Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Going Viral > Baba Recommends

Before Smartphones, These Home Items Kept Us Busy

Edited By: Bhavesh B.

Add to Favorites In Favorites

Español

Font Size:

A+ A-

Life at home looked very different before the 1980s. Without smartphones or digital conveniences, homes were filled with clever items that made everyday tasks easier or added a touch of modernity to the time. These were the gadgets and tools that people swore by, whether for entertainment, communication, or practicality.

Some were charmingly simple, while others were impressively innovative for their time. Let’s revisit a few of these household staples that once defined an era. They may seem laughable now, but many of them paved the way for the modern technology we enjoy today.

1. Intercom systems were a common feature in many pre-1980s homes. They didn’t just allow room-to-room communication but could also play AM and FM radio across the house, adding a touch of convenience and entertainment to everyday life.

2. This handy flip-style gadget made storing and finding addresses easy. Instead of scrolling on a phone, people flipped through letters to locate their contact details in seconds.

3. This handy remote-like device let people pause recordings on their VCRs to skip commercials. It was an early example of how people adapted tech to improve their viewing experience.

4. These giant televisions were the centerpiece of many living rooms. But to enjoy a clear view, you had to sit directly in front. They were perfect for a lucky kid who hooked up their Nintendo for gaming.

5. Before DVDs, VHS tapes needed rewinding after each use. Dedicated rewinders made this task quicker, protecting the VCR’s motor from wear and tear.

6. Before phones, reading material in the bathroom consisted of magazines or shampoo bottles. Magazine holders were a bathroom staple, keeping things organized and entertaining.

7. This large, corded telephone plugged into the cigarette lighter. While not exactly portable, it brought a futuristic vibe to cars and was a status symbol for the time.

8. These magazines were the go-to resource for planning TV time. They listed upcoming shows and times, ensuring you never missed your favorites.

Related: 11 Useful Vintage and Antique Items That Resist Time

9. These nifty gadgets helped extend your phone cord by up to 100 feet, allowing you to roam freely around the house during a call. Once done, you simply rewound the cord into its reel.

10. This quirky accessory let people multitask while talking on corded phones. It was a clever way to keep your hands free.

11. These machines made an imprint of a card on paper receipts before digital readers existed. They were reliable tools for early credit card transactions.

12. These attachable cubes gave cameras a bright flash for photos. After use, they fell out hot, requiring care when handling to avoid burns.

13. This toy allowed kids to view 3D images by inserting circular reels. It was an entertaining way to explore photos of animals, cities, or fictional stories.

Source

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Travel

15 Nostalgic Glimpses of 1970s Airplane Life

What Flying Economy Looked Like in the 1970s - 15 Photos

These photos take us back to an era when flying was an event worth dressing up for.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

13 Surprising Things That Can Actually Expire

13 Household Items You Never Knew Had an Expiry Date

Take note. These common household products do go bad.

Design & Photography

Nostalgic Glimpses from the '70s in 14 Amazing Pics

These Pictures Perfectly Capture the Magic of the 1970s

Time for some good old ‘70s nostalgia…

Baba Recommends

These School Scenes from the 1950s Will Make You Nostalgic

14 Charming Photos of Schools from Back in the 1950s

Peek inside 1950s classrooms with these charming photos.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

10 Smart Spring Cleaning Tips to Refresh Your Home

Read or Listen: Our Tips for Spring Cleaning Success!

Whether you're tackling one room at a time or doing a whole-house reset, these ten practical spring cleaning tips will help you make your space feel brand new.

Baba Recommends

Enhance Your Home’s Health by Doing Away With These Things

8:04

18 Things in Your Home You Need to Get Rid of Immediately

There are many things in your house that we really shouldn't be using. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

28 Low Shedding Dogs That are Also Hypoallergenic

28 Best Low Shedding Dogs That Are Also Hypoallergenic

These low-shedding, hypoallergenic dogs can make life easier for allergy sufferers and anyone who'd prefer less pet hair around the house.

Art

André Rieu & Michel Tirabosco: Across the Stars

7:39

The Emotional Punch of a Special André Rieu Performance

Together with André Rieu's orchestra, the two performed a beautiful and moving classical arrangement of "Across the Stars", the piece composed by John Williams for the Star Wars films.

Send Comment

Related Topics: house, old-school, household items, household objects, nostalgic photos, vintage inventions, vintage things

Quizzes

The Women Who Changed History

From Nobel Prize winners to Olympic champions, from revolutionary artists to tech innovators - let's see how well you know these extraordinary female trailblazers.