Old Common, Day to Day Technology. Waht do you hang onto?

[2LaneCruzer]

I don't really work much anymore, but the last 16 years when I was employed, I did not wear a watch. I just saw no point in it after I started carrying a phone. I wore plastic watches before that as soon as they became commonplace. I worked around too much electricity all the time and metal watches are dangerous. I also never wore any kind of ring, and told the wife when I married her that she would be the only one wearing a ring. I sold the class ring I had, and never wanted any jewelry. I sold it right after I got a nicad battery spot welded to it and scrambled to get it off. Needless to say, I don't have any jewelry stuck in my body parts either..

Reminds me of an experience I had many years ago, with my '41 Chevy coupe. Going home one night, the lights went off; a fuse had burned out. This was not the first time this had happened, and I had another fuse handy. I reached under the dash to pull out the fuse, and shorted my watchband across the contacts of the heater switch. It got hot, and fast! Burned a blister on my wrist big as a nickel; took me a while to figure out what happened, although the watch came off in an instant.

 

[NoTrespassing]

For vehicles, Wing Windows along with crank up windows and dimmer switches on the floor. I still think wing windows are the best way to get outside air in without blowing away the backseat passenger. I think I'm faster dimming the lights with my foot than the turnsignal stem. Two of my vehicles have manual windows, one has a manual transmission.

Kevin

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
The only thing I didn't like about the floor switches was that after a few years they would corrode and need to be replaced. I have never had a problem with a steering column dimmer. Then again I don't care how they're actuated as long as I can shut off the high beams when necessary... just as I don't care what works the windows so long as they go up and down when needed.
What I always find ironic about the "simplicity" of older vehicles is that they were less reliable when new than most 4 year old cars are now with 100K miles.

 

[4570Man]

^^^^
The only thing I didn't like about the floor switches was that after a few years they would corrode and need to be replaced. I have never had a problem with a steering column dimmer. Then again I don't care how they're actuated as long as I can shut off the high beams when necessary... just as I don't care what works the windows so long as they go up and down when needed.
What I always find ironic about the "simplicity" of older vehicles is that they were less reliable when new than most 4 year old cars are now with 100K miles.

I messed up the steering column dimmer in one of my trucks when I was changing a turn single switch. Which was a huge pita, I’m not laughing at the previous owner anymore for putting toggle switches on the dash. I don’t drive that truck at night so it’s not a big deal but I’d planned on putting a foot dimmer switch in it.

 

[goeduck]

Wing windows, yes there is something that I miss. I think they went away to make the lines cleaner looking and the door more simple. I liked them.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
Cleaner lines may have been the excuse yet I think the real reason was the cost. I also miss them. You could let in a little fresh air without having a hurricane going through the cab, or soaking the truck on rainy days like today.

 

[k0ua]

Hmm... Wing windows.. Not so fond memories as a kid and usually being the center of bench seat passenger. I loaded my share of June bugs, hardshell beetles and one bumble bee in the face scooped up by wing windows. I am kinda of an AC windows up fan now.

 

[Jstpssng]

If you want to go really old tech, vintage autos like my father's Willys pickup and his '49 KB5 International had a vent on the cowl panel with a crank on the dash to open and close it.

 

[MossRoad]

Back in the 60's I was sitting in the back seat of a VW bus with the wing window open. One of my older sisters was sitting up front, lit up a smoke, shook out the flame, then threw the match out the window. It came back in my wing widow and hit me in the eye. Hot match in the eye doesn't feel so good. I think I was 7-8 years old.

 

[Oaktree]

I worked around too much electricity all the time and metal watches are dangerous. I also never wore any kind of ring, and told the wife when I married her that she would be the only one wearing a ring.

Same here, same reason. When we got married my wife got me a ring anyway, and asked that I wear it for special occasions (anniversary dinner out, important family events, etc.). A reasonable request IMHO.

For vehicles, Wing Windows along with crank up windows and dimmer switches on the floor. I still think wing windows are the best way to get outside air in without blowing away the backseat passenger.

Yeah, and you could generally have them open when it was raining and not have rain get inside.
One other thing I miss with older cars was floor-level fresh air vents. I guess they figure they're not needed since everything built in the last 25 years or so has had standard A/C, but some of us prefer fresh, outside air.

The only thing I didn't like about the floor switches was that after a few years they would corrode and need to be replaced. I have never had a problem with a steering column dimmer. Then again I don't care how they're actuated as long as I can shut off the high beams when necessary...

That and if you had a manual shift and were stopped at a traffic light, etc. you had to put it in neutral & take your foot off the clutch to dim your lights. A little less hassle with an automatic, even though I tend to brake with my left foot...a habit I developed when I mostly drove stick shift vehicles.

What I always find ironic about the "simplicity" of older vehicles is that they were less reliable when new than most 4 year old cars are now with 100K miles.

Yeah, that too. They definitely required more maintenance...points/plugs every 8-10k, front end alignments a couple times a year (maybe less in states with better roads). Nowadays 100k is just broken in, 40-50 years ago you were lucky to get that much. 70s/80s Japanese cars were nothing but rust after 5 years or so, you might get a couple more years out of an American or European make. Now even here in the north country 10-15 year old cars are relatively common.