# Blast From the Past That You'll Never See Again **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2016, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534 "2016-05-24T11:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/1 "2016-05-24T11:04:13Z")
What are some great things from the past that nowadays, you would never see it, whether it be for safety reasons or some other. This can be an actual product or an activity. My first thought was the little toddler seat that would go on the handlebars of bicycles. I don’t think I’ve seen one of those since the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/2 "2016-05-24T11:24:02Z")
Decent chemistry sets. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/3 "2016-05-24T11:31:13Z")
Original Clackers. Candy cigarettes. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/4 "2016-05-24T11:45:14Z")
> [@Dante\_G](#): > > My first thought was the little toddler seat that would go on the handlebars of bicycles. I don’t think I’ve seen one of those since the 80’s. I’ve seen a couple of these around in the past few years, though I see a lot more of the ones that attach to the rear of the bike. I doubt there is much difference in safety. > [@Totenfeier](#): > > Candy cigarettes. These I know one can still get. I bought some a year or so ago, I think you can get the ones that ‘puff’ smoke too. There are candy stores online that I’ve seen selling them, mine I got at Harpers Ferry in WV. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/5 "2016-05-24T12:15:29Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I’ve seen a couple of these around in the past few years, though I see a lot more of the ones that attach to the rear of the bike. I doubt there is much difference in safety. > . A child seat on the front makes the bike less stable and greatly increases the chance of an accident. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/6 "2016-05-24T12:16:37Z")
Jarts. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/7 "2016-05-24T15:02:29Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Jarts. I still have a set of those! I love to live dangerously. You’ll never see a car seat like [this](https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage+back+seat+kids+steering+wheel&biw=1920&bih=1075&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFvqiA_PLMAhXMKCYKHVYWAhYQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=AIoP61UyP9dkhM%3A)again. Just like dad, baby can experience the accidental joy of slamming into a steering wheel, too! ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/8 "2016-05-24T15:05:23Z")
Faygo Brau ginger beer. Gone way too soon. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/9 "2016-05-24T15:05:33Z")
Most of the ones mentioned and Hippy Sippy Smoking in college classes and High Schools with student smoking lounges Hunting to and from school (Jr and High) Bench seats in cars (front) – extra points for a hugger-handle on the wheel “Wing windows” in cars ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/10 "2016-05-24T15:57:26Z")
What is a hugger-handle? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/11 "2016-05-24T16:17:44Z")
Kids riding in the backs of station wagons, or the beds of trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/12 "2016-05-24T16:19:17Z")
A Heather Alexander concert. It’s not that I don’t like Alexander James Adams and his music-I think that he(and it) is wonderful. But I still miss her concerts and music. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/13 "2016-05-24T16:20:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What is a hugger-handle? I’m guessing it’s a necker knob. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/14 "2016-05-24T16:21:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What is a hugger-handle? Otherwise known as a [necker-knob](http://www.pewsplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mercurystrg.jpg). So you can keep your arm around your sweetie. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/15 "2016-05-24T16:21:47Z")
Kids riding on the driver’s lap. Today you’d be arrested. Mr. Potatohead’s Pipe ETA: Back in the day, Pete Seeger used to go to school playgrounds at recess and after school and sing for the children. Decades later Don McLean would tell him that’s what got him interested in music. Today you’d be questioned by the police and maybe be arrested. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/16 "2016-05-24T16:26:47Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > extra points for a hugger-handle on the wheel You talking about a free-spinning knob people used to use to make high-speed turns in manual transmission cars without power steering? You can still get those, and they are still legal, although power steering has made them mostly useless, except for people who need adapted controls. People who either have only one arm, or who can’t use their legs, and have hand brakes and hand accelerators usually have a knob to make one-handed steering easier. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/17 "2016-05-24T16:28:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Otherwise known as a [necker-knob](http://www.pewsplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mercurystrg.jpg). So you can keep your arm around your sweetie. Lady I work with has one of those in both of her cars. One of her arms is partially disabled from a stroke. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/18 "2016-05-24T16:34:05Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Kids riding in the backs of station wagons, or the beds of trucks. Ah, but the Tesla Model S has a rear-facing jump seat! ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/19 "2016-05-24T16:34:18Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > A child seat on the front makes the bike less stable and greatly increases the chance of an accident. Incorrect. [Weight over the front wheel is actually more stable](http://www.livestrong.com/article/366197-the-safest-bicycle-seat-to-use-for-toddlers/) than weight over the back wheel. It’s much easier to get on and off a bike with a kid in the front. Anyway, there are still [many options](https://www.rei.com/product/815610/yepp-mini-front-bicycle-child-carrier) for [front-mounted seats](http://www.amazon.com/iBert-Safe-T-Seat-Front-Child-38-Pounds/dp/B0048MB82A/ref=sr_1_8). ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534/20 "2016-05-24T16:39:02Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Hunting to and from school (Jr and High) Still happens out here. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > You talking about a free-spinning knob people used to use to make high-speed turns in manual transmission cars without power steering? Doesn’t necessarily have to be a manual transmission car. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blast-from-the-past-that-youll-never-see-again/755534.md?page=2)