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Loose Robes

Life & Events > Old Technology
 

Old Technology

image
This is a mimeograph machine. How much I loved them when I was in elementary school and the teacher would send me down to the office to pick up a stack of freshly minted papers. It wasn't the Sixties yet, but I got high off the wonderful aroma wafting off the sheets.
[I WOULD INCLUDE A PHOTO OF A CASH REGISTER HERE, BUT FOR REASONS TOO COMPLICATED FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT, I CAN ONLY PUT ONE IMAGE PER POST. ARGGGHHH.]
The cash register too has faded into history. For years in high school I worked as a bag boy, paying for my car, and the hard-working gals at the registers punched in the price of each and every grocery item. Scanners were well in the future.
[HERE WOULD BE A PHOTO OF AN 8-TRACK TAPE.]
How hot I was in my little British Triumph Spitfire with an 8-track tape (Dylan, Rolling Stones, Dave Brubeck, etc) playing with the volume cranked up to compensate for the wind in my hair (I did once have hair, dammit). They didn't last long, but they initiated portability.

posted on Feb 2, 2013 8:40 AM ()

Comments:

As an office worker, I don't miss the mimeo. Huzzah for laser printers and copiers. And the mammoth copier I used at the NYT, copied and collated and stapled and made coffee. All in minutes.
comment by tealstar on Feb 3, 2013 6:31 AM ()
You've reminded me of that scene in "9 to 5" where Jane Fonda has trouble with the huge copy machine.
reply by steve on Feb 4, 2013 7:25 AM ()
I had an 8-track player in my VW minibus. Thinking about it sure brings back a lot of memories. I still have an electric typewriter, too - I bought it in the late 80's or early 90's.
comment by catdancer on Feb 2, 2013 4:02 PM ()
I wish we still had our VW Campmobile.
reply by steve on Feb 2, 2013 4:51 PM ()
When I bought my electric typewriter I thought the technology had reached its apex.
comment by jondude on Feb 2, 2013 2:43 PM ()
I still have my Smith Corona elec. portable stored away. It was my first "major" purchase after getting my B.A.
reply by steve on Feb 2, 2013 2:48 PM ()
I loved that smell on the test papers! [The photo uploader stays open as a separate window unless you close it after copying the link. When you click on the Upload a Photo icon for your next photo, nothing happens because it is already open. I assume you are using the Multiple tab on the uploader, so your multiple links are there waiting to be copy/pasted, but you can't get back to the uploader. Use tabs in your browser, or somehow make the MyBloggers window smaller, and you should see the uploader sitting there on your desktop.]
comment by troutbend on Feb 2, 2013 12:31 PM ()
Thanks...I'll see what happens next time.
reply by steve on Feb 2, 2013 2:49 PM ()
It's not tech, per se, but last night I suddenly felt alarmed that in my sewing baskets I could not find any wooden spools of thread, only plastic spools. I am actually going to buy some on eBay!
comment by drmaus on Feb 2, 2013 11:47 AM ()
As a little kid, my toys were wooden, not plastic. Some were metal, like toy soldiers.
reply by steve on Feb 2, 2013 2:43 PM ()
Don't buy them, when I get back to Colorado in March I can send you some. I have lots and don't know what to do with them.
reply by troutbend on Feb 2, 2013 12:25 PM ()
Sometimes my brain doesn't adjust to the technology. I sometimes catch myself saying in the car "roll up the windows."
comment by miker on Feb 2, 2013 9:48 AM ()
Yes, drmaus, I still catch myself saying I am taping a TV show, when I am actually recording it on my DVR.
reply by miker on Feb 4, 2013 8:03 AM ()
My mom used to listen to books on disc and referred to it as "reading" the book. I would respond, "No, Ma, you're LISTENING to it," but she never bought that.
reply by steve on Feb 2, 2013 2:46 PM ()
-- "taping" someone's conversation, although it's recorded digitally;
-- "filming" if you are recording it digitally...
reply by drmaus on Feb 2, 2013 11:51 AM ()
I love the observation; it would be interesting to compile a list of phrases like that which refer to the old item or method but we say anyway.
reply by drmaus on Feb 2, 2013 11:45 AM ()
As much as 'New' technology has made our lives incredibly easier, it doesn't last as long as the old stuff! Everything today is only made to last a year if your lucky!
comment by ddublovah on Feb 2, 2013 9:44 AM ()
haha your right
reply by ddublovah on Feb 7, 2013 6:26 PM ()
They want to be sure you buy each new version.
reply by steve on Feb 2, 2013 2:41 PM ()

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