Did You Fall Into A Coma In The 1980's And Just Wake Up?

[EricKei]

I learned how to type on a Selctric Back when having the ability to "erase" your mistakes on one was a complete novelty!

[Silent-Hunter]

Mine hasn't skipped yet, that I've seen!

[AdamAnt316]

I learned how to type on a Selctric Back when having the ability to "erase" your mistakes on one was a complete novelty!

Yep, they're great typewriters. I think the Correcting Selectric II was the first typewriter which had a mechanism for erasing mistakes. A lot easier than using White-Out (which was a new invention at the time) or a so-called "typewriter eraser". One of my relatives once related a story to me about one of his college professors who insisted that any typed paper be mistake-free, giving demerits if he spotted evidence of the use of a typewriter eraser anywhere on the paper. My uncle got around that by buying heavy bond paper (much more expensive than regular typing paper) which didn't show evidence of eraser use as readily.

Mine hasn't skipped yet, that I've seen!

Either you're extremely lucky, or the discs you have were kept very well. In spite of the use of plastic caddies to protect them, dust and dirt usually found a way onto the CEDs, and would exhibit at least some skipping the first time they've been played back in a long time. In addition, if they weren't stored properly (i.e. stacked one on top of another vs. vertically on the spine), it can mar the grooves. Here is a video showing an example of a CED skipping during playback, doing a pretty good impression of Max Headroom:

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I AGREE

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I saw an electric typewriter in bent staple yesterday.

And if you came to my house, you'd probably see one still in my office - hard to part with stuff that still works, even if finding ribbons are a PITA.

I have an early 1980s era Brother Correct-o-ball xl7800 in great condition - just needs a new ribbon cartridge.

And my Mom is in the market for another VCR.

[emax4]

I'm guessing the person didn't know where to start looking, and went to the obvious place that's still around and sold electronics. Could be that maybe they might have found a staff member who knows someone who knows someone, etc.

There are video game collectors who are probably looking for LaserDisc players as games like Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, M.A.C.H. 3 and others used that type of technology.

[protege]

And if you came to my house, you'd probably see one still in my office - hard to part with stuff that still works, even if finding ribbons are a PITA.

My mom still had my dad's old Royal typewriter...which still works, and could print in silver. Finding the ribbons is a pain though, as it's nearly 40 years old.

[MadMike]

And my Mom is in the market for another VCR.

I got into a discussion with my brother recently about VCRs, and he wondered aloud if they even made them anymore. I thought they still made the combo units (VHS/DVD), and I looked at a few chains' sites (i.e, Best Buy) to see if they had them, and they didn't. And then I looked at stereo equipment, and apparently no one is selling cassette decks anymore either. I knew tape was dying off, but I had no idea it had actually died off completely.

[dalesys]

Dammit. I need a turntable with 78, 45, 33-1/3 & 16-2/3 speeds.

(Actually, I recorded a 78RPM Moby Grape track (Just Like Gene Autry: A Foxtrot) at 45 and re-sampled it.)

[AdamAnt316]

I got into a discussion with my brother recently about VCRs, and he wondered aloud if they even made them anymore. I thought they still made the combo units (VHS/DVD), and I looked at a few chains' sites (i.e, Best Buy) to see if they had them, and they didn't. And then I looked at stereo equipment, and apparently no one is selling cassette decks anymore either. I knew tape was dying off, but I had no idea it had actually died off completely.

Yeah, the last company producing VHS mechanisms (good ol' Funai) finally stopped making them two years ago, though there are probably still some decks left in stores which didn't sell. As for audio cassettes, they actually seem to be making somewhat of a comeback as of late. Apparently, some cassette decks are still being made, but probably not many. Also, Maxell still makes blanks, though only UD ('normal', aka type I) ones; wouldn't mind if they put their XL (metal, aka type II) line back into production, as I use them with my Fostex 4-track recorder.

Dammit. I need a turntable with 78, 45, 33-1/3 & 16-2/3 speeds.

(Actually, I recorded a 78RPM Moby Grape track (Just Like Gene Autry: A Foxtrot) at 45 and re-sampled it.)

There are still plenty of vintage turntables around which can handle all four speeds, mostly record changers made by Magnavox, BSR, Dual, ELAC, and others. Both my Dual 1019 and ELAC Miracord 40A (as sold by Radio Shack back in the '70s!) turntables offer 16/33/45/78 speeds. As far as modern turntables go, several Crosley models have 78RPM settings, but I don't think any of them offer 16. If you're serious about taking 'the slow way', some info on extra-long-play records can be found here.
-Adam

[depechemodefan]

Anyone watch Red Letter Media (a channel on Youtube)? The premise is 2 guys working for "Lighting Fast VCR Repair," and they try to milk every penny off ofMr. Plinkett, who has a VCR that needs repairing so he can watch his tape of Night Court. But the main thing is the guys review movies.

[dalesys]

About Bun-Bun's Baywatch tapes... Ka-Klick!

[RealUnimportant]

Apparently, some cassette decks are still being made, but probably not many.

It's the same kind of deal, just one company actually makes the cassette player mechanisms and they get fitted into every brand's system. They're not very good, so if you do need a new tape deck just buy the cheapest one rather than anything with a big name on it because they're literally all the same.

Check YouTube for Techmoan's channel, he's got some fascinating histories of various formats old and new, as well as reviews of the hardware needed to play them.

[AdamAnt316]

It's the same kind of deal, just one company actually makes the cassette player mechanisms and they get fitted into every brand's system. They're not very good, so if you do need a new tape deck just buy the cheapest one rather than anything with a big name on it because they're literally all the same.

Check YouTube for Techmoan's channel, he's got some fascinating histories of various formats old and new, as well as reviews of the hardware needed to play them.

Yeah, that sounds about right. I haven't bought a brand new cassette deck in a looooooooooooong time; last one probably would've been the Sony Walkman I got when I was still in college nearly 20 years ago (the radio section ran through batteries faster than the cassette player! ). I've had numerous vintage decks over the years; current deck in my main stereo system is a Tandberg TCD-440A, though I have a Pioneer CT-F900 slotted to take its place whenever I get the impetus to do so. BTW, note the MSRP on that Tandberg.....

Yeah, I've seen a number of Techmoan's videos, and he definitely seems like a man after my own retro-nerd heart. He has a recent one of a "Hi Res" Toshiba cassette deck (more like a glorified boombox) which is equipped with the type of 'end of the line' mechanism you're referring to. 8-Bit Guy also has some interesting videos in that vein, most notably this one. I've seen these "modern cassette boomboxes" for sale at some local stores, and probably would've been tempted to buy one if I hadn't seen that video. It's not as if I need anything like that, of course, given that I have numerous examples of vintage units far higher in quality than any of these modern "boomboxes" could ever aspire to. Here's just one example:

[Sparklyturtle]

I've got a Dictaphone that takes the smaller cassette tapes. Haven't used it in years, but if I ever need to transcribe anything I've got it.

[wynjara]

I've been desperately searching for a new mp3 player. I cannot find one. However, I can walk into target and buy, off the shelf, a turntable, cassette walkman, or discman.
I may have inadvertently time traveled.