Things that used to be common place in people’s homes

[najaB]

The very first line in that spirit duplicator link says "Banda Machine" - so yes, we are thinking of the same thing.

Except that most "Banda machines" were actually mimeographs (in the same way that most Hoovers aren't made by the Hoover company). The two used a completely different mode of operation: a spirit duplicator could only do about 40 copies max where a mimeograph could do hundreds and so were much more common (e.g. in schools for printing test papers).

 

[Peter Sarf]

Golf ball typewriters?

In fact any type of Word Processor or Type Writer - I've not seen one for years. Last dealings I had with one was when I ended up trying to persuade my Mother's friend to abandon her broken word processor for a computer and printer - would have been about 1999. We now have those new computer things that were allegedly going to lead to the paperless office but most of us also have a tree murdering printer !.

Those embosser things where you would feed a plastic tape through and it would "print" letters on the tape.

The Dymo Tape gun. The labels stuck quite well. You could not proof read what you were making though so often used to see an altered letter in the middle of a word. Different sized font and different fonts - pah who needs em.

 

[Journeyman]

In fact any type of Word Processor or Type Writer - I've not seen one for years. Last dealings I had with one was when I ended up trying to persuade my Mother's friend to abandon her broken word processor for a computer and printer - would have been about 1999. We now have those new computer things that were allegedly going to lead to the paperless office but most of us also have a tree murdering printer !.

I have four typewriters, and I use most of them regularly! But then I'm strange like that. 2 of them have RS232 ports and double up as printers for my ancient computers.

 

[birchesgreen]

I have four typewriters, and I use most of them regularly! But then I'm strange like that. 2 of them have RS232 ports and double up as printers for my ancient computers.

I also have a typewriter, a lovely Brother Deluxe. I must admit i only use it very very occasionally.

 

[dgl]

Talking about typewriters, what about dedicated word processors, both of the Amstrad PCW and typewriter with screen style. My Auntie had an Olivetti which had a largeish EL backlit LCD, an inkjet printing mechanism, and could be used for spreadsheets. Used a floppy drive for storage but the "programs" were built in, probably this model https://typewriterdatabase.com/1994-olivetti-jetwriter-900.6112.typewriter.

 

[Jon_jpwh]

Does anyone still use those hand held sprays with a hose that connected to the bathroom taps? I think they were bought from Boots. It Was used for washing hair etc when we only had a bath. If it wasn’t connected to the taps properly or if there was a leak in the hose then it tended to spray water around the bathroom !

I use one of those. I live in a rented flat and there is a bath but no shower. I use it mainly for washing my hair. I bought it a year ago, it cost £8.45 & it works ok. It takes a little while to get the water temperature adjusted & you have to keep the water pressure low enough so it stays connected to the tap.

 

[trainophile]

I use one of those. I live in a rented flat and there is a bath but no shower. I use it mainly for washing my hair. I bought it a year ago, it cost £8.45 & it works ok. It takes a little while to get the water temperature adjusted & you have to keep the water pressure low enough so it stays connected to the tap.

You only seem to be able to get ones for two taps last time I looked. As most plumbing nowadays is one mixer tap they are not suitable, unless anyone knows differently.

 

[najaB]

You only seem to be able to get ones for two taps last time I looked. As most plumbing nowadays is one mixer tap they are not suitable, unless anyone knows differently.

Nothing you couldn't solve with a strong clamp over one of the arms.

 

[Peter Sarf]

You only seem to be able to get ones for two taps last time I looked. As most plumbing nowadays is one mixer tap they are not suitable, unless anyone knows differently.

You need to fold the redundant arm over and then tape it tightly to hold it in the folded position. Not always 100% water tight but will be good enough to only leak a dribble. But as others have said, and I recall from experience, too much flow/pressure pushes the connectors off the taps.

 

[GusB]

My grandparents had a device which was attached to both bath taps, and had an outlet for a shower attachment. There was a little switch at the side that allowed you to choose whether the water went up or down. I wouldn't mind having one myself; although I have an electric shower, the pressure isn't great and in the summer most of my hot water is heated by the sun anyway.

 

[birchesgreen]

My grandparents had a device which was attached to both bath taps, and had an outlet for a shower attachment. There was a little switch at the side that allowed you to choose whether the water went up or down. I wouldn't mind having one myself; although I have an electric shower, the pressure isn't great and in the summer most of my hot water is heated by the sun anyway.

My in-laws have that in their house, their house is fairly new though (East London) so must still be a thing you can get.

 

[takno]

My grandparents had a device which was attached to both bath taps, and had an outlet for a shower attachment. There was a little switch at the side that allowed you to choose whether the water went up or down. I wouldn't mind having one myself; although I have an electric shower, the pressure isn't great and in the summer most of my hot water is heated by the sun anyway.

They're still fairly common. Your average combi boiler can put out more heat than a feeble electric shower anyway, so they are often preferable.

 

[eMeS]

In fact any type of Word Processor or Type Writer - I've not seen one for years. Last dealings I had with one was when I ended up trying to persuade my Mother's friend to abandon her broken word processor for a computer and printer - would have been about 1999. We now have those new computer things that were allegedly going to lead to the paperless office but most of us also have a tree murdering printer !.

The Dymo Tape gun. The labels stuck quite well. You could not proof read what you were making though so often used to see an altered letter in the middle of a word. Different sized font and different fonts - pah who needs em.

Mine isn't a "Dymo" - it's a "brother P-touch 85" and I wouldn't be without it. I use it for labelling my boxes of slides, minor controls in the car, batteries for my camcorders & DSLRs. Wherever the ubiquitous black plastic or case makes recognition difficult.

 

[westv]

I also have a typewriter, a lovely Brother Deluxe. I must admit i only use it very very occasionally.

The last time I saw a typewriter being used was probably two decades ago. What on earth do you use yours for?

 

[takno]

The last time I saw a typewriter being used was probably two decades ago. What on earth do you use yours for?

I don't have a working typewriter at the moment, but I did used to find that it was better for committing a first draft of something to paper. Basically the fact that you can edit stuff easily on a wordprocessor means that you endlessly go about editing stuff, and worrying about nonsense like spelling. If you get something wrong in a first typewriter draft you just carry on - you'll be retyping it anyway so changes aren't at all difficult.

 

[najaB]

I don't have a working typewriter at the moment, but I did used to find that it was better for committing a first draft of something to paper. Basically the fact that you can edit stuff easily on a wordprocessor means that you endlessly go about editing stuff, and worrying about nonsense like spelling. If you get something wrong in a first typewriter draft you just carry on - you'll be retyping it anyway so changes aren't at all difficult.

There's nothing stopping you taking the same attitude with a word processor, and it would make the second draft much quicker!

 

[Journeyman]

There's nothing stopping you taking the same attitude with a word processor, and it would make the second draft much quicker!

I've actually used a lot of old tech for first drafts, and anything that lets you deal with plain text only, without being online, is far easier and less distracting than using Word on a computer attached to the Internet.

 

[birchesgreen]

The last time I saw a typewriter being used was probably two decades ago. What on earth do you use yours for?

Well the last time was to type the address on a formal letter i had to do (character reference for a relative who had been accused of a crime), the letter was word processed and laser printed but i didn't want to have to faff around with the envelope so it was much easier to get my typewriter out!

 

[najaB]

I've actually used a lot of old tech for first drafts, and anything that lets you deal with plain text only, without being online, is far easier and less distracting than using Word on a computer attached to the Internet.

Fire up Notepad and remove the network cable.

 

[PG]

I'll confess to coming late, and thus not having read (yet) the whole thread.

That being said what about the pulley aka overhead clothes airer.

 

[birchesgreen]

I've actually used a lot of old tech for first drafts, and anything that lets you deal with plain text only, without being online, is far easier and less distracting than using Word on a computer attached to the Internet.

Quite a few authors use older computers to write for the same reason, no pop-ups and other distractions!

 

[Journeyman]

Fire up Notepad and remove the network cable.

Believe it or not, I'm currently writing a letter to a friend using Tasword running on a ZX Spectrum +2, hooked up to a Brother EP-44 thermal printer/typewriter.

I kid you not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jan 2021 ==

Quite a few authors use older computers to write for the same reason, no pop-ups and other distractions!

George RR Martin writes on a 1980s MS-DOS machine.

 

[swt_passenger]

I'll confess to coming late, and thus not having read (yet) the whole thread.

That being said what about the pulley aka overhead clothes airer.

Post 68 unfortunately, although described differently...

 

[Steddenm]

Tipp Ex correction papers for typewriters....

 

[PG]

Post 68 unfortunately, although described differently...

Thats me telt for not reading the whole thread before posting...

 

[xotGD]

Word processor? Typewriter? What's wrong with pen and paper?

 

[Journeyman]

Word processor? Typewriter? What's wrong with pen and paper?

I use those too!

 

[takno]

Word processor? Typewriter? What's wrong with pen and paper?

I forgot how to write donkeys years ago

 

[dgl]

I've used a typewriter to write out cheques, seems quite a secure way to do it as not only would it be difficult to forge the exact typing but it leaves an impression so you could tell if it had been tampered with, guarantees that it can't be misread too.
I also used one for homework when out computer went wrong.

 

[najaB]

I've used a typewriter to write out cheques

Cheques...?