Bruno Pugh
As time passes, the newest technological advancements replace gadgets that are all the rage. However, this doesn’t mean the older ones lose their value. Beyond memories and nostalgia, these devices can be used and enjoyed. In this list, we argue for and against keeping some of them!
Typewriters: Keep
Mechanical typewriters may just be “stressful keyboards” to young people, but to some oldies, there’s more. There’s a particular joy to writing that comes from clacking those keys, that modern keyboards tend to mute. Also, the durability of these machines is untouched by their modern replacement.
Vinyl Record Players: Keep
Many will argue that vinyl sounds better compared to streaming, which is convenient enough. While the rise of new ways of accessing music may cause vinyl to be dumped, the fact that it is still being bought by consumers in large quantities points to its relevance up to date.
Polaroid Cameras: Keep
One of the most exciting moments in photography history was the invention of instant cameras, pioneered by Polaroid Corporation. They could deliver a picture to you minutes after taking it. Smartphones and digital cameras may be more modern, but can we see them print a picture by themselves?
Rotary Phones: Keep
Though they’re antiques, rotary phones make a thoughtful addition to any contemporary home. Tapping numbers on the screen of smartphones is easier than rotating on these devices. However, we can’t deny it’s fun to use them occasionally, giving an ancient feel.
Pocket Watches: Keep
Back then, you wouldn’t be the perfect gentleman if you didn’t have a pocket watch. Wristwatches are the showrunners now. However, these watches do not evoke the same mood as a pocket watch when sighted. Many of them were artistically designed and remain resellable to collectors.
Vintage Radios: Keep
These pieces carry priceless nostalgia. Radios had their moments, and we would turn to them for news and music or to listen to sports and drama—audio-only. Then came a phase when phones had radios, and many felt that having a giant box for the same purpose wasn’t necessary.
Mechanical Clocks: Keep
Some people view grandfather, wall, and mantle clocks as art pieces rather than timepieces. They’ll tap their phone screen twice, But when they look at the wall and see some well-thought-out design, they know their investment in the aesthetic of their interior has paid off.
Early Video Game Consoles: Keep
If you’re holding onto a rare edition, you may just be sitting on a good amount of money. For many gamers and collectors, these consoles are still appealing. They are like trophies of a connection with the birth of gaming. It indeed reminds people of their childhood.
Hand-Crank Coffee Grinders: Keep
These grinders are functional as well as decorative! Anyone who still loves to grind their coffee by themselves will appreciate it, as it can be a good hand exercise in the morning. The best part is that it gives you control over the grind size.
Slide Projectors: Keep
Before, when you wanted your loved ones to view pictures together, you’d just whip out a slide projector and do the needful. People don’t even look at pictures together these days—they’ll just click share. However, these projectors run to the rescue when there’s a big screen requirement.
CRT Televisions: Avoid
Seeing a Cathode Ray Tube television brings back some memories, but keeping and using one may be problematic. This is mainly because they are bulky and provide inferior picture quality compared to today’s flat-screen TVs. They also consume more energy and are impossible to repair.
Floppy Disk Drives: Avoid
If you examine your laptop, you won’t find a place for floppy disks. Memory cards and hard drives store more information more effectively. Given their size, floppy disks appeared to have a limited capacity. Typically, they could hold between 100 KB and 1.44 MB of data, which isn’t a great deal.
VHS Players: Avoid
A VHS player can be pretty fun to own and use. However, DVD players and digital streaming have proven more efficient. The former requires a smaller disc, and the latter demands only an internet connection. VHS Tapes also decline over time, making them harder to enjoy.
Cassette Decks: Avoid
What VHS was to videos, cassette decks were to audio. Therefore, they have similar drawbacks. Even though cassettes are more miniature than DVD players, they still have a role. Streaming services, however, appear to have replaced them.
Pagers: Avoid
Pagers or beepers are wireless communication devices. Some can only receive messages, while others can send as well. But who needs a pager these days when we have multiple easier ways to communicate? Hence, keeping one may not give you as much practicality as other vintage items.