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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Community => Topic started by: Highmac on July 29, 2008, 12:46:49 PM

Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: Highmac on July 29, 2008, 12:46:49 PM
Kris's post about cassettes being on the way out jogged my memory about this article on how Brits hoard old technology in their loft (roof space). I'd thought I was the only one.

I finally succumbed recently to exhortations from the domestic manager to get rid of an Atari ST plus its HD, floppy drive, two monitors, games, software, magazines, cover disks, shareware disks and sundry other bits and pieces. Found the Atari forum - yep, it's still going! - and gave the lot to a fanatic who takes them home, dismantles them, soaks the cases in the bath to clean them, reassembles them and then (according to her website) puts them away. Apparently she writes software for microcontrollers but, she says, they are not modular but have evolved  Thinking.gif ... It's all WAY over my head! But if you ARE into old technology check out her links.

For me, that still leaves a reel-to-reel recorder (Tandberg - Norwegian), DVD player, a couple of VHS video recorders, various speakers, a 1970s stereo tuner/amp and... can't actually remember what else!

So what old technology can you not bring yourself to throw out or maybe are still using?
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: gunug on July 29, 2008, 03:25:39 PM
For awhile over on our side of the pond there were all these little home based people doing exactly what you were talking about except they cleaned them up and resold them.  I've got practically every computer I've ever owned (CP/M systems with 8" floppy drives, Kaypro's) but I'm going to try to sell some of them at a community-wide yard sale we are having next month.  I'm afraid I'm a computer hoarder and I even would have bought your Atari system!  wink.gif
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: Paddy on July 29, 2008, 10:53:58 PM
Moving a few hundred or few thousand miles often cures this. Moving to a house with no attic and a finished basement (no hidey holes!) definitely helps as well. wink.gif

My husband finally bid adieu to his VIC20 when we moved back to Toronto. I've been pretty good about divesting us of old Macs - usually we pass them on to someone when they go "out of service" in our house.
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: Gregg on July 30, 2008, 07:22:35 AM
Many of the houses being built here these days have an access "hole" to the attic, but you really can't move around up there. There's so much insulation, and not much headroom. Our "loft" is above part of the garage, but the old technology lives in the partially finished basement.
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: kimmer on July 30, 2008, 01:06:28 PM
QUOTE(Paddy @ Jul 29 2008, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Moving a few hundred or few thousand miles often cures this.

Yeah, sure does. biggrin.gif We got rid of a stereo that played LP's and cassettes plus all the records and cassettes; also got rid of our laser disc player (now I wish we'd kept it and the laser discs). We gave away our original Nintendo (sigh), but I kept the slightly newer one. Don't have anywhere to hook it up right now, but I have it in a box. laugh.gif

Loft? Isn't that what you find in a cabin? hehehe

Our builder gave us an open storage area in the garage (and that's where you'll find our luggage which I *could* have used last week -- but I can't climb up there and neither can Mac ... sigh). We also have a finished area in the attic, with the access via the garage. Also a place neither of us can get to. biggrin.gif  But Daniel can and we had him store our family dishes and stuff up there. Don't have a place to store them in the house, and don't really want to mess with using them, but can't part with them either. HAHAHA
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: krissel on July 30, 2008, 11:34:02 PM
I have a microwave oven that still works from 1983. (yes, I know it may be leaking so I leave the room when it's on). Also a stereo cassette/turntable/AM/FM from the early 70's that works, though I sometimes have to give the turntable a little push to get it going.
And a rotary dial phone hooked up in the basement... rolleyes.gif

My parents' house is a treasure trove of old stuff.  They have an old Magnavox game player that was probably used all of 6 hours. And digging through some boxes recently I came up with a brand new Sony Walkman, date unknown. Tons of other stuff yet to be discovered...

Then there is the old Remington portable typewriter...  smile.gif
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: Gregg on July 31, 2008, 07:07:46 AM
We have a black and white TV with it's own built-in antenna that we got in 1978 that still works! Yes, we use it... in the basement for something to watch/listen to while exercising. It was our full time TV for about 10 years. It will be retired before next February. sad.gif
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: gunug on July 31, 2008, 08:00:06 AM
Oh, go ahead and buy a HD Converter box for it!  Or, you can do what the local art gallery did and paint over the screen with silver paint and scratch words and patterns in the paint, turn on the TV and tune it to static. . .very nice visual effect!
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: Gregg on July 31, 2008, 06:38:01 PM
I have a digital converter box already. But, remember, I said the TV is 30 years old and has its own built-in antenna. In other words, the rabbit has only one ear.

The converter box comes with wonderful co-axial and RCA cables. I don't think it will work if I just lay the other ends down on the old TV. I think they have to be plugged in somewhere.

There isn't even a way to hook up to an external antenna. It's a self-contained unit, so to speak.
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: gunug on August 02, 2008, 06:54:26 PM
I saw something once that used desoldering braid soldered to an antenna to hook it to coaxial cable but I don't image it worked well!
Title: Old technology survives - it's in the loft
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 02, 2008, 07:17:40 PM
QUOTE
Loft? Isn't that what you find in a cabin?
No! A loft is where I used to fly! laugh.gif Groaner.gif