# Modern device your parents had that you don’t have now **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470 "2022-08-28T14:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/221 "2022-09-08T20:54:54Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > We had an in house incinerator in our house We have a burn barrel. All my neighbors have burn barrels, all outdoors though. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/222 "2022-09-08T21:50:30Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > WTF? > Hahahhah. I’m sure THAT was pleasant. It was well designed with insulated walls. There was no odor. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/223 "2022-09-08T22:08:46Z")
People also had special razor blade repositories built into their houses. Okay, so it was a slot cut into the wall so blades could fall into the space between the joists. But still…SCIENCE! Also, back in the day they had an actual street-legal and airworthy flying car: > **[Aerocar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerocar)** > > Aerocar International's Aerocar (often called the Taylor Aerocar) was an American roadable aircraft designed and built by Moulton Taylor in Longview, Washington in 1949. Although six examples were made, it never entered large-scale production. It is considered one of the first practical flying cars. > Taylor began designing a roadable aircraft in 1946. During a trip to Delaware, he met inventor Robert E. Fulton, Jr., who had designed an earlier roadable airplane, the Airphibian, with detachable wi... ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/224 "2022-09-09T12:59:37Z")
My mother had a sewing machine and so did my kids (born in the '00s, they asked for them). Taking sewing class was a requirement for me in school in the early ‘90s. Not saying any of that means owning one is necessary, but certainly my mother’s and in-laws’ generation had plenty of home sewers, if only for minor alteration/repair work or small crafty type things. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/225 "2022-09-09T14:38:20Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > home sewers Technically correct, but I’m thinking that seamstresses might be a better term. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/226 "2022-09-09T14:43:41Z")
Or not. [https://wiki.lspace.org/Seamstresses'\_Guild](https://wiki.lspace.org/Seamstresses%27_Guild) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/227 "2022-09-09T20:25:56Z")
I bought a sewing machine about 25 years ago. It was used. I wanted to make some insulated roll up blinds for our house to keep the heat in. That didn’t work out very well. But I tried. While I was sewing, my Wife went to a bar to watch a Stealers/Bronco game. She was the only one the bar rooting for the Stealers. We live in Colorado. I suspect she got the evil eye more than once. I’m not into football. I was totally fine with it. It did make me chuckle though. How times had changed. And I felt it was great. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/228 "2022-09-09T20:29:37Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > > [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > > > home sewers > > Technically correct, but I’m thinking that seamstresses might be a better term. That brings to mind another one. We’re on a septic tank system. My parents always had sewer hookup. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/229 "2022-09-09T20:42:02Z")
I think others already mentioned stereos, but that is another thing my parents have that I don’t. They have a big old component stereo system, with completely separate receiver, cassette deck, CD player, turntable, and two big old speakers. The closest thing I have to a stereo is a 1990s boom box. I’m not sure if they still use their stereo; they used to have the TV hooked up to it, but they’ve since gotten a surround sound system. Come to think of it that’s another thing I don’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/230 "2022-09-09T20:47:49Z")
My Grandfather had an electric shoe polisher. Can’t imagine too many people have these anymore. [https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/274359759782\_/Vintage-Dremel-Model-70-Shoe-Buffer-Polisher-Buffer.jpg](https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/274359759782_/Vintage-Dremel-Model-70-Shoe-Buffer-Polisher-Buffer.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/231 "2022-09-09T21:00:50Z")
Almost all of those electronic devices you mentioned are available in your cell phone nowadays. But try to sew something with your android or I-phone… (I wondered, and did a quick search…) [Huh.](https://tmtailor.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/232 "2022-09-09T21:03:57Z")
In Europe they are quite common in hotels, mostly by the lift. Not ubiquitous, but I have seen them often. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/233 "2022-09-09T21:07:52Z")
Is this the same company that makes Dremel woodworking tools? It seems like a bit of a stretch, but they both use high-speed electric motors that spin something. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/234 "2022-09-09T21:13:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > We’re on a septic tank system. My parents always had sewer hookup. Virtually all the houses in the town where I live have a sewer hookup. Perhaps some of the newer developments on the outskirts have septic systems, but that’s a distinct minority. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/235 "2022-09-09T21:17:41Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > That brings to mind another one. We’re on a septic tank system. My parents always had sewer hookup. For me it’s the other way around. My parents had a septic system when I was growing up (Although where they live now I’m sure they have a sewer hookup). I now have a sewer hookup, and have never lived somewhere with a septic tank as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/236 "2022-09-10T00:58:12Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > While I was sewing, my Wife went to a bar to watch a **Stealers** /Bronco game. She was the only one the bar rooting for the **Stealers**. We live in Colorado. I suspect she got the evil eye more than once. **I’m not into football**. Yes, we could tell. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/237 "2022-09-10T01:03:35Z")
oh wow, that was a joke in Shadowrun returns …callin the main bar and brothel:the seamstresses union … it was a focal point in the PNP game too ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/238 "2022-09-10T06:46:58Z")
My Dad had a shoe polishing kit, a wooden box that would open up to reveal a buffing brush for black polish, a buffing brush for brown polish, and applicator brushes (different brushes) for same, several canisters of shoe polish (Kiwi brand) in black and brown and occasionally odd colors like ox blood or yellow or white, and buffing cloths. The top of the box held a wooden shoe support, so you could have the person who was wearing the shoe rest their foot on that while you worked on it. My everyday shoes since forever have been running-shoe variants, plasticky construction outsides that don’t require polishing. And for the dressier shoes that _do_, I have an odd contraption consisting of a sponge with some kind of stuff embedded in it which shines shoes pretty good without shoe polish of any sort and works on any and all colors. I think it’s called a “shine sponge”. Anyway, all the stuff I grew up with for polishing shoes is stuff I don’t have now. And never have had. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/239 "2022-09-10T13:22:49Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yes, we could tell. 😉 Hahahah. Yeah. Oh well. We have electricity to our house. That’s it. We are on well and septic and used to heat with wood. We did end up getting a propane stove. Wood is a pain in the ass. Though I miss the crackling and changing fire. But the mess and work is not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@sinjin1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin1)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470/240 "2022-09-18T04:28:18Z")
It was really needed in upstate New York and Canada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-device-your-parents-had-that-you-don-t-have-now/970470.md?page=13)