This is inspired by a question about Seven Classic Product Designs in the GQ forum. I’m not sure if anyone has found a canonical list but here are my nominations for the list.
North American P-51D Mustang
Ferdinand Porsche’s Volkswagen
Lockeed Super Constellation airliner
Samuel Colt’s 1860 army pistol
Beechcraft Staggerwing Biplane
Les Paul’s Gibson guitar
John Browning’s Colt 1911 pistol
My own list is changed slightly since I posted in the other tread. I removed the Les Paul guitar becuse it was derived from the shape of the spanish guitar in solidbody form. The Speed Graphic camera was removed because not enough people would know what the hell I was talking about.
I’d love to contribute to this list, but could someone venture a guess as to what the criteria are for a classic design? I take it from Padeye’s post that it can’t be something derived from something else? For example, could I suggest the classic swivel desk-chair?
Jay, the criteria can be whatever you decide. Heck, I’m not even completely consistent in my own critieria.
IMVHO an excellent design has beauty, function, originality and a long ueful life. Some things have a shorter useful life than others. No need for Mustangs and Spitfires after jets took their place. I think Algernon, like myself, chose things that are very utilitarian and that have beauty that comes out of a functional design. Not everyone can see the beauty in a locomotive as it doesn’t have to be as sleek as a Lockheed Constellation but the beauty of function is there.
(smile) Well said Padeye. I was trying to compose an answer regarding why I put the things on my list, but you’ve said it better than what was in my head.
As I was thinking about it though, there is one attribute that seems to appeal to my sense of design beauty… a squatty nose. An almost childlike “face”. The F7, the 747, the H-8 (2-6-6-6 locomotive) all share this characteristic. I’ve always liked the P40 WWII fighter plane better than the P51, perhaps for this reason. And as I think about it I’m moved to suggest that the snub-nosed 38 revolver perhaps could be added to my list.
And interestingly, I almost added the Constellation to my list, but feel it’s revered more for its rarity than its form. YMMV.
Good point Mack. I like the Les Paul better but the Stratocaster was a more original design. The Broadcaster/Telecaster/Esquire broke from the tradional spanish guitar and the Strat and precision bass were natural evolutions of the new shape. And uni-ball miro pens rock! I buy those &*@%ers by the case I have yet to find a pen with a better writing feel though I really like those cheap Shaffer fountain pens.
Squatty noses huh Algernon. Hmm. I’ve always been partial to longer noses on my doggies and kitty cats. No pugs, boxers or persians for me. I think that’s reflected in our respective choices. We could have a whole discussion on that aline. Like Freud (should have) said “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar… but usually it’s a penis.” rofl
I think the Connie was rare because of it’s niche in history. It came along postwar when there were already a lot of other piston engine planes around and jets were just around the corner. Rare yes but there are at least three in Tucson. Two are at the Pima Air Museum and one you can actually learn to fly if you can pony up the bucks. It like the '60 Army Colt are the epitome of sleek and graceful.
I can tell that I’ve been in my profession too long when a simple question about designs raises all kinds of questions of functionality vs. aesthetic qualities. Without getting into criteria, i’ll just add that exotice wood and brass woodworking tools have to be some of the coolest objects around.
Ulitmatum marking guage
Spear & Jackson brass back dovetail saw
Spiers infill smoother in naval bronze and ebony
I’ll nominate the 1957 Chevrolet. It is second behind the VW Beetle as the most recognizable automobile ever made but is much more a classic design then the Bug.
The Campbell’s Soup can label. Hasn’t changed much in 70 years.
The classic hamburger. A round white bread roll sliced in two, a slab of beef, a lettuce leaf, catsup, mustard, and don’t forget a pickle. And it has probably been the one food item that has changed the way man eats more than any one food product ever devised.
They would once they saw it! The Speed Graphic is one of those things that nobody knows the name of but you know it when you see it. Kinda like the tunes “The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down” and “Powerhouse.”
For those of you who don’t recognize the term: A picture. Handsome Dan there is the photographer Weegee, who is apparently famous even though I’ve never seen a picture by him that I recognize.
I don’t remember the name of the book I read on this topic, but it included the Green Bay Packers Uniform as an example of classic design. As an inveterate Cheesehead, I would agree!
Classic design remains classic whatever the time period. Rather than throw everything into one list, I decided to categorize them. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
Aeronautical, military
Fokker Triplane
Supermarine Spitfire
Mitsubishi Zero
B-17 Flying Fortress
F-86 Sabre
SR-71 Blackbird
B-2 Spirit
Aeronautical, civilian
Wright Brothers’ Flyer 1
Hindenberg
Spirit of St Louis
Douglas DC-3
Lockheed Constellation
Boeing 747
Rutan Long-EZ
Automotive
Ford Model T
Volkswagen Beetle
Rolls Royce Phantom II
Aston Martin DB5
Porsche 911
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air [Thanks to racer72 for this one]
Buildings, modern high-rise
Empire State Building
Chrysler Building
World Trade Center
[I could list seven from New York alone, but in fairness to other places]
Sears Tower
Hancock Building
Transamerica Pyramid
Bank of China Tower
Buildings, pre-modern
Stonehenge
The Great Pyramid
The Parthenon
The Colloseum
St Peter’s Basilica
Notre Dame
The Taj Mahal
Bridges
Brooklyn Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
Firth of Forth Bridge
Campo Volantin Footbridge
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tacoma Narrows Bridge [a classic failure]
I have yet to find a pen with a better writing feel though I really like those cheap Shaffer fountain pens.
