True or Hoax - You Decide


So here you have it - a complex looking machine used to collect data in order to to select the perfect car cushion. Surely not? Could this be another Photo Shopped hoax? On balance I think its genuine. But what do you think?

If you check back to my 23 April post you'll see another example a bit like this which did turn out to be a hoax. The RAND corporation home computer.

A final question. Why on earth is the driver wearing a hat? presumably she is inside a lab of some kind. Perhaps its just a fashion statement.

Kitchen HiFi

This woman is obviously incredibly proud of her new-fangled, portable music machine. So proud that it is a wonder she managed to prepare the substancial meal she is carrying.

I love these homely US Ads from around the 1950s. All 'God, Motherhood and Apple Pie'. I'm also fascinated by the progression of music players from the horned gramophone to the Ipod.


Talking of horned gramophones, I just happen to have a picture of one. I apologise that the lady demonstrating it is only partly clothed. Perhaps she plans to listen to some music while getting ready for bed.

Incredible that these machines are purely mechanical. The clockwork motor turns the disk and the needle in the grove vibrates reproducing the sound. The horn applifies the sound so it was clearly audible. With not an amplifer or any electricity in sight. Beautiful isn't it?

The lady in the picture? Aria Giovanni wasn't born until 1977 in Long Beach California. She obviously gets her underwear from a charity shop along with the record player and her 78 records.

These Damn Metal Suits Are Turning Our Hair Purple!

Here is a shot from UFO, a UK TV series created by Gerry and Silvia Anderson in 1970.

UFO was the Andersons' first TV series with human actors instead of puppets. Maybe that was why the acting was sometimes a little wooden?

This series was deliberately targeted at an older audience; many episodes featured adult themes such as adultery, divorce, and drug use. In all, 26 episodes were filmed over the course of more than a year.

I love the technology. Those wonderful flick-switches in a range of primary colours - a bit like lego bricks. And of course the tight silver jump-suits knitted from wire with the purple bobbed hair.

My, those silver panties look jolly uncomfortable but you just can't beat that 1970's style, can you?

Bombs Away!














This modern image has a nostalgic US/World War II feel to it.

Incidentally I just learnt something new. You know the idea that around 20% of people do 80% of the work in a voluntary organisation? You can apply this rule of thumb to all kinds of situations. Well I discovered today, via the HubPages forums, that it has a name, The Pareto Principle.

It is also known as the 80-20 Rule. 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. It is named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who observed that 80% of income in Italy went to 20% of the population. It is also a common rule of thumb in business; e.g., "80% of your sales comes from 20% of your clients."

Which has nothing much to do with a gorgeous woman draped across the hood of a WW2 Jeep.

Talking of HubPages, why not check out my HubPages?

RAND Corporation Prediction?


On the face of it the following picture from the 1950s shows what the RAND Corporation thought a home computer might look like 50 years on, in 2004. But all is not quite as it seems. There is something not quite right about it. Surely you couldn't fit all that into the average home? And that wheel looks slightly fishy?

Check out the following article on snopes.com to find out the truth. It just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you read or see. Particularly in the Photoshop era!

Hair Today (Gone Tomorrow)


Moving on from the previous post about records, here is the original cover of 'Hair!'. This amuses me because you'd think a musical called Hair would demand an unusually high standard of hairdressing.

But no. The girl show here looks like she had the ultimate bad hair day. She appears to have been sleeping rough for some days.

If you like fashion disasters like this then check out the following: Weird Glamour Link

Vinyl and Stocking Tops


Who remembers those happy days when music came on vinyl discs? Or if you are really old, 78 rpm bakelite discs which smashed when you dropped them?

Funny to think how many generations of sound recording there are:

  • Wax Cylinders
  • 78 rpm discs
  • Vinyl discs (45 rpm and LPs 33 rpm)
  • Reel to reel tape
  • Cassette Tape
  • CDs
  • and now MP3 downloads
So music playback technology has arguably improved immeasurably over the last 100 years. But then would you rather listen to your music alone on an Ipod or share the experience (via scratchy records) with the young lady above? Call me old fashioned but...

Retro Coffee


If you like Retro Coffee machines then here is something to really roast your beans. Talking of Coffee, if you live in the UK, you may remember a highly successful set of soap-like TV Ads for Nestcafe Gold Blend. They featured Antony Head as the male lead (well known to Buffy fans).

Inspired by the idea that the British found instant coffee romantic and sexy, I published a ‘tongue in cheek’ serial in a specialist computer magazine, based on a product called 'Cheapsavers' Gold. Unfortunately, the publishers pulled the plug after 2 episodes (serials and romantic fiction were not really where the magazine was at).

If you want to see the original Ads (video) or follow the serial beyond the two episodes, Click here to read Coffee! - The serial.


Abba and Baking Foil


This is the ultimate lowtech PR. Abba clad only in aluminium foil. An indication of what a 'hot' band they once were.

This is ultimate weird glamour. If this is your bag then check out the following: Weird Glamour Link

Here you'll find even more bizarre fashion statements from the likes of Jane Fonda to David 'Baywatch' Haselhoff - Enjoy!

Mobile Phones?


I remember when we moved into our new house some 20 years ago and one of our neighbours bought his 'mobile' around because he was expecting a call. It was a massive box with a telephone handpiece attached - intended to fit inside a car. He left it lying around ostentatiously. I'd never seen a 'mobile' before and was secretly impressed.

This one is tiny in comparison. I love the 80's movies with early mobiles. The relative size of the box instantly dates the movie!

Incidentally I love HubPages. If you want to find out how to write your own Hubs for free (and make some money) check out the following: Beginners guide to HubPages

About Me

My photo
I’m an Engineer and Training Analyst who has given up full time work to pursue my own interests. Part of my strategy to manage my income, in these days of UK pension freedoms, has been to move into Peer to Peer Lending. I’ve therefore created a blog to share my experiences, good and bad, of this exciting and lucrative new industry.