in the U.S.) was the infectious beat intro to electronic music in the early 80's.  I still get charged up when I hear that synth swell that starts up "Don't Go".  The duo of Allison Moyet and Vince Clark (Depeche Mode, Erasure) used their new sound to create all-time classic pop music.  The band only ever released two albums, but that raw analog sound and relentless dance beat continues to be a big influence on electronic musicians today.

Both landmark albums are being re-released as 5.1 remixes in this CD box set.  Also included are two discs of rarities and remixes, and a DVD with new videos as well as other hidden treasures.  For those of you who are DJ's, many of the singles are being reissued as 12" vinyl.  If you'd rather be your own DJ, the music is being parceled out as digital downloads as well.

You also have a chance to see the pair back in action on their Yazoo:Reconnected worldwide tour this summer, with live concert CD to follow.

Help out Retro Thing - get your Yazoo box set at Amazon

related:

New Roland synth with classic styling
Classic Korg synth on your Nintendo DS
LinnDrum II - new release of a classic drum machine

A Retrostalgic Cassette Face Watch

The £35 ASOS Cassette Face watch is a modern quartz timepiece that evokes the look of a  cassette tape -- one 'reel' displays the hour, the other shows minutes. It features a hefty stainless steel body and bracelet that hearkens back to the LED watches of the 1970s. Apart from that, there's nothing old fashioned about this piece.

I'm always torn when it comes to writing about stuff like this. It's more retrostalgic than retro. However, I suppose this watch serves as a heavy-handed example of how the tech design of the past influences modern products.

In this case, there's nothing subtle about the influence. The novelty face is supposed to make your friends mumble effusive words of praise such as "Sweet!!" the first time they see it. But - unlike truly inspired industrial design - it doesn't evoke lasting emotion. Of course, very few consumer gadgets manage this. The Apple iPod is one such device. Its brilliantly simple form and unusual combination of materials make it seem special, even though it's mass produced. The iPod also manages to appear simultaneously modern and timeless.

Still, this watch is kinda sweet. And I admit that every time I write a post highlighting tin robots or vintage transistor radios, I hope there's a designer somewhere who is inspired by those classic designs and incorporates their essence into something new.

ASOSMAN Cassette Face Watch [via David @ Retro To Go]

Flickr: Hundreds of Vintage Transistor Radios

Michael Jack is an audio engineer from Barrie, Ontario. He has over 900 radios in his collection, including the the world's first transistor radio - the Regency TR-1, the extremely rare Sony TR-5 (a re-design of Sony's very first model) plus many classic American and Japanese sets. His Flickr photostream features over 500 different models, with more on the way.

As Michael explains in Collector's Weekly, "If you buy one transistor radio it will most likely grow to two, then three. By your fourth radio you will be considered a “collector” and will be hooked! There will be no turning back from the appeal of these mid-century, technical and artistic marvels.

With any transistor radio from the 1950’s or early 60’s it seems that the brighter the color the higher the price. Cool 50’s shades like robin’s egg/powder blue, seafoam green and bright red or yellow command higher prices. Black and ivory cabinets are considered less attractive by some and may reduce a radio’s value on the collector’s market."

Explore Michael Jack's transistor radio flickr set [Thanks, Jack!]
Collecting Vintage Transistor Radios of the 1950s and 60s

Message To Steve: Apple Is Stuck in the 1980s

I would love to own an Apple Mac. The operating system is amazing and I'm tremendously fond of Apple design. However, the company only sells a single machine -- the diminutive Mac Mini -- for under $1000. Sadly, it's woefully underpowered and insanely overpriced.

Those with long memories will tell you that Apple Macintosh computers have always been pricey. The original Mac -- equipped with a monochrome display and 128K memory -- debuted in 1984 at a price of $2495. Its advanced technical design, playful operating system and radically different shape allowed Apple to market it at a premium against a flood of boring beige PC clones.

Fast-forward almost a quarter century and Apple is still playing the same game. The trouble is that their machines are now based on the same commodity hardware as a standard PC, yet the company keeps prices sky high on the basis of good looks and an excellent operating system. However, as component prices drop and performance skyrockets, the Apple premium has reached insane levels.

Let's compare the Mac Mini to a cheap Dell PC:

[Update: One irate reader visited the Dell site and couldn't find the machine listed above. Here's a link. I added Vista Home Premium to get the $399 price.

Another reader didn't like that I used the Intel E2200 in this comparison, although it's built on the Conroe dual core architecture with a smaller L2 cache (it's all a branding game). It benchmarks higher than the Core 2 Duo Mobile in the Mac Mini, although in the real world I wouldn't expect as good performance. Still, adding a significantly more powerful e8200 Core 2 Duo processor only adds $150 to the Dell. To use a car analogy, Apple is using the same motor and transmission as GM but charging Porsche prices.]

Apple should be ashamed of themselves. 

ION USB VCR - Last Chance To "Be Kind & Rewind"

ION may be familiar to our readers for their turntables and cassette decks that also feature a USB connection to your computer. The ION VCR 2 PC ($249) includes simplified video editing software that can convert your home videos to DVD, iPod, PSP and even phone video formats. The deck is available in both NTSC and PAL, and includes front panel jacks for hooking up other video sources.

It seems like the world changed over from VHS to DVD in less time than it takes to rewind and eject a tape. I've been trying to think of any forgotten features that VHS has over DVD. Of course it's recordable, but only at half of broadcast resolution. The blank media is cheap, but not as cheap as 20 cent blank DVD's. The only thing I've been able to think of is that a VHS tape stays where you last left it, handy for pre-cueing a pile of videos - which I doubt that anyone does anyway.

One thing that VHS has is a tremendous history of home recordings. Given that VHS was the only way to record television for most people for 30 years, there are some videos out there that are irreplaceable. VHS tapes degrade over time, so there are piles of video home movies, and even some commercial titles that aren't released on DVD that are worth preserving. ION has created the first VHS deck with a USB video output for doing just that.

I've done a lot of archiving of my own video work and early camcorder experiments, but it's always been a hassle. A bundled system like this could make backing up those old videos easy and maybe even a little fun, though at nearly $200 it is a pretty expensive setup. I'd also like to see what the software offers as far as color correction, audio enhancements and other fixes for aging analog video. I don't know what ION is going to USB enable next - I'm waiting for the Betamax and 1/4" audio reel models.

ION VCR 2 PC product page

related:
ION USB Cassette Deck
Affordable Turntables
Classic Phone with USB

Buying Super 8 Film

I've had several queries about Super 8 film recently from people unable to find it at their local photo shop. The good news is that Kodak offers five different film stocks in Super 8, and relatively affordable processing is available from a number of film labs.

The easiest and least expensive way to buy Super 8 film in the USA and Canada is to order direct from Kodak at 1-800-621-3456. Here are the current American prices:

You can get S8 film developed at number of labs including Spectra, Pro 8 mm, and Yale in the Los Angeles area. If you're shooting Ektachrome 64T, the most affordable processing service is available through Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas ($10). It makes sense to send multiple cartridges in for developing at once to reduce postage costs. You should check out the various "all inclusive" packages offered by the labs, too. They give you a single price for the film, prepaid processing, and even video transfer.

Things are a tad more expensive in Europe. Andec Filmtechnik in Berlin offers film and processing to European filmmakers by mail order, while Londoners can visit the Widescreen Centre for film and supplies.

Kodak: Super 8 Film Stocks
Super 8 Film In The 21st Century [create digital motion]

Metro Mania: Fuel Economy Trumps Common Sense

Weird things have been happening across North America as fuel prices hit all-time highs. Suddenly, small cars are cool. Basic vehicles that wouldn't have received a second glance five years ago are now attracting interest like never before.

A case in point: The little 3-cylinder Geo Metro, also sold as the Suzuki Swift. This popular econobox was produced from 1989-2001. In addition to a low sticker price, it squeezed as much as 49 mpg from its 1.0L power plant. In fact, one variant -- the lighweight XFi -- featured a detuned engine capable of sucking well over 50 miles from a single gallon of regular unleaded on the highway.

It hasn't taken long for modern opportunists to realize that the Geo Metro is an ugly duckling capable of providing almost the same fuel efficiency as a sleek new $25,000 hybrid. Prices have spiked as these elderly vehicles trade hands on the basis of their remarkable (by American standards) fuel efficiency.

These subcompacts - which sold for less than $10,000 new - are now fetching as much as $7,000 on eBay. Most have lived tough lives, driven by teenagers and low income drivers. That means they might not have received top-notch maintenance and are nearing two decades on the road. Unless you're an experienced back yard mechanic, you'll find yourself forking out a small fortune to keep an old Geo roadworthy and fuel efficient. You should also keep in mind that modern vehicles are designed to be more crashworthy, and the Geo didn't excel in crash tests when new, earning a less than stellar rating from the NHTSA in the early 1990s.

As with most other crazes, the sudden interest in elderly subcompacts should be taken with a grain of salt. There are numerous  modern vehicles such as the Toyota Echo/Yaris, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Aveo that get almost the same mileage. However, used examples of these miserly vehicles tend to sell at a premium these days, so your best bet might be to hang on to your rapidly depreciating SUV and drive it sparingly.

I suspect GM is paying careful attention to the sudden interest in the Metro XFi. Perhaps the recent flurry of attention will be enough to encourage them to introduce a lightweight variant of their Korean-made Aveo/Wave with a high efficiency small displacement engine in the near future. Maybe even a diesel.

1989 Geo Metro Gets 75 mpg
Gas prices drive Geos from clunkers to chic [CNN]

Benchmade: Innovative Blades

When I was a kid in the late 1970s it was normal to carry a tiny Swiss Army knife in my pocket. I vividly remember sitting on the school playground, carving little sticks with my friends after school. Such deviant behavior would probably warrant a police investigation and a flurry of counseling sessions these days. Luckily, us 'big kids' still admire a well-made knife and haven't forgotten the fun we had.

The Benchmade Knife Company was founded in California in 1988 and now occupies a 35,000 sq. ft. facility in Clackamas, Oregon. They've become known for innovative and attractive blades, including custom branded Harley-Davidson and HK Knives.

The company stands apart, thanks to their state of the art manufacturing equipment and craftsmenship. They explain, "The Benchmade manufacturing arsenal contains ultra-modern laser cutters and machining centers dialed in for spot-on tolerances of 0.0005” on command. Our computerized machining centers offer the precision and control usually found only in the aerospace industry. Most of our products are hand assembled for a “go together” fit and finish typically seen only in a custom knife."

It's been a long time. I wonder if I still remember how to carve wood?

Benchmade Knife Company

Toy Ranch Phone - No Extra Fees For Roaming

It's not that long ago that the iMac hit store shelves, quickly followed by tons of unrelated junk sold with a lowercase "i" in the front.  This isn't a new idea.  Fads often inspire manufacturers to look at their own shelves to see what they can adapt to cash in on the latest craze. 

Here's a toy phone adapted into a "ranch phone", hitting the market during the cowboy craze of the 1950's.  This darling little phone might have been one of the few non-gun toys that your neighborhood's ranch hands gave two spits about, I reckon.

The phone is scaled for smaller cowpokes, complete with a detachable earpiece and a turning crank.  A friend of mine has an even more deluxe version that uses the handle to drive a small voice mechanism inside.  It wobbles out what is now a spooky-sounding message about meeting up at the ranch.  When it was new I doubt that it sounded much better, but to a kid brought when talking toys were a rarity I'll bet that it sounded like bliss.

The manufacturer Gong Bell started out in 1866 making - you guessed it - bells!  Toys came next, which they manufactured into the 1960's.  Their toys were all made of metal and wood, but for some reason they never moved with the rest of the industry to using money-saving plastic.

              It's interesting that at the same time this toy phone celebrated the anachronism of cowboys, the company was becoming an anachronism of its own by sticking with traditional quality materials.  Hats off, gentlemen, as Gong Bell and their ranch phone ride off into the sunset.

related:

Wild West Toybox
Bang & Olufsen Phone
1980's Fiero Phone

You Too Can Live In A Garbage Spaceship

I have a friend who lives in a spaceshippy kind of house. Seriously. James has seen it, and I've shot a commercial there. It's amazing what a sci-fi look he's been able to achieve using found objects, and the kind of things that anyone can get at a building supply store.

This project by Jan Korbes takes the post-apocalyptic sci-fi living concept to the next level. Futuristic aesthetics may just be the coincidental byproduct of building homes out of recycled trash. We're rapidly approaching a point where the world's most bountiful resource may be our refuse, so these designers set to work creating these portable home/office units called "Miele Space Ship MRS II".

Interesting that using a bunch of industrial castoffs and garbage results in a housing design that looks so clean and 2001-ish. How sad that thanks to mankind's careless past, living in a spacey looking house made of recycled materials may be part of everyone's future.

Link to project website

related:
The Soviet retro-future that never was
Life-size replica of the Lost In Space robot
Apollo space program commemorative matchbooks
Classic Space:1999 toys

High Heeled Bowling Shoes For Ladies' Pins

I'll admit it. As a high school miscreant, I absconded with a pair of bowling shoes. They're patriotic (red, white, and blue leather), massive (my fault for wearing a size 13), and they still get lots of attention 20 years later.  Since I wear them on the street, I can't use them in a bowling alley anymore -- and since they're designed to slide, they're horrible footwear for winters in Chicago. Their kitsch construction has a sort of awkward timelessness to it -- that is to say that fashions may come and go, but nothing else looks like a bowling shoe.

Striking Products shares my dress sense, but has adapted the unexplored "rental shoe aesthetic" to a ladies' style. The Ohio company is offering a high-heeled number styled just like a bowling shoe. They're not actually intended for bowling (I don't think that high heels would help a player aim and deliver a 12 pound ball), but what a great way to show your affection for the sport when you're away from your local alley. We can all agree that bowling is sexy, but who knew it was this sexy?

Incidentally, whenever anyone tries to make me feel guilty over my having liberated bowling alley footwear, I point out that when you fork over your $2 there's no actual contract specifying how long you intend to use the shoes.  So whenever anyone points down to my gigantic bowling shoes and asks, "stolen?" I smile and reply, "Nope. Long-term rental."

Striking Products website

related:
1960's Bowling book for boys and girls
Bowlo - bowling card game
Swanky bowling shirts

Breakfast With Nintendo: It's Not A Cereal, It's A System.

In the late 80's, Nintendo could do no wrong.  They revitalized the flagging video game industry and brought incredible new games to the home - for years Nintendo was pretty much the only game in town.  Like so many other successful companies, they were quick to plaster their name over all manner of merch, so is it any surprise that there was a Nintendo breakfast cereal?

Forgive me, I said "cereal" when I meant to say "system."  Both the packaging and the original television commercial make a point to refer to those jagged crunchy bits as part of a system.  The cereal's novel presentation split the front of the box down the middle, offering up Zelda and Mario flavors.  Inside are two separate bags with the two different cereals.  The "player", I mean "breakfast warrior", can mix and match these flavors while foraging for whatever prizes may lurk inside.

I never experienced this particular breakfast system (though I can remember there was also a Nerds candy branded cereal that used this same dual flavor setup), but I imagine that it tasted about the same as any other cereal.  Obviously it was a rather memorable thrill as boxes of the stuff trade for $100 on Ebay these days.  Normally I'd thumb my nose at such preposterous prices, but I could see paying out a lot of money to bring back Cracker Jack Cereal or Waffle-O's.

Nintendo Cereal System commercial on YouTube

related:
Borg Nintendo Famicom
NES Paul - guitar/Nintendo hybrid
Three Dimensional Nintendo