# Early inventions that were widespread, then obsolete in a generation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-inventions-that-were-widespread-then-obsolete-in-a-generation/725026>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 13, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-inventions-that-were-widespread-then-obsolete-in-a-generation/725026 "2015-07-13T07:18:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 10

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-inventions-that-were-widespread-then-obsolete-in-a-generation/725026/181 "2015-07-21T13:06:42Z")

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> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> My library has them-gathering dust-I never see anyone using them.

I haven’t used a microfilm reader in quite a while (although some libraries still only have holdings in that form), but I’ve used microfiche a lot more recently. The Boston Public Library’s older holdings, especially in the Research Library, _still_ aren’t computerized. They’re only catalogued on microfiche, and if I want to look up some old books on random topics I have no recourse but to go to the old library building and search through the microfiched records.

It doesn’t help that the microfiche readers are in abysmal condition. But they always were.

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**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-inventions-that-were-widespread-then-obsolete-in-a-generation/725026/182 "2015-07-21T13:06:59Z")

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> [@naita](#):
>
> [Microform - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microform)
> 
> And I used microfilm readers myself for research early in this century.

> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> My library has them-gathering dust-I never see anyone using them.

As is the case where I used to use them, ten years ago. But that’s because most of those sources are now available online.

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