Category Archives: Retro Technology

VCR Wars: The one that lost

Posted on by The Old Wolf

Betamax. Talk to an afficionado and you’ll get a whole list of reasons why it was better. VHS supporters disagree – fairly comprehensive point-counterpoint presents both opinions.

With technology zooming ahead at such breakneck speed, many youngsters today wouldn’t even relate to this Dilbert cartoon:

With both VHS and Betamax virtually obsolete for future production, the debate is more or less moot – but I still have 162 VHS tapes on my shelf, waiting to be ripped to AVI or replaced with DVD’s.

“Why don’t you switch to Blu-Ray,” I hear someone in the background sniggering? Basically for the same reason I don’t replace my PC with a Mac – it’s no longer substantially better, just different – and a whole lot more expensive. I’ve seen lots of videos on my son’s HD/Blu-Ray set. Yeah, they’re pretty nice. But when I watch movies at home on my own equipment, I don’t feel deprived. When my DVD player goes belly-up, I’ll most likely buy a Blu-Ray capable box, but then I’ll have to get a higher-resolution screen, and I can’t see shelling out the extra money until it’s absolutely necessary.

The Old Wolf has spoken.

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The Davis Three-Wheeler

Posted on by The Old Wolf

Some history about the Davis Sedan for your gratuitous enjoyment. To me it looks like a glorified sidecar.

Of course, it could be worse.

It could be a Messerschmitt,

or an Isetta!

I don’t think any of these cars would have done well in a collision with a Duesenberg.

These beautiful vehicles, by the way, were so coveted and admired that they lent their name to the once-common expression, “That’s a doozy!”

The Old Wolf has spoken.

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Before attorneys could advertise

Posted on by The Old Wolf

Above images found at ukgraphicdesigners.com

Found at 50satomicranchhouse.blogspot.com

I had a really nice Chemcraft chemistry set when I was a kid. All sorts of poisons that could have killed me. Things that would blow up. Glass tubes to heat up, burn the piss out of my fingers, and make capillary pipettes out of. Glass labware. And nary a lawsuit to be seen. I’d love to have things around the house like this even now.

Here’s what we’ve come to today:

A chemistry set that trumpets “No Chemicals.” How sad is that?

The Old  Wolf has spoken.