Author Topic: Man-made items that are no longer around, but you wish they were (Read 6274 times)

soxfan · « **on:** May 30, 2018, 03:09:19 am »

Thought this might make an interesting thread.

Rules:
1. Had to be man-made (so no talk about extinct mastodons or dinosaurs)
2. Has to not exist at all anymore, or is now far less common that some other item that has replaced it

soxfan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2018, 03:20:39 am »

So I've got two from cars.

First is the vent window. For someone younger who never drove a car with these, you might not understand the fuss. But it allowed you another method of getting airflow into the passenger compartment, and it could be directed however you wanted based how the angle of how you opened it. Came in really handy in some situations. I wonder if some sort of safety regulation prevents these now? Is there a car that still has them? I'm struggling to remember the exact year they finally phased out.

The other could fit in the "small things that annoy" thread: touchscreens in cars. I LOVE touchscreens outside of my driving. But when I'm in the car, you constantly have to take you eye off the road to change the temperature, radio station etc. because you can't feel for a button or knob. With older cars you just run your hand across the dash and feel for the 4th button on the stereo to choose your favorite station. Or turn the knob three clicks to warm the car up. Now you have to go through menus on a damn screen all the time. It's not an improvement. Yes I'm old.

vivabobbygraham · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2018, 05:59:35 am »

ChaChaMooMoo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2018, 09:54:47 am »

Quote from: soxfan on May 30, 2018, 03:20:39 am

First is the vent window. For someone younger who never drove a car with these, you might not understand the fuss. But it allowed you another method of getting airflow into the passenger compartment, and it could be directed however you wanted based how the angle of how you opened it. Came in really handy in some situations. I wonder if some sort of safety regulation prevents these now? Is there a car that still has them? I'm struggling to remember the exact year they finally phased out.

As a Passive safety simulation engineer, I think I can answer this. This "wing" windows were removed as a result of a combination of the following factors.

1. Safety. The pillars that hold the windshield glass has to bear a major brunt in case of a head-on collision. So anything "glass" connected to it, will also shatter into a million shards, which creates a major problem for the occupant sitting inside.

2. Air conditioning. The older cars weren't packaged with air conditioning that made the insides swell into the upper 70° or lower to mid 80° Celsius in peak summer when the glasses were all risen up. So as a way to create air circulation inside during the motion, these wing windows did quite the handsome job. But modern cars don't have the need for that. Their air conditioning systems (whilst being tiny bit environment unfriendly), are more efficient than what these windows have to offer.

3. Packaging. The modern dashboard acts as a layer of insulation between the body and the occupant. There will be a mile distance between where the occupant is seated to reach and grab the window. But having the window there the first place creates problems as mentioned in #1.

CHOPPER · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2018, 10:26:15 am »

Elvis

The Yanky Bar

Mark Walters · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2018, 03:18:55 pm »

Coconut Boost and banana flavoured Corona!

Sir Capon of Debaser · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2018, 03:25:16 pm »

Wagon Wheelz crisps

Danny Boys Dad · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2018, 03:51:57 pm »

Hovercraft and Concorde

Lfsea · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2018, 03:52:25 pm »

Shackles

So… Howard Philips · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2018, 04:59:17 pm »

Proper Ben Sherman's made fron top quality cotton with a button on the back of the collar band and a pleat and small hook like fabric twist on the back of the shirt.

Modern Ben Sherman's are regurgitated shite.

soxfan · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2018, 06:20:19 pm »

Quote from: Danny Boys Dad on May 30, 2018, 03:51:57 pm

Hovercraft and Concorde

Ooh, that's a good one.

Zeppelins. Before my time obviously, but it was fairly common to see those big airships in mid-century. Obviously had problems. They still exist and are safer now. I wonder if they will ever become more commonpace again for leisurely tourist travel?

And when are we landing on the moon again? I was six and remember watching the first moonwalk. There were several more in the next few years. If you had told us then that in 2018 there would be 45 year old people that never were alive during moon landings, we'd have thought you were crazy. We all thought we'd be on Mars by now and that there would be a heavily populated space station.

Big Red Richie · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2018, 07:42:41 pm »

Rotary dial telephones.

Still see them once in a blue moon, but very few and far between these days.

I love that sound they made, as the dial rotates back to the starting position.

Or the pips, in a public pay phone, as you try and squeeze another coin into the slot.

Mr Grieves · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2018, 07:46:25 pm »

The standing Kop

Big Red Richie · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2018, 07:48:58 pm »

Quote from: Mr Grieves on May 30, 2018, 07:46:25 pm

The standing Kop

Close thread.

Riquende · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2018, 07:55:55 pm »

80s supercars.

Spoiler

[close]

Really hate the modern 'hypercar' aesthetics.

rob1966 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 30, 2018, 09:04:05 pm »

Quote from: Riquende on May 30, 2018, 07:55:55 pm

80s supercars.

Spoiler

[close]

Really hate the modern 'hypercar' aesthetics.

If I ever win the lottery, im getting one of those.

QR350 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2018, 10:24:48 pm »

Sony Walkman. Used to love looking at them in Argos catalogues

Red Beret · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2018, 10:34:31 pm »

Quote from: QR350 on May 30, 2018, 10:24:48 pm

Sony Walkman. Used to love looking at them in Argos catalogues

Not a Sony but I just put this little beauty up for sale at Red Brick Vintage. Battery cover is missing and the foam on the headphones had fallen off but she still works and she's still loud. Had it 28 years - it's what gave me my tinnitus.

Lotus Eater · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2018, 12:14:06 am »

The sun dial

Makes us connect to the inter stellar world

WillG.LFC · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2018, 07:32:58 am »

Those buckets of mini hula hoops

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2018, 08:23:06 am »

Quote from: QR350 on May 30, 2018, 10:24:48 pm

Sony Walkman. Used to love looking at them in Argos catalogues

The Walkman Sports, bright yellow and "waterproof".

Geppvindh's · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2018, 10:03:05 am »

Mix tapes, encyclopedias and dictionaries, not fully gone but nearly

Nitramdorf · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2018, 12:11:25 pm »

Not quite gone but I guess they will be one day is that thrill I get when i hear a Spitfire or the Lancaster fly over. I live near Southampton Airport so get to see them a few times a year. Just hearing that Merlin engine brings me out in goosebumps and I end up running through my house front to back garden like a lunatic.

thekitkatshuffler · « **Reply #23 on:** May 31, 2018, 01:22:28 pm »

Joan Rivers.

The Bournemouth Red · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2018, 01:41:05 pm »

Hours of fun with one of these bad boys!

rob1966 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 31, 2018, 02:01:04 pm »

Quote from: Nitramdorf on May 31, 2018, 12:11:25 pm

Not quite gone but I guess they will be one day is that thrill I get when i hear a Spitfire or the Lancaster fly over. I live near Southampton Airport so get to see them a few times a year. Just hearing that Merlin engine brings me out in goosebumps and I end up running through my house front to back garden like a lunatic.

Lucky sod.

The eventual banning of the internal combustion engine will probably what does for them - Spitfires are easy to maintain and so should be able to be kept airworthy.

The Vulcan bomber - love the sound and sight of them.

BlackandWhitePaul · « **Reply #26 on:** May 31, 2018, 03:24:07 pm »

Ships, built on the Tyne.

We built the best ships in the world, bar none.

soxfan · « **Reply #27 on:** May 31, 2018, 04:14:16 pm »

Hidden headlights.

Alan_X · « **Reply #28 on:** May 31, 2018, 04:17:23 pm »

Quote from: Danny Boys Dad on May 30, 2018, 03:51:57 pm

Hovercraft and Concorde

Quote from: Nitramdorf on May 31, 2018, 12:11:25 pm

Not quite gone but I guess they will be one day is that thrill I get when i hear a Spitfire or the Lancaster fly over. I live near Southampton Airport so get to see them a few times a year. Just hearing that Merlin engine brings me out in goosebumps and I end up running through my house front to back garden like a lunatic.

Quote from: rob1966 on May 31, 2018, 02:01:04 pm

Lucky sod.

The eventual banning of the internal combustion engine will probably what does for them - Spitfires are easy to maintain and so should be able to be kept airworthy.

The Vulcan bomber - love the sound and sight of them.

The sound of Concorde taking off from Heathrow. It was an amazing sight and sound.

Last take off from JFK

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Q7Ko2VoKcZI?fs=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Q7Ko2VoKcZI?fs=1</a>

rob1966 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 31, 2018, 09:31:34 pm »

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/xJlsDiC9TBI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/xJlsDiC9TBI</a>

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #30 on:** May 31, 2018, 11:22:28 pm »

Quote from: rob1966 on May 31, 2018, 09:31:34 pm

Don't know if you ever do a looksee on PPrune, but some great stories regarding Vulcans amongst others from back then.

One in here here regarding Avro's finest..

The AvgasDinosaur
19th May 2006, 10:08
I'm enjoying this thread and would like to contribute albeit 2nd hand. I have a friend of long standing ex Vulcan QFI and 53 squadron Belfast who was with the Vulcans at Red flag. He was nominated not to fly on this particular press day and therefore elected RAF spokesman to a national American TV channel. They had 3 tv crews situated along side the runway. Loosely "Start end" "Mid point" and "stop end". Much attention was focused on the B-52s Being passed from one camera to the next as they departed for the excercise, finally getting airborn more due to the curvature of the earth rather than a triumph of thrust over drag+gravity. Cue Avros finest much roaring and smoke on camera 1, then just before camera 2 on its tail and :mad: off like a homesick angel leaving cameras 2 and 3 scouring the sky!!!:D Much wailing and gnashing of teeth:ugh: by the luviee types at the comentary position, somewhere in american tv archives is my mate Ice cool as ever " Of course we always fly these excercises at maximum take off weight in order to be realistic" Priceless I wish I could have been there.
Be lucky
David

I do remember being absolutely fascinated as a teenager in the late 60's by the occasional sight of a Vulcan, totally silent and with no vapour trail, must have been up near FL55 or so but way above everything else commercial and just a barely visible tiny white triangle in the sky, passing over Ainsdale on the way to who knows where out over the Irish sea.

Saw the occasional Victor too, my favourite V and like something from Dan Dare, doing low level circuits around Woodvale usually very early in the morning in '70.
The short lived PR versions with slightly extended wingtips allegedly went up to FL68 causing all kinds of commotion with US ATC when entering US airspace.

The Gulleysucker · « **Reply #31 on:** May 31, 2018, 11:34:46 pm »

But on the subject of things that would be interesting if they were still around, perhaps if all houses were all equipped with Trebuchet's, we would be in interesting times...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/0O40Radaizk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/0O40Radaizk</a>

I sometimes wish I was able to deliver my recycling bins that way

It's the fling...

soxfan · « **Reply #32 on:** June 1, 2018, 01:51:33 am »

"The classic metal lunchbox era came to an end with concerns (among parents and lawmakers) that pieces of metal could be used as weapons at schools, Woodall said. He said most collectors cite 1985's Sylvester Stallone "Rambo" model (which he has on display at his museum) as the last metal box made for children."

Geppvindh's · « **Reply #33 on:** June 1, 2018, 07:44:55 am »

TV video game cassettes from the 90s. The 9999999 in 1 cassettes that never really had so many games on them anyway. Contra, Super Mario, Tanks, Excite Bike, Bomberman, Adventure Island, Road Fighter.

Sir Capon of Debaser · « **Reply #34 on:** June 14, 2018, 09:28:17 pm »

Quote from: QR350 on May 30, 2018, 10:24:48 pm

Sony Walkman. Used to love looking at them in Argos catalogues

Quote from: The Bournemouth Red on May 31, 2018, 08:23:06 am

The Walkman Sports, bright yellow and "waterproof".

Still got mine from christmas when i was 12(30 years ago).Deee Lite,De La Soul,Public Enemy got battered on that amongst others

Heres mine,next to my vinyl walkman of which i have 2 of.I present the ''SOUND BURGER''

Tesco tearaway · « **Reply #35 on:** June 14, 2018, 10:43:31 pm »

Quote from: Capon Debaser on June 14, 2018, 09:28:17 pm

Still got mine from christmas when i was 12(30 years ago).Deee Lite,De La Soul,Public Enemy got battered on that amongst others

Heres mine,next to my vinyl walkman of which i have 2 of.I present the ''SOUND BURGER''

Walkman

Your notes wrong mate...
Should read "Capon is a funny twat."

electricghost · « **Reply #36 on:** June 16, 2018, 09:03:19 pm »

The top corner stanchion, no longer any chance of goals like these

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Tf5aLJLP-vw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Tf5aLJLP-vw</a>

Willi · « **Reply #37 on:** June 16, 2018, 11:19:15 pm »

I saw the first Concorde takeoff in England (The first was in France), standing on a hill at the end of the runway at Filton, Bristol. Watched it turn over the Bristol Channel.
And everyone sang 'God save the Queen'.

RedBootsTommySmith · « **Reply #38 on:** June 17, 2018, 07:42:05 pm »

Ever use one of these? Batteries not included.

So… Howard Philips · « **Reply #39 on:** June 17, 2018, 08:04:18 pm »

Quote from: RedBootsTommySmith on June 17, 2018, 07:42:05 pm

Ever use one of these? Batteries not included.

My dad was an engineer and had one. If I'd been bright enough and reached the 6th form science stream I'd probably have used one.

As it was I didn't make the 6th form so had to make do with log tables.

The wonders of the sixties, no calculators.