Retro Gifts

From Radios to Record Players, this Christmas old fashioned gifts may be your best bet.  Here are some decidedly retro gift ideas:

Five Retro Gift Ideas

A Retro-Style Watch from Fossil

This watch from Fossil has all the retro goodness of a classic watch from the 60s or 70s in a modern quartz package and dial size.  It's a nice solid watch with a classic look and simple style.  You can read more about it in this review:

Wristwatch Review:  Fossil Men's Ansel Vintage-style Quartz Watch with Stainless Steel Band

If you'd like to learn more, this link will take you directly to the watch on the Fossil.com site!

Old School Clock Radio - GE Clock Radio 7-4620D

Sometimes if you want something to work well, you have to do it the old school way.  Last weekend, I found the perfect clock radio.  If you've ever been confused and befuddled by the myriad of buttons on a modern alarm clock, you'll love this radio. It's a GE Clock Radio Model 7-4620D.  It has an LED time display and very simple controls. I suspect it was made in the late 70s or early 80s.  Here it is on the nightstand among my alarm clocks.

It looks simple and it is simple.  The controls on top of this GE clock are super easy to understand.

 
But, it also has a few old school features.  For example, it has a heavy old school speaker that puts out some decent sound and more importantly some loud sound.  You can tune the radio and control the volume here.

 

As long as the power doesn't go out, you won't sleep through anything with this clock radio.  Plus, you won't find teak grain finish on polystyrene like this anywhere!  

If you gotta go with more modern technology inside, here you go . . .but my clock radio was only $5.

Vintage GE Radio

The newest addition to my cube is a vintage radio from General Electric. It was only $2 at a thrift store.

Vintage GE Radio

However, with earplugs, it's a great way to listen to talk radio, music, and get traffic reports at work.  The radio is a survivor from the mid-1970s, but it still works well.  The antenna seems to have been replaced and I don't get every channel.  But, radios often don't work well in modern office building.  For an updated radio alternative, check out this attractive Sony radio -

Retro Toasters

Do you remember cool Toasters from the kitchen's of the 70s?  I did.  Or, I thought I did.  I found these really cool Toasters in a thrift store.  One was an old Proctor-Silex and the other was a Toastmaster toaster. I thought I'd buy them and sell them or use them.  However, there was one thing I didn't remember:  old toasters can get pretty funky.  I plugged one in to test it and it started smoking almost immediately.  It smelled of burnt toast and worse.  I just shut it off and walked away.

Retro Toasters

 If you want a toaster that works and that doesn't smoke, you are probably better off getting a nice new toaster from a reputable store like Kohls!  A good toaster will last for a long time and set the tone for your kitchen.

Ikea Pod Chair

Nothing could be more retro than a pod chair!  It seems to have been a popular style during the 70s.  Last weekend, we saw an interesting looking pod chair called Skruvsta at Ikea.  It's got the whole retro mod look going for it.  It comes in at about $150.

At a higher price point, here's another funky looking Pod Chair from Wayfair.com:




Here is an affordable leopard print chair called the "Mod Pod FX" from Sam's Club.  I don't really see it as a Pod Chair though . . .

Retro Garage: Remembering the Chrysler K - Cars!

They weren't fast.  They weren't sporty.  But, they were reliable, economical, cars with lots of room for a family.  If you grew up in the 80s, there's a good chance that you may have been carted around in the Chrysler K - Car.  The now defunct Plymouth brand offered the Reliant and Dodge had the Aries.  Our family had the 1985 Dodge Aries.  It was actually a very nice looking car as the styling was somewhat like a Mercedes of the day.  Of course, the engine immediately let you know that it wasn't an enthusiast car.  To read a complete review, check out - Retro Car Review:  the 1985 Dodge Aries K-Car

By IFCAR (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Mercedes-Style Tail Lights:  By Bull-Doser (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Retro Garage: Remembering the 1990 Dodge Shadow

My first new car--actually my only new car--was a 1990 Dodge Shadow.  It looked good and had a spacious interior.  Mine was white, like the car below, but I had graphics on the side, alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler.

By IFCAR (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

If I would have had a sport engine package, my car would have looked much like this one.  However, with the standard 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder, engine I didn't get a raised hood.

By Karrmann (self made photo) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

While cars have evolved over the last 22 years, I think the design of this Dodge Shadow still looks great.  However, I may be the only one who feels that way.  If you'd like to read a complete review, check out my article:

Retro Car Review:  the 1990 Dodge Shadow

Our SUV has a Secret . . . it's a station wagon!

I've finally come to grips with something about our SUV.  It's a Toyota Highlander and it's just not that macho.  In fact, after careful thought, I'm pretty sure that our SUV is actually a station wagon.  If you don't believe me, check out this picture of an AMC Matador and a Toyota Highlander side by side.

Not convinced?  Check out my article:

Our SUV is Secretly a Station Wagon

When it comes to Retro, what goes around comes around.  We have lots of seventies-style station wagons among us every day.

I hate the Rubik's Cube

Many people fondly remember the Rubik's Cube.  I'm not one of them.  I hate the Rubik's Cube.  I never could solve it.  I never learned any pattern to solve it.  I never had the patience to solve it.  But, it was the in thing for a short time in the 80s.  If you have the patience and you think you are up for the challenge, I saw a Rubik's Cube in my local RiteAid drug store for $15.99.  Just keep it out of my face . . .

By Kleiner (Rubik's_cube.svg) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Retro Garage: Remembering the 1980 Chevy Citation

My family's first car of the 1980s was the Chevy Citation.  It was an innovative car that received a lot of criticism for being subject to 13 recalls.  However, it was a good performer with lots of interior space, front wheel drive, and a peppy transverse-mounted V-6 engine.  As a teen driver, I put the Citation through its paces and performed every maneuver seen on "The Dukes of Hazzard."  For a full review, check out my article:

Retro Car Review:  the 1980 Chevrolet Citation

This was the Citation X11 Sport Coupe.  We had a notchback couple with this body style.  But, it wasn't officially a sports coupe.  Photo by Uniquesweetguy at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

By dave_7 (originally posted to Flickr as Chevrolet Citation) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

It's been years now since I've seen a Chevrolet Citation on the road.  Those that are out there have seen better days, but it was the predecessor of legions of front wheel drive GM cars.  Maybe it was too much fun to the drive?

By Bull-Doser (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

My Favorite Childhood Game - Stratego

Can You Plot the Perfect Victory?
The gameboard is your battlefield.  You have an army of men and six bombs at your disposal.  Your mission:  Capture the opponent's flag and protect your own.  You and your opponent secretly place your men, bombs, and flag on the gameboard.  Once the armies are in place, advance your men.  When you're one space away from the enemy, attack.  You and your opponent declare ranks.  The lower-ranking man is captured -- and taken out of play.  Move with caution and courage.  The next piece you attack could be a bomb that will "blast" your man off the board!  The first to capture the flag is the winner!
(back cover copy:  Milton Bradley Stratego Board Game Box.)

This was my absolute favorite boardgame when I was in elementary school.  It was fun to line up an army, try to strengthen defenses around a flag, and advance across the battlefield.  It was an excellent game to start kids thinking and planning tactically and strategically.  It was only $3.  But, I left it for a kid to find.

By User François Haffner on fr.wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 If you'd like to buy this game, bang the picture below to check it out on Amazon:

Do Retro Work Outs Still Work?

Remember the great work out gurus of the 80s?  Did your mom watch Richard Simmons?  Did your family have Jane Fonda's workout tapes stacked by the VCR?

In this Shine! video, a professional trainer offers a review of the old work outs here:
Which Retro Workout Methods Stand the Test of Time

Remember the PDA?

Does anyone remember the PDA (Personal Data Assistant)?  They seem to have come and gone in a the blink of an eye.  Today, they have been completely replaced by Smart Phones.  But, once upon a time, the PDA was very cool.  I've still got a couple.  For example, I picked up the Sharp OZ-5500 Wizard Personal Information Organizer for $4 at a thrift store.  You can read a complete review here -

Retro Gadget Review:  The Sharp OZ-5500 Wizard Personal Information Organizer

Sharp Electronic Organizer

Thrift Store Find: A Fisher-Price Record Player

It was cool to have access to a record player as a kid.  Whether you were spinning a 45 of kid's music like "Puff the Magic Dragon" or using Dad's Victory at Sea soundtrack to  listening to spur your little green Army men onto victory, a record player was lots of fun.  I recently found this old Fisher-Price Record Player at Park Avenue Thrift in Marietta, Georgia, for only $3.

I opened it up, plugged it in, and played a random track from a Johnny Cash record pulled from the nearby bin of vinyl.  It still worked and it still sounded pretty good.  Since the store was getting ready to close, I turned it off and left it on the shelf.  There were plenty of kids records in that vinyl bin.  Hopefully, the record player would add to wonderful childhood memories for someone else.

Enjoying a Totally Free TV!

Remember when a television set was the coolest prize you could win?  Well, I sort of won a TV about a week ago.  I didn't actually enter a contest.  I just happened to get to the trash compactor at our apartment complex where I found it sitting by the curb waiting for a new owner.  It's a good-sized conventional cathode ray tube style Sony set.

Millions of Americans are kicking conventional televisions to the curb.  So, it's easy to scoop one up on any given weekend at almost any good-sized apartment complex.  You can also find them on Craigslist or for $20 or less at your local thrift store.

Once you've got your free TV, the fun can begin.  You can hook up video games, VCRs, an HD converter box and you can start enjoying your new to you TV set.  Here's an article with some great ways to enjoy your free TV:  How to Make the Most of a Free TV

The Jakk's Pacific Pacman Plug-n-Play Game Unit

If you are looking for an easy way to experience retro gaming, check out plug and play gaming units.  I have several.  One of my favorites is the Jakk's Pacific Pacman Game.  It has a lot of old arcade favorites and a few extra games that weren't quite as popular.  The games onboard include Bosconian,Xevious, Galaxian, Galaga, New Rally-X, Pac-Man, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pacman, Pacman & Pal, Mappy, Dig-Dug, and Pole Position.

For a full review, check out this article:  Retro Game System Review:  Jakk's Pacific Plug-n-Play Unit.

Retro Writing

Many potential writers fall into the trap of thinking they need some special equipment in order to start writing.  They think they need the latest printer, word processing software, and computer before they even write one word.  People think they need office supplies and a nice quiet place to contemplate, reflect, and compose stellar prose.  In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.  People have been writing for a long time.  You just need to capture your words somewhere and soon.  There are plenty of old school, even vintage, tools to help you write.  Here are a few examples:

Four Useful Retro Tools for Writers

Getting Clacking!

Tonight - "Dallas" premieres on TNT!

If you grew up in the 80s, you probably remember watching or your parents watching the night-time soap opera:  Dallas.  It was great to follow all the cut-throat business dealings, affairs, and other conflicts unfold every night.  The show also ushered in the big cliffhanger ending when the show ended a season with someone shooting oil-man and beloved villain J.R. Ewing which was played by Larry Hagman.

The show is now being revived by TNT.  Dallas will premiere two episodes tonight (June 13, 2012) and some of the original characters are returning to the small screen.  It promises to be great so don't forget to set your DVR! 

The Southfork Ranch (Home of the Ewings in Dallas) By Németh Dezső [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Summer Re-Runs Look Dismal? Send in the A-Team

It's a bad time for men to watch television. 24 is gone. The Shield is gone. The Walking Dead is busy making new shows. We are left with endless reality shows, celebrity shows, singing contest shows, dancing shows, TV shopping channels, cooking shows, and decorating shows. If you're a man, it's time to return to the 80s with The A-Team.

By A-Team_Van.jpg: Wonker Wonker from London, United Kingdom derivative work: Btr (A-Team_Van.jpg) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Fortunately, The A-Team is being re-run on the Centric cable television network in the early mornings (as of May 2012). It's a prime candidate to catch with your DVR. It's a chance to return to a pure, unadulterated, shoot 'em up show from the 80s. The show originally ran on NBC and was written and produced by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell. It had one of the best TV music themes and a cool title opening. The fictional premise is that a special forces A-Team was sent to military prison for a crime they didn't commit, escaped to the Los Angeles underground, and is available for hire for people who are in trouble and need their help.

The A-Team's crime was that they were ordered to take all the money from the Vietnamese central bank in the closing days of the Vietnam War. However, while they were off succeeding in their mission, their commanding general was killed, their headquarters was overrun and burned to the ground, and all records of their orders were lost. Consequently, they were arrested for robbing the bank. The premise is a set up for a fun show with lots of gratuitous cartoon-style violence.

As kids, my brother and I weren't allowed to watch The A-Team because of the violence. In retrospect, the A-Team may have been the least accurate shots in the history of television. Each show featured lots of automatic weapons fire and explosions with no on ever getting hit. The laughable violence of the A-Team is a relief after the relentless realistic crime scenes, autopsy scenes, and medical scenes of gruesome contemporary television shows like Law and Order: SVU, CSI: Miami, and House. After 9/11 and a decade of war, viewers generally know what realistic violence looks like and we know its consequences. However, if you are watching The A-Team with kids, you might want to take a few minutes for a quick gun safety lecture to explain how the show is unrealistic television. Since I didn't really watch the show as a kid, I love having an untapped fountain of 80s television shows at my disposal.

The cast of characters created for The A-Team are all television icons now - Hannibal, Face, Howling Mad Murdock, and B.A. Baracus. George Peppard was perfect as the mastermind behind the operation. He was a master of disguise and the undisputed leader of the group. It's nice to see him chomping on a cigar again as the hard bitten Colonel in reruns. He always reminded me of a light version of George C. Scott's Patton. After the pilot show, Dirk Benedict (of Battlestar Galactica fame) took over as "The Faceman" or "Face" who acts as the smooth talking con-man and charmer who works the system to arrange things for The A-Team. Dwight Schultz played Howling Mad Murdock who was certifiably insane as an individual, but gifted as a pilot. Finally, the inimitable Mr. T played B.A. ("Bad Attitude") Baracus who provided real muscle and mechanical genius for the group.

The A-Team is definitely formula television with fairly predictable plots. A typical episode consists of a setup to establish the bad guys and their victims, a meeting between the A-Team and the victims, a confrontation with the bad guys, a reversal in the groups fortune, the creation of improvised weapons or armored vehicles, and a final showdown with the bad guys. It lasted for 5 seasons for a total of 98 shows. In the final season, the A-Team started performing missions for the government. It's fun, 80s-style, escapist entertainment. I'd highly recommend setting up your DVR, catching a few shows, and popping some popcorn.

Retro Furniture from Retired Aircraft

I was reading an issue of Watch Journal and I came across an advertisement for a company that makes fine furniture for homes and offices out of parts from old aircraft.  It's amazing to imagine that something like this -

By RevolverOcelot (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

- could become a fine piece of furniture!  But a company called Motoart makes it happen.

This video shows how it is done:
MotoArt on YouTube

Retro Restaurant - The OK Cafe

If you prefer your retro dining experience to be more of a sit-down experience, you might try The OK Cafe in Atlanta's Buckhead Community.  It combines good nutritional options, excellent food, traditional Southern cuisine, and generally good service.  To learn more, check out this review:

Restaurant Review:  the OK Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia

Triumph Motorcycle

Some people have cooler retro gear than others.  I spotted this Triumph Motorcycle while walking our dog the other day.  It's at least 198 times cooler than any of my retro gear.  But, you won't see me taking a contraption like that into Atlanta's traffic.

Retro Dining - The Varsity in Downtown Atlanta

Nothing is more Retro than a good, old, fashioned, drive-in, hamburger and hotdog joint.  Atlanta is lucky to have one of the best - The Varsity.  It's the world's largest drive-in restaurant and it's a great place to eat and people watch.  You can read more about it here -

Restaurant Review:  the Varsity in Downtown Atlanta

By Scott Ehardt (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Miami Vice was THE show!

When I was in high school we moved from Florida to Maine.  It was a traumatic experience.  We froze our butts off.  We missed living in Florida.  Ultimately, I ended up returning to Florida for college.  Needless to say, when I was in high school and later when I was a freshman in college, Miami Vice was my favorite show.  It really showcased 80s fashion, 80s cars, 80s music, and the excitement of Miami.  It truly was the greatest show of the 80s!  In fact, it's still my favorite show and it is still shown on the Centric cable network.

Miami Vice - the Best TV Show of the 80s

A Ferrari Daytona like the one in Miami Vice.

 
In retrospect, the 80s was truly a great era for television.  What was your favorite television show of the 80s?
BTW, it's June already . . . Shop Amazon - Father's Day Gifts

Super Nintendo!

Somehow I missed having a Super Nintendo!  Growing up I had an Atari 2600 and a Coleco ADAM.  As a young adult I had a Sony Playstation.  But, never a Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  But, last summer, I rectified that situation in a North Florida thriftstore.  I finally got an SNES!  Here is my complete review:

Retro Game System Review:  Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Photo by By Muband at ja.wikipedia. Later version(s) were uploaded by PiaCarrot, Hr at ja.wikipedia. [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia Commons

Retro Bling - The Timex Mercury Wrist Watch

There's nothing cooler than a vintage wristwatch in excellent condition.  I lucked out and found this late 1970s vintage Timex Mercury in New Old Stock condition on ebay.  It's a pristine, manually-wound, wristwatch and it's cool!  You can read my review here - Vintage Wristwatch Retro Review:  Timex Mercury Analog Watch

The Dark Side of the Coleco Adam

Last week we covered all the advantages of a Coleco ADAM.  It seemed like the home computer to buy for a fleeting time during the 1983/1984 school year.  But, early adopters always face challenges, our family was no exception.  Just as we experienced the joy of having a computer in our home, we faced the heartache of owning an orphan system.  Read more in my article -

Retrogaming Review:  Drawbacks to the Coleco ADAM Home Computer 

Retro Driving - Remembering the Opel GT

My first car had quite a personality.  It was a 15 year old Opel GT.  It had the sport looks of a 2/3-size Corvette.  But, it had all kinds of quirky problems that led to many youthful misadventures!  Here is a retrospective look:  Car Review:  the 1973 Opel GT

I Gotta Gameboy Again!

Do you remember the Nintendo Gameboy?  It put video gaming in your front pocket.  It had some great games like Tetris.  But, it only had a monochrome display.  How does it stack up by today's standards?  Read my review:

Retro Gaming Review:  Nintendo Gameboy Handheld Game Console System

Photo By William Warby (originally posted to Flickr as Nintendo Gameboy) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Thanks for Not Letting Me Watch the A-Team!

Sunday was Mother's Day.  We all gave thanks to our mothers for all the things they have done for us over the years.  One of the best things my Mom did for me was regulate my television viewing.  There were shows that she thought were stupid or totally inappropriate for me when I was growing up.  Now that television is ruled by stupid reality shows, singing competitions, and home decorating shows, I can fall back on all the shows that my Mom didn't let me watch!  One of the best shows that I wasn't allowed to watch was "The A-Team."

 
Of course, Mom was right.  The A-Team was a colossally dumb show.  It was about a fugitive special forces team.  Every episode featured massive gun battles where no one ever got killed.  However, the show was entertaining!  Now, the classic 80s series is an early morning staple on the Centric Network.  I harvest it regularly with my DVR and enjoy it when there's nothing else on TV!  I've got five seasons of A-Team episodes that are completely new to me!  Thanks Mom!

If you want to get the entire series on DVD, check this deal out:

Remembering my Coleco ADAM!

Everyone remembers their first computer.  Well, maybe not the kids who grew up in the era of IBM-compatible PCs?  But, if you came of age in the 80s, you remember the dawn of home computing.  I do.  I remember my first computer.  It was a slightly off-beat choice.  It was a Coleco ADAM.  It had everything a computer neophyte needed in one neat package.  You got a daisy wheel printer.  You got an integrated Word Processor.  You got a tape drive.  You got a console game system.  You got IBM-compatible SmartBASIC.  It was a smart buy!  Read more reasons to buy a Coleco ADAM in my review here -
Retro Gaming Review:  Why We Bought A Coleco ADAM

Amazingly, you can still find used books about the Coleco ADAM on Amazon. This one has programs specifically designed for the ADAM: 32 BASIC Programs for the Coleco ADAM Computer

Vintage Camera - The Kodak Retinette 1A

Kodak has left the camera business.  While there may be Kodak cameras in the future, they won't be made or marketed by the company that created popular photography.  It makes the vintage Kodak Camera that I bought off of ebay for $5 all the more special.  It's a Kodak Retinette 1A made between 1959 and 1961.  Since it is a manual camera, it was challenging to learn at first.  But, taking pictures with a vintage camera is worth the effort!  Here is my review -  Vintage Camera Review:  Kodak Retinette 1A 35mm Film Camera

If you'd like to see a pictures from my old Kodak, check out this gnome:

Welcome to Retro Rover

Welcome to my new blog - Retro Rover!  This blog will cover all kinds of retro gadgets, gear, games, and other fun stuff.  When I was a teen in the 80s, being vintage or retro was the furthest thing from my mind.  But, lately, I find myself retreating into the world of retro.  If I find it roving around at flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, or surfing ebay, I might just post it here for the world to see.  Have fun!