Old Underwood Typewriter Photo

I recently ran into this old Underwood Typewriter in an antique shop.  It looked pretty worn out, but an old typewriter always holds appeal to anyone who appreciates literature or even good writing.  If you are interested in old typewriters, you might check out this Antique Typewriter Collecting site.

Old Underwood Typewriter

If you own an old Underwood typewriter and need ribbons for it, here is a listing that I found on ebay that might be really helpful!

Can you buy a Big Wheel for adults?

Can You Still Buy A Big Wheel?

If you were a kid in the 1970s, you likely enjoyed the fast and maneuverable Big Wheel tricycle.  It was a tricycle that allowed for crazy spin outs and drifting in those dangerous days before bicycle helmets and kneepads.  I never had one when I was a kid, but when we lived in apartments, they were the terror of the neighborhood.

Today, you can still get a Big Wheel tricycle from a company called The Original Big Wheel.  Now, there are really cool versions that have logos from cool companies like Hot Wheels and West Coast Choppers.

Can You Buy A Big Wheel for Adults?

Unfortunately, there is a drawback to the Big Wheel.  The original Big Wheel is just for kids.  However, you could get an adult drifting trike.  The Triad Notorious 2 has a weight limit of 222 pounds.  You can also get an extra large frame that will handle taller passengers.  The Triad Notorious 2 shown below gets 5 star reviews on Amazon and will definitely bring out the Big Wheel terror lurking in every overgrown kid.  The very idea of hauling ass on a trike and then spinning out is exhilarating!


Of course, now that we are grown and the innocence of the 1970s is behind us, you're going to need a bicycle helmet for either one of these tricycles.

When it comes to Sewing Machines: Retro is the way to go!

From time to time, I run across old sewing machines at thrift shops.  They remind me of the sewing machines that my mom and grandmother used to have.  My grandma had a room filled with clothing patterns and bolts and bolts of material.  Today, sewing seems to be a bit of a lost art as I don't hear of many people who are into sewing. 

It seems like a really difficult to get started sewing without a human instructor.  But, the internet has changed all of that.  There are plenty of instructions on how to sew on the internet.  This instructables article is a good start.  One take away is that heavy duty machines like this Singer with basic features and metal frames are probably your best bet.



If you are looking for a sewing machines, there are plenty of sewing machines on Amazon. Sewing is one of those hobbies that can be very useful. You can repair clothing and make your own.

Retro Lighting - The Banker's Lamp

A thrift store is the best place to pick up retro lamps and shades.  They are inexpensive, usually work well, and have real character.  It's also awesome to be able to spend $10 or $15 on a lamp.  However, sometimes you need a specific kind of lamp.  For example, we once had a green banker's desk lamp that worked well with a vintage desk at our house.  It looked much like this one:



The banker's lamp was cool because it fit in a confined space and it could shed light directly on documents.  Nothing was better for shedding light on a work surface.   While it didn't make our last move, it was also cool for creating a vintage look.

A Banker's Lamp - photo by Sándor Iskender (https://www.flickr.com/photos/iskender/126062252) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

You can just imagine this kind of lamp on a private eye's desk.  Here is a faux antique banker's lamp from Amazon and a compilation of Dashiell Hammett novels that I highly recommend.

Retro Transportation - Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300

Driving a vintage car is a serious commitment.  When little things break, it can be a costly or simply impossible task to find a replacement part.  But, old cars are simple, much easier to work on, and full of character.

I recently ran across this Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 in a suburban Atlanta parking lot.  It was a nice clean car, but it had an aged patina that probably reflects many years on the road.  The 1300 wasn't a widely exported model so it probably has an interesting history.

The Giulia 1300 was made from 1964 to 1970 as an "austerity model" and it was powered by a 1290 cc engine.  With 77 horsepower on tap and a 4-speed transmission, it's not a sports car.  But, perhaps, that is why it is still running and in decent shape?

It was neat to see an old car like this still in service and still being driven.  It definitely caught my eye from across the parking lot.  While Alfa Romeo is returning to the U.S. market, I hope the owner has the best of luck with this vintage Alfa and can keep it on the road for many years to come.

If you are an Alfa Romeo enthusiast, this die-cast Alfa Romeo Giulia might be right up your alley!

1950s Chevy at a Suburban Atlanta Gas Station

Welcome to 2016!  As we catapult into the future, it's always a treat to see vintage vehicles--especially when they are in a natural setting!  This 1950s Chevy pickup truck was nestled up against the side of a local gas station.  It fit in well with the vintage look of the building.  It was also somehow re-assuring to see in a world filled with BMWs and other yuppie-mobiles.  It reminds us all of a slower time.

Retro Transportation - The Vespa Motor Scooter

When it comes to transportation, one of the most recognizable retro vehicles is the Vespa motor scooter.  It's also one of the most efficient, according to VespaUSA.com, the 155 cc Vespa Primavera gets 117 miles per gallon and has a top speed of 59 miles per hour.  More powerful Vespa scooters can go up to 80 miles per hour, but sacrifice some fuel economy.

A Vespa Motor Scooter

Vespa means wasp in Italian.  The scooters are made by the Piagio company which was once one of Italy's largest aircraft manufacturers.

A Piagio Vespa PX200 Tampere in Finland (By Khaosaming (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Vespa motor scooters are economical, but they aren't cheap.  Even a 50cc Vespa Primavera starts at $3599.   Local dealers have various used Vespa scooters starting at around $2800.  While knock-off Chinese scooters seem to be everywhere, a genuine Vespa really gives a rider a bona fide piece of Italy.

Requiem for a Palm IIIe

Sometimes it's hard to get nostalgic about electronics.  I've been going through my old gear and I found a refurbished Palm IIIe.  It has feeble capabilities compared to modern smartphones.  I'd look like a geek if I ever used it.  It doesn't even appear to have any value on ebay.

Palm III Personal Data Assistant (PDA).  Photo by Nzeemin at ru.wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

This was a neat little find, but it ended up being donated to Goodwill.  A neat find, but I just didn't have a practical use for it.  Use Palm III devices are available used for about $10 on Amazon.com.  I wouldn't buy this overpriced model.

Retro Gaming Systems - Atari Flashback and Sega Genesis

If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, you probably spent plenty of time playing video games on the early video game console systems.  The games were simple, classic, and dare I say timeless.

The games were addictive and rewarding. Amazingly many of the games are still available today. They have been distilled down to console games that have most of the popular video games for a given game system.  These new consoles are much more convenient than finding and reviving the original consoles and finding working game cartridges.  The games I played in my younger days were primarily the Atari games and then Sega Genesis games.  Today, I can easily get these games from Amazon.

Atari Flashback.  The retro gaming revolution was kicked off by Atari Flashback consoles.  Several versions have been created over the years and I've enjoyed a couple of them.  The latest version is the Atari Flashback 6.  The deluxe edition shown below has two extra controllers and reviewers say that it is well worth the investment to get the extras.


Sega Genesis.  Somewhere in a closet, I have an original Sega Genesis from a thrift store.  But, I could just go get the Sega Genesis Deluxe console and have 85 built in games including Sonic the Hedgehog I & II and the Mortal Combat series.

Retro Gift Idea - A Royal Epoch Portable Typewriter

Did you know that you can still buy a brand new typewriter?  A classically retro manual typewriter from a name that many have heard of before -- Royal!


If you need to be away from the internet in order to write your novel, this might be a great choice.  It's also helpful for filling out forms and addressing envelopes without fussing with label software.

Remember the Bentley Television

In today's era of cell phones, laptops, and tablets, video is literally eveywhere.  But, if you grew up in the 1970s and 80s, truly portable television that could go anywhere was a high tech novelty.  By today's standards, this old Bentley portable TV would be ridiculous.

Bentley Portable TV

Believe it or not, you can still buy a used Bentley Portable TV on Amazon.  But, now this, you'll need a converter box to take in today's HDTV television signals.  All of a sudden, this little TV with a 5-inch screen isn't nearly as portable!  But, the ad, well it's still worth checking out just to get an idea of the specs and see the original packaging.

Goodwill in Sandy Springs Georgia Closing to Move

Today, my wife and I wandered around the Goodwill thrift store on Johnson Ferry Road in Sandy Springs, Georgia. It's closing soon and a new Goodwill location will be opening nearby on January 4th, 2015. I liked the old store. It used to be a Kroger grocery store and it had tall ceilings and arched windows. For some reason, this location always had a plethora of good books and lots of used stereo equipment. Once the store closes, the city of Sandy Springs will demolish it and build a new city government center. It will be the end of an era. The new Goodwill store will also be in Sandy Springs. It will be located just down the road at the corner of Abernathy Road and Roswell Road. The old Goodwill is offering their remaining merchandise at 50 percent off. But, you've got to act fast because it will be closed soon!

Retro Gift Ideas

As the fast pace of technological change continues, there is a longing for many of the basic, familiar, and comfortable technologies of days gone by. For this reason, vinyl record linger in an era of streaming music and computer programmers still love to play the Atari video games of their youth. If you need to buy a gift for someone who is nostalgic for the days of his youth, here are five retro gift ideas:

1. Die-cast Cars. Everyone remembers their first car with fondness. If you can find out what a person's first car or favorite car was, you can always try to get them a 1/24 or 1/18-scale die-cast version of that car. The nice thing about die-cast cars is that there is a car model to fit every budget from makers like Maisto, Burago, Action, and Replicarz.

2. Retro Radios. The Crosley Audiophile AM/FM Radio delivers great sound and has an auxiliary input so that it can serve as a speaker for an MP3 player or computer. Target recently had some models for as low as $49. These radios may well be the poor man's alternative to the Bose Wave Radio. However, if you'd like to get even more retro, there are several sites dedicated to selling vintage radios and high end radio kits.

3. Vinyl Record Player. Many audiophiles believe that vinyl records have a "warmer" sound. Other music aficionados enjoy the larger album covers and art that come with a vinyl record album. If you need a gift for someone who has a secret stash of vinyl albums and nothing to play them on, get them a turntable. They may have gone out of style, but they are back and very cool.

4. Retro Game Consoles. Vintage video games are back in a big way. While it's still fun to hunt down genuine vintage game units like the Atari 2600, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or Sega Genesis, some of these systems and their games have been consolidated into plug-and-play units like the Atari Flashback 4.

5. Film Cameras. Despite the dominance of digital photography, film photography is resurgent as a niche hobby. Film enthusiasts can now enjoy a wide variety of used film cameras for a fraction of what they once cost. It's a lot of fun to take pictures with a vintage film camera like the Kodak Retinette 1A. If someone is nostalgic for Polaroid pictures, you can still take them with cameras like the Polaroid 300. If someone enjoys the vintage effects of instagram, they might enjoy creating similar photos in the moment with a hip Lomography camera.

As technology advances and new products supplant old products, it becomes expensive to keep up. If someone on your list is more comfortable with old instead of new, you can support them with lots of great old-fangled products.

De-Militarizing The Police Through Old TV Shows

There has been a lot in the news lately about the militarization of state and local police forces in the United States.  It seems like every local police force has a Special Weapons and Tactics team and armored personnel carriers now.  They use them to serve no-knock warrants on drug houses.

There's no doubt that there are many bad actors in society today.  Active shooter situations obviously call for more firepower.  But, I think police departments should watch a little more Retro TV.  They could learn something from Sheriff Andy Taylor from Mayberry.  

Shows like Chips show police officers who place helping people first and foremost in their consciousness.  ADAM-12 portrays serious cops who were incorruptible and well balanced.  Bubba Skinner managed to take down plenty of criminals with his hunting rifle.  But, In The Heat of The Night's Chief Gillespie resolved more cases by talking to suspects and de-escalating violent situations.

If today's police officers would spend less time watching shoes like The Shield and reading gun magazines, we might all be better served.  We can't turn back time in a world filled with sinister criminals, but we can dial back attitudes just a bit.

Vintage Blenders for Hipster Happy Hours

Did you know that there are people who collect vintage blenders like this Osterizer Pulse Matic 16?  They usually cost less than $20 and often have years of service life left.

We've tried a vintage blender in the past and, sometimes, they work out really well. You can often find them in your local thrift store. If you get into collecting them, you might be able to build up a nice collection like this blogger: Blending the old with . . .

Here's a vintage Osterizer like the one pictured in action:

Now, all you need is some fruits and vegetables and a basic idea of what you want in a smoothie.

Six Low Tech Apple iPad Alternatives

 You Can Have a Rich Multimedia Experience Without the Apple iPad!

Many people have been consumed by the desire to own Apple's latest gadget: the iPad. But, in the middle of a recession, many have had to defer the instant gratification that comes from owning the latest and greatest new Apple product. Fortunately, there are lots of low tech, low cost, alternatives to the Apple iPad. Exhaustive research has yielded my top six low-tech iPad alternatives:


1. The Tablet, the Pen, and the Pencil. If you need to collaborate with your peers and work collaboratively, then you can't beat the tablet form factor. Fortunately, the Apple iPad is only the newest tablet on the block. Your low tech iPad alternative is the paper tablet combined with two low tech stylus choices: pen and paper. Paper has been around for over 2000 years. Paper is a persistent and portable persistence mechanism that can store your important scrawlings for decades. The rich, interlaced, pressed cellulose fiber display of paper provides tactile feedback and color unmatched by the Apple iPad. To share ideas or calculations with a paper tablet, simply write or draw them and then pass your tablet to your collaborators for them to embellish your ideas. If you need to make a presentation, simply buy a bigger pad. Cost: $5.00 at your local drugstore or office supply place.

2. The Paperback Novel. Of course, the Apple iPad is really a reading machine for storing and presenting text to the avid reader. The Apple iPad does a great job of storing hundreds, even thousands, of titles and easily presenting them to the reader. Many people think the iPad is a worthy alternative to popular e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle. However, at nearly $500, the Apple iPad really shouldn't be brought into the one place most real men read: the bathroom. In contrast, the low-tech iPad alternative a paperback novel can be brought into the bathroom and used one handed. The paperback can even be placed on the bathroom floor and held open with the reader's toes. While you can leave a paperback novel next to your throne and take a hot steamy shower, an Apple iPad would most likely wilt or short circuit. Cost: $6 at your local thrift store or used book store.

3. A Text Editor. Some people consume content and some people create content. The Apple iPad doesn't come with a keyboard. In contrast, the AlphaSmart 2000 Word Processor comes is a keyboard and it doesn't offer the opportunity to re-watch movies like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. If you want to create instead of watch, you'll need an iPad alternative with a keyboard. If you want to be productive and write your way out of any economic problem, you can do better than an Apple iPad. Cost: $40 on ebay.


4. A Harmonica. Sure, you can buy digitized music at play it on the Apple iPad for hundreds of dollars. But, you could have a more authentic experience playing a harmonica out in front of the Greyhound station. Plus, if you have a hat, complete strangers might throw money into it. This low tech Apple iPad alternative actually earns you money while you play the "I ain't got no iPad blues." Other low tech iPad music alternatives include a fife, a mouth harp, or a portable cassette player. If you want music for free, you can just listen with a radio like the Coby CX-7 AM/FM Personal Portable Radio. There was music before iTunes. Cost: $10-20 at a harmonica store.


5. A Camera. It's not enough to match the capabilities of the Apple iPad, you'll want to exceed them. The Apple iPad doesn't even have a built-in camera. If you simple choose to stick a camera in your pocket, you've vastly exceeded the capabilities of the Apple iPad. Even a simple Aries 3-in-1 digital camera can blow away the Apple iPad. Cost: $20 at your local drugstore.

6. Your Eyes, Ears, Taste buds, Nose, and Fingers. For $91, you have seen plenty of alternatives to the Apple iPad. But, you don't have to spend a lot for the ultimate multi-media experience. If you want a multi-media alternative to the iPad that touches all of your senses, all you need is to pull out the earbuds, turn off your computer, and look around at the world. You don't have to plug in, you don't need the latest technological gadget, simply go sit on a park bench and look around. Touch a tree. Feed a squirrel. Life is the ultimate alternative to the Apple iPad. Cost: Free Of course, if you want to enhance the experience, you could improve your hearing with the Listen Up Personal Sound Amplifier or see the world with the amazing clarity of HD Vision Wrap Around Sunglasses. Cost: $10-$20 from you local drugstore.
It can be tough to live without the latest high tech gadgetry. When you feel the iPad lust, remind yourself that the Apple iPad does not come with a pair of pliers or a bottle opener. In many situations, it is far less useful than a Gerber Multi-Tool. One day, an Apple iPad might be fun to own, but I'm pretty happy with my humble Acer Aspire 5515 laptop. It has a keyboard!

The 1975 Chrysler Cordoba in Pictures

Do you remember the Chrysler commercials featuring Ricardo Montalban?  Everyone in the 70s could imitate his beautiful enunciation of the phrase "rich Corinthian leather."

Here is one that I found at a Goodwill down in Florida a few years ago.  Of course, I couldn't take on an old car project at the time.  But, I did snap a few pictures!  It is quite a portrait of the 70s . . .

When was the last time you saw coach lights on a car to guide your entry at night.  That is luxury ladies and gentlemen . . .

The car actually is the Cordoba.  I thought it was the Cordova and that Ricardo Montalban was simply being exotic with his Spanish accent.

 This thing is called a trunk.  The Chrysler Cordoba could probably hold Jimmy Hoffa and several of his "associates." 

I like the scroll work on the Cordoba's tail lights.  It's a little over the top.  But, it gives this vintage car a luxury touch.

Of course, whitewall tires are standard retro equipment.  These look new.

Alas, here it is:  The 1975 Chrysler Cordoba.  Perhaps, it is a car that I should have bought!

Retro Technologies that Still Work Fine

 No Need to Buy New Tech when These Old Tech Meet Your Needs

Once upon a time, I paid over $3000 for a 486 computer. I also paid $900 for a stereo. I'm not alone. Lots of people have jumped on the technology bandwagon only to see their purchases eclipsed by ever changing and improving technologies. We don't need to discuss the advance of television and film content on beta tapes, then VHS tapes, then laser discs, then DVDs, and now Blu-Ray discs. Once you've been burned a few times, you become a little more reluctant to part with your cold hard cash.
After awhile, many people simply realize that there is no reason to be an early adopter or even an adopter of the latest technologies. At least, not just for the sake of being able to claim the latest and greatest. Ultimately, it's the ideas that make it into the documents you create, the content of the movie you watch, the beauty of the photograph you take, and the message and melodies in the music you hear that counts. The technology is just an infrastructure platform for delivering or creating content. Before you adopt a new technology, you should consider whether you would really benefit from the new capabilities of that new gadget. You should also consider whether your old gadgets still meet your needs.

With that in mind, here are three retro technologies that still work just fine:

1. The Phonograph. While the compact disc and MP3 file have lured many listeners away with convenience and portability, many audiophiles and music enthusiasts have returned to the vinyl record. They believe that music is best captured through analog media instead of being converted to a series of ones and zeroes and being recorded digitally. They also refuse to give up sound quality for the file compression that saves drive space. Plus, they like the art on full-sized album covers. Thomas Edison's invention has been around since 1877 and it's not going away any time soon. Amazon.com features hundreds of turntables.

2. The Revolver. The essentials of modern firearms and ammunition have been the stable for at least one hundred years. While the 1911 Colt .45 is still the standard by which semi-automatic pistols are judged, the revolver designs they replaced are still going strong. When you are in an adrenaline-charged, life threatening, situation, the simplicity of a revolver can't be beat. When the chips are down, you don't need a safety, a laser, an accessory rail, an on-board computer, or a polymer frame, you need a firearm that will go bang when you pull the trigger and allow you to hit a human-sized target that is probably less than thirty feet away. Revolvers have real advantages in reliability and ease of use. If you want simple target shooting and home defense, you can't go wrong with a Smith & Wesson Model 10 or Taurus Model 82.

3. The Sail. In this era of sustainability, you can't beat the sail for propulsion at sea. The wind is still and has always been free. If you want to go on an adventure and cross an ocean, you'll need to hoist a sail and leave the power boaters at the docks with their gold chains, cigars, and trophy wives. If Joshua Slocum could circle the globe, so can you. But, you must respect the sea. You'll want a stout, full-keel, sail boat of at least thirty feet in length before sailing the ocean blue. Something like the Pacific Seacraft 40 would be perfect.

When it comes to technology, see beyond the trends and consider what works best for you.

An Old School Laptop - the Hermes Baby Typewriter

Today, we are accustomed to Apple being the dominant company in terms of industrial design. Products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad are sleek and nearly perfect in terms of design simplicity and ergonomics. But, great design and portability have been shown by other companies in other eras. 

In my closet, I have a typewriter that looks like an Apple product.  It's a Swiss-made Hermes Baby typewriter.  It's a product of the 1940s with a sleek, low profile, design and perfect portability.

Hermes Baby typewriter

 The Hermes Baby was the lightest typewriter of its era.  According to the "History of Hermes Typewriters" on vintagetypewriterjewelry.com It was reputed to be the preferred typewriter of great writers like Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck.  Even today, some modern writers prefer to use this typewriter.

The keys in this Hermes Baby typewriter look like spectators around an arena.

I enjoy the lightweight and precision look of my Hermes typewriter.  It's just plain cool and easy to type on.  Of course, in this era of computers and whisper quiet printers, a typewriter is just a tad loud.  Even though the era of the typewriter has passed, this timeless design lives on.

Up Close with the Hermes

If you need a typewriter ribbon for an Hermes typewriter, this one should work:

Introducing my Dirt Cheap Audio Blog

As my interests in various retro technologies evolve, I've found myself writing more and more about old stereo stuff than other retro stuff on this blog. I like to keep this blog eclectic, but sometimes I have to follow my passions. Thus, I've created a new blog called Dirt Cheap Audio Blog.

This new blog will be entirely dedicated to inexpensive audio equipment like vintage stereos, compact stereos, radios, and the like. It will be a mix of thrift store finds, ebay finds, and good deals in consumer electronics. In the new blog, I'll focus more on the evolution of a 2 channel stereo than anything else.

The new blog will free up this blog to re-focus back on a mix of retro goodness!