# Museum of the recently obsolete... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874 "2007-05-05T12:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/1 "2007-05-05T12:55:32Z")
Imagine a museum featuring items (not drawn from pop culture) that were common a generation ago but have more or less disappeared today… my offerings: Rabbit Ear style TV antennas Dial telephones what other exhibits should be considered? regards FML ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/2 "2007-05-05T12:59:35Z")
Traditional road maps. (Actually, I’m not sure if people use these or not. I run my directions on MapQuest.) ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/3 "2007-05-05T13:03:44Z")
I use MapQuest for my every day directions, but I love paper maps. When we go on a kayak trip, I try to get the USGS maps for the area. Paper maps are a kind of art IMO. ETA: Floppy discs, all sizes. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/4 "2007-05-05T13:05:18Z")
LPs and turntables Typewriters ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/5 "2007-05-05T13:08:25Z")
Large, decorative ashtrays. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/6 "2007-05-05T13:09:04Z")
Payphones and film cameras. One more than the other. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/7 "2007-05-05T13:17:02Z")
TV’s with knobs on them (no remote). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/8 "2007-05-05T13:21:03Z")
[QUOTE=Garfield226] Payphones and film cameras. One more than the other. [/QUOTE] Film cameras are far from obsolete. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/9 "2007-05-05T13:26:14Z")
Slide rules. Though I still have one. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/10 "2007-05-05T13:38:46Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] I use MapQuest for my every day directions, but I love paper maps. When we go on a kayak trip, I try to get the USGS maps for the area. Paper maps are a kind of art IMO. ETA: Floppy discs, all sizes. [/QUOTE] I agree on the “beautiful maps” thing. The ones you pick up at the gas station prolly won’t fall into that category, but there are some breathtaking ones out there. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/11 "2007-05-05T13:42:56Z")
Analog clocks Filing Cabinets (imagining a paperless future) ---
**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 5, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/12 "2007-05-05T13:46:46Z")
Manual chokes. Cassette tapes. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/13 "2007-05-05T13:47:58Z")
A lot of automobile stuff Ignition points and Feeler gauges to set them Carburators Front drum brakes. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/14 "2007-05-05T13:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=swampbear] Analog clocks Filing Cabinets (imagining a paperless future) [/QUOTE] With the exceptioon of my alarm clock and VCR, every clock in my house is analog. As are my watches. The library clock is analog. The clock at Foley’s and Macy\*s at the mall are analog. In fact, every single clock I can think of in a public place is analog. An exception for those time and temp bank clocks, tho, as those are all digital. And they seem to be on every corner, so maybe that’s what you’re pointing out. Payphones are definitely scarce, but I can still see them at convenience stores. An actual phone booth, tho… Can’t think of where one might be around me. I still carry and use a variety of corded power tools, but I find myself going cordless more often than not. I’m wondering where all the umbrellas went. I carry one in my car. I see them for sale everywhere, even at the dollar stores. But, I rarely see one in use on rainy days. Most people seem to prefer their briefcase, purse, or a newspaper. Odd. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/15 "2007-05-05T14:36:00Z")
VCRs Typewriters Zip disks Modems (okay, not completely obsolete, but damn near) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/16 "2007-05-05T14:52:37Z")
The museum would have a whole wing for old electronic devices that have been superceded by newer models: old computers (e.g. the Apple II, the original IBM PC) and associated peripherals (e.g. dot matrix printers), entertainment devices (e.g. 8-track tape players), video game systems (e.g. the Atari 2600)… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/17 "2007-05-05T15:01:03Z")
non-laser pointers dot- matrix printers ultrasonic remote controls Rotary push mowers CD walkmen, maybe not quite dead, but heading that way in favor of MP3. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/18 "2007-05-05T15:07:07Z")
Actual paychecks (now in the form of paystubs for direct deposit amounts) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/19 "2007-05-05T15:36:00Z")
Movies on VHS cassettes (or, even more obsolete, on Beta) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874/20 "2007-05-05T15:41:29Z")
Rotary push mowers are still being sold, new where I live. And they are proving very popular with the green crowd. I think you might be wrong on this one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-of-the-recently-obsolete/402874.md?page=2)