Retro Thing

Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine

If you've ever yearned after your own Pac-Man or Galaga arcade machine, this is the book for you. John St. Clair's 501-page volume leads you through building a vintage-style arcade cabinet, constructing game controllers, and installing a PC-based game emulator inside. He even provides tips and examples to create a graphic marquee for your new console. Includes a CD-ROM with MAME32 arcade emulation software and an evaluation copy of Paint Shop Pro. Personally, I think this would be ten times more satisfying than buying something pre-made. And ten times cheaper.

Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine (Wiley, via Amazon)

Stamped in the USSR

You knew it was coming -- Retro Thing's first stamp collecting post.

Stamprussia.com shows off a pretty decent collection of postage stamps from the Soviet era. Worth a quick look around if you like sticky colored things. By the way, this is a 6 kopek stamp commemorating the Klingon Ice Battle Dance at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics.

Postage Stamps & Stationary of Russia and the USSR (via Boing Boing)

Classic Computers of the Past 2006 Calendar

It's the time of year to start scrounging for new calendars. The $9.99 Classic Computers of the Past Calendar is the only one I know of that features vintage computers.

"It's a perfect gift for any computer enthusiast or anyone who remembers those classic computers of the past. Includes: TRS-80 Color Computer, Commodore VIC 20, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Dragon 32, Jupiter Ace, Atari 800 XL, Acorn Electron, Sega SC-3000, Oric Atmos, Amstrad CPC 464, Commodore Amiga 1000, Apple IIGS"

What more could a geek want? Oh, and feel free to send any unwanted swimsuit calendars my way. I'll dispose of them for you. Really.

Classic Computers of the Past 2006 Calendar (via Computer Collector Newsletter)

Redux: Designs That Reuse, Recycle, and Reveal

Redux is a 160 page book that focuses on building environmentally friendly houses. Techniques include Renovation, Adaptation, and ecologically intelligent construction.

From the publisher: "This book combines extensive salvage use with the larger goal of efficiency and environmentalism--and the results are simply stunning.  With a focus on healthfulness, durability, and comfort, Roberts has assembled a collection of living spaces so innovative that it will turn the idea of "salvage" on its head. They span the spectrum of reuse, exemplifying the countless steps that homeowners can take to put a stamp of beauty and individuality on their home while providing the added benefits of being earth-friendlier, healthier, more self-reliant, and more efficient."

Redux: Redux: Designs That Reuse, Recycle, and Reveal (via Treehugger)

World Toy Camera Day

Tomorrow (Saturday October 22, 2005) is World Toy Camera Day. toycamera.com encourages us to run around like the crazed children we secretly are, snapping brilliant and unique pix with our Holgas, Pinholes, and LOMOs. You then submit your best shot to Toycamera.com for a chance at unspecified  -- but probably cool -- prizes.

World Toy Camera Day (via Reevo's excellent Ektopia)

Amusing Flap Art

I bet you were wondering what kind of flaps I was referring to, eh? Book covers, my friend!  Flapart offers a set of downright kooky wraparound book covers to disguise your books as you slink around suburbia.

You no longer have to fear people discovering your childish love of Narnia books, or that you are re-reading Mein Kampf for the 3rd time. Instead, you can amuse bystanders with titles like How to Impersonate an Engineer, How to Murder a Complete Stranger and Get Away With It or even Laser Eye Surgery at Home.

Flapart is the brain-child of Michelle Watters' husband:

Awhile ago, my husband Brian said "wouldn't it be funny if you were sitting on the subway reading a book and on the front cover it said, How to Murder a Complete Stranger and Get Away with It?  Imagine what people around you would think, especially when you finally finished the book".

Exactly. Did I mention they cost a mere $4.99? Or that they're made in Canada out of recycled beaver lodges?

Flapart (via Boing Boing)

The Incredible World Of Spy-Fi

Spy technology has long captivated the public imagination and James Bond's trendy gadgets have always showcased technology at its cleverest and deadliest. The Incredible World Of Spy-Fi encapsulates four decades of espionage technology in a 160 page book. Written by Danny Biederman (who consults on the 007 films) with ex-CIA technical director Robert W. Wallace.

"From Maxwell Smart's Shoe Phone to James Bond's Walther PPK to Austin Powers' eyeglasses and classic spy gear from Alias, Mission: Impossible, The Wild Wild West, and more, this visual gallery reveals to the public for the very first time the world's largest collection of spy props and artifacts. Danny Biederman, creator of the Spy-Fi Archives, has spent the better part of his life tracking down over 4,000 rare pieces. So thorough is his collection that the CIA visited the Archives and invited Biederman to display a portion from his massive treasury at CIA headquarters. Here, Biederman profiles over 200 of his coolest, most captivating gadgets, offering enough juicy trivia and insider stories to make any spy proud." (Chronicle Books)

Heartily recommended as required reading for secret agents-in-training everywhere.

The Incredible World Of Spy-Fi (Chronicle Books)

Souvenirs From The First Moon Landing

The American space program has been struggling lately, but that shouldn't stop us from acknowledging its stunning successes. The highlight was Apollo 11, which put bipedal primates on the moon for the first time. This cleverly designed box set includes 16 replica artifacts from the mission contributed by the crew and Smithsonian archives.

The package offers a short 64 page book that chronicles each day of the mission. The real magic is the extra stuff that's included: a copy of the front page from the July 21, 1969 Washington Post, an Apollo 11 iron-on mission badge, menu, snapshots of Buzz Aldrin's kids, a replica excerpt from Michael Collins' "Solo Book" from his time alone in orbit around the moon, and more.

There should be more clever releases like this. The gift box format adds an element of discovery often missing from traditional books and web sites. Published in August 2003, Apollo 11 Box is now discounted 70% at Chronicle Books.

Apollo 11 Box - $7.49 (Chronicle Books)

Super #1 Robot

Super #1 Robot is a tour de force look at Japanese Super Robot toys between 1972 and 1982. The book offers 22 snappy pages of interesting and informative text by robot toy megafan Matt Alt and collector Robert Duban. The remaining 232 pages are chock-full of brilliant color photography by Houston-based photographer Tim Brisko.

The authors make no attempt to catalog every model released over the decade. Instead, they provide an essential overview of what they see as the best toys of a rocket-fisted, mechanically transforming era. This is five-star eye candy.

Super #1 Robot released July 7, 2005 (timbrisko.com)

The Art of Circuit-Bending

I'm not a big fan of modding vintage technology; classic gear should remain untouched for future users and collectors. That said, talented mods can breath new life into otherwise dull old gadgets.

Reed Ghazala, the master of circuit-bending, has written a book about modifying toy technology to produce peculiar new instruments and devices: "Alien music could be inside that old Speak & Spell at your neighbor's yard sale. Circuit-bending sets it free. Start turning throw-away audio electronics into magical music engines and discover a freedom of expression that comes straight from your dreams. All you need to know about electronics is how to solder—and how to read these instructions from the guy who accidentally started it all."

To get you started, Ghazala includes hints and tips to help you mangle fifteen fairly common old electronic toys. Once you get the idea, these techniques can be used to turn thrift store electronics into a paradise of bloops, bleeps, and flashing lights. Available mid to late August 2005.

Circuit-Bending: Build Your Own Alien Instruments (Wiley & Sons, via Video Thing)

Movie Camera Encyclopedia

As a kid, I was amazed by the amount of information crammed into each volume of the encyclopedia (boy, do I sound like a geek). I get the same feeling when admiring Juergen Lossau's Complete Catalog of Movie Cameras ($49.95). It includes over 1,500 color photos and lists about 4,000 different vintage camera models across 480 pages. Each of the major manufacturers is given their own chapter loaded with history and fascinating anecdotes. The tome measures a reasonably compact 8.3" x 6.3", so you can read it almost anywhere.

This is the second movie camera guide written by Lossau - the first was released about 30 months before this volume. He's also written similar volumes detailing projectors and film splicers. If you're a die-hard collector, I'd suggest picking up the other books as well. It won't be cheap, but they're beautiful.

Lossau's books are printed in German and English. The translation is awkward at times, but it's easy to overlook such a minor fault when faced with so many amazing pictures and stories. I couldn't find either book at the large on-line retailers, but you can order direct from the publisher - international shipping is included in the price.

The Complete Catalog of Movie Cameras - $49.95 incl. shipping (Atoll Medien, Hamburg)

Wooden fruit

Fake wood is very much in fashion these days.  Several of Dell's laptops can be outfitted with woodish panels, and enterprising do-it-yourselfers have started to churn out teak laptops, oak iPods and mahogany PDAs. Wooden bicycles can't be far behind.

None of these hold a candle to the original Apple 1 computer, Wozniak and Jobs' first crack at creating a true mainstream personal computer.

Digital Retro in Paperback

I'm a sucker for books.  I have dozens of unread titles lingering on the bookshelf, waiting for the spare time I never have.  It goes without saying that I want shelves more.  Digital Retro is Gordon Laing's tribute to 40 classic computing platforms.  It's  available now in paperback.  That means it'll be far cheaper than the hardcover edition, and I can't say no to a bargain.

There are more pictures than text, which is also fine by me.  Oh, how I long for the days before every computer was a Dell.  If a Timex Sinclar or NeXT cube is your secret fetish, you'll find it here.  My reading list also includes Michael Nadeau's Collectible Microcomputers and Revolution in the Valley by Apple legend Andy Herzfeld.