Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[Killingworth]

I have an Ordnance Survey digital subscription so I can see the 1:50,000 & 1:25,000 maps on my phone or tablet or computer. All very useful, but nowhere near as enjoyable as a winter evening pouring over the corresponding paper maps. Must admit though the double sided White Peak & Dark Peak could involve a bit of dexterity and contortion

I also have an OS subscription and download the area and route I'll be using in advance to avoid problems with any lack of signal. I usually print out the area and route on A4 paper too.

Yes, OL1 and OL24 for the Peak District are not good to use in a gale!

 

[Howardh]

Radio Rentals!

Inbetween serious jobs around the 90's, I worked for a local rentals firm, delivering, installing and removing said rental setc. One day a job was made a bit easier for me as the customer said "just take the old one away and leave the new one there, I'll sort it".

fair enough, but about an hour later my firm got a call "the picture's blurred and fuzzy, can they (send me back to) sort it?

Easy peasy, he hadn't peeled off the thick plastic screen protector!

Of course these days the plastic film is so fine on mobile phones (and even TV screens), it's probably a good idea to leave them on!

 

[Statto]

A friend of mine who once worked in a South London bar several decades ago recalls that a popular "pint" was a mixed beer. 'Light and bitter', 'Guinness and bitter', 'Brown and mild'. Basically a half-pint of draught beer in a pint glass with a bottled beer served with it. the 'half-pint' was measured by eye but there was no way bar staff were going to risk customer's ire over perceived short measure. So, a 'pint' of light and bitter was really a pint and a quarter.

Brown over bitter was popular in my area, which is Brown Ale (normaly Manns Brown Ale) over John Smiths, or whetever other bitter the pub was draught.

That reminds me of tale i got told at one of my former regulars now long gone, the landlord got another bitter in on draught to replace John Smiths as it was cheaper for a keg, the regulars refused to drink it as it was awful, so they went to the local off licence & bought cans of John Smiths instead, & drank the cans in the pub, there logic being he could hardly bar them for drinking John Smiths from cans in a John Smiths pub, the landlord got rid of that bitter & got John Smiths on draught back a few weeks later

 

[Bald Rick]

Until you are somewhere away from an adequate base station, - as many hill climbers have found to their cost.

Always Download first.

Paper maps cover a much greater area in detail than a map on a three inch scree

True, but that’s rarely needed in my experience.

I also have an OS subscription and download the area and route I'll be using in advance to avoid problems with any lack of signal.

This. The OS supscription revolutionised my walking experiences, especially in the rain, and also with my eyesight. Being able to zoom the 1:25000 up to ‘large print’ and for the map to tell you exactly where you are and which direction you are facing is so much easier (and safer).

 

[Statto]

Just had a look & i see A to Z is owned by Harper Collins now, but they still publish maps under the A to Z brand.

 

[dgl]

The term 'floppy disk' refers to the magnetic disk with the data recorded on it, and 8inch, 5 1/4 inch and 3 1/2 inch drives all had them. They are floppy and the read/record head actually presses against the surface which is compliant although trying to maintain a flat profile as a result of it spinning. There are felt liners inside the card or paper cases to clean the floppy disk when it spins.

There were also 3" Quick Disks, used by some Amstrad machines (PCW, CPC6128 and external FDD for 464), Akai S612 disk unit and Roland S-10, MKS-100 and S20 amongst others).
They weren't known for reliability or compatibility between drive manufacturers and you could record to beoth sides of the disk by flipping it, something you could do with some other drives, though generally they migrated to having two heads to record both sides without flipping the disk.

I'm very much still a user of 3.5" DD and HD floppy disks as for my Roland S330 sampler and Generalmusic/GEM S2 it's the only non-volatile storage available. On the S330 the OS is on every disk and it won't boot without one, sound disks having a base version of the OS with a Utility disk that has the sampling parts of the OS on it and the Director-S disk which has the optional sequencer.

That last point brings me on to something less common now and that is dongles, a fair few pieces of professional software needed a hardware dongle to work, that includes a lot of music production software and the aforementioned Director-S for the Roland S330/550 samplers.
Mostly now online activation is done instead.

 

[dcbwhaley]

True, but somehow the bit you need is always in the fold/halfway over on the other sheet!

Oh. Two sided maps are a PITA. Trying to turn one over in any kind of wind is almost impossible.
Best to buy two copies

 

[bearhugger]

Indeed! Or even "snakey and black" with a dash of blackcurrant cordial to add to the mix. Used to be infamous in the Walkabouts of west London 20+ years ago where a lot of Aussies reside. The sticky floor in the Shepherd's Bush bar was often ridiculously bad!

Snakebites with blackcurrant cordial were nicknamed "diesels" or "red diesels" round my way.

 

[Statto]

Not forgetting "Snakebite" - half lager, half cider - with varying rumours as to it's ability to get you more drunk more quickly and pubs/bars being banned from serving it

Pubs were never banned from serving Snakebite, they just refused to serve it as it sent some drinking it loopy that you'd get fights, as you could get around any ban by odering a pint & cider separatley, drink some of the pint then mix it together youself.

Stella is one thats been watered down, that used to be around 5.2% alcohol, its gone down to 4.6%, Stella used to be known as loopy juice in my area.

 

[uglymonkey]

Brains SA ( or skull attack ) in Cardiff.

 

[GordonT]

A feature on breakfast telly this morning covered the 30th anniversary of Windows 95. Reminded me, among other things, of the popularity of playing the card game "patience" on personal computers and the subset of folk who were determined to soldier on with the alternative operating systems they knew and loved such as Apple Mac.

 

[Trackman]

I guess some barbers may still use them, but what about shaving brushes and shaving soap? Anyone use them?

 

[PeterC]

I guess some barbers may still use them, but what about shaving brushes and shaving soap? Anyone use them?

I always wet shave. I only switched from a straight razor to a safety razor when my cardiologist put me on anticoagulants

 

[trebor79]

I guess some barbers may still use them, but what about shaving brushes and shaving soap? Anyone use them?

Yes, and a modern safety razor. Much better than all the nonsense multi blade cartridges.

 

[Killingworth]

I guess some barbers may still use them, but what about shaving brushes and shaving soap? Anyone use them?

I confess to using a shaving brush but draw the line at buying special soap. I still have an old safety razor somewhere and recall buying Wilkinson Sword stainless blades when they were introduced.

They were made in a new factory at Cramington new town that I visited on a works tour about 1966/7. Back in the days when diversification from coal was well underway in SE Northumberland. When steam locomotives were still to be seen in the Ashington area!

 

[pitdiver]

Oh. Two sided maps are a PITA. Trying to turn one over in any kind of wind is almost impossible.
Best to buy two copies

I did that with the Norfolk Broads OS map that was double sided. Very difficult to turn over a map when it's windy and wet. Must admit the maps were the laminated versions

 

[styles]

'Full sugar' drinks without sweeteners.

I initially supported the idea of a sugar tax, imagining most manufacturers would keep their recipes the same, raise the prices which would nudge people towards lower sugar options, and generate tax revenue ringfenced for school exercise programmes and community football pitches.

I didn't expect so many manufacturers to change their recipe.

It was bad enough that Lucozade took out about two thirds of the sugar when the whole point of the drink was to be sugary.

Pepsi changing their recipe took me totally be surprised this year as they stuck it out for so long and I expected their original recipe to be so important to their product that they wouldn't drop it.

Today I bought a bottle of Fentiman's Curiosity Cola and poured the bottle away as neither my partner nor I liked the aftertaste. So even the 'premium' drinks are no longer safe.

I don't drink loads of the stuff so when I do I really would prefer it if it didn't taste of chemicals.

The three brands I'm remaining local to are Coca-Cola, Irn-Bru (who changed their recipe but also make a 1901 original recipe version for those happy to pay the sugar tax), and Todd's Drinks (who make a drink tasting almost identical to the original Lucozade).

Annoying when going out for food/drinks and the restaurant sells Pepsi but not Coca-Cola as there's just no decent option.

 

[Bald Rick]

Annoying when going out for food/drinks and the restaurant sells Pepsi but not Coca-Cola as there's just no decent option

Lager usually works.

 

[Mogz]

There are also several things still around that back in the 90s/2000s I would have thought would be long gone by now:

1. Diesel-hauled passenger trains.

The fact that Chiltern have just taken on the 68s and Mk 5As and TfW are still running 67-hauled Mk 4s probably mean that they will be with us for some time to come.

2. Analogue cameras and films.

I popped into Boots the Chemist the other day and noticed that they still sell compact 35mm film cameras, disposable 35mm cameras and about six varieties of film including Kodak, Fuji and Ilford. I couldn’t believe my eyes- I’d have thought phones would have killed availability off long ago.

3. Miles, pints, inches etc

When I was at school we were taught that we would be “going totally metric” soon. Although supermarkets have gone over to grams and kilos, there’s no sign of that on the roads or in pubs, or when buying clothes, pizzas, TVs, take-away coffees etc etc.

4. Coins and notes

I remember in the early 90s watching a documentary about a “Mondex Card” which would totally replace cash. While COVID has meant that the majority of transactions are now card-based, coins and notes are still with us, and my daughter recently found her first “King Charles” £1 coin in her change.

 

[styles]

4. Coins and notes

I remember in the early 90s watching a documentary about a “Mondex Card” which would totally replace cash. While COVID has meant that the majority of transactions are now card-based, coins and notes are still with us, and my daughter recently found her first “King Charles” £1 coin in her change.

Perhaps a tangent, but for the three years I've lived in Scotland, I've never had any issues spending Scottish banknotes south of the border. All except two occasions which were both on forum meets!

Similarly, when I've had poker winnings and been given £50 notes, I've found most places accept them fine.

I'm tempted to run three experiments:

1. Spend a Scottish £50 note somewhere in England, Wales, or NI.
2. Spend a Bank of Scotland £100 note somewhere in Scotland.
3. Spend a Bank of Scotland £100 note somewhere in England, Wales, or NI.

Of course not one of those people filming it for YouTube, or kicking off and shouting 'legal tender' at minimum wage service workers, but simply to see if they're accepted!

 

[GordonT]

I popped into Boots the Chemist the other day

A descriptor for Boots which itself is a candidate for the anachronistic box.

 

[bleeder4]

2. Analogue cameras and films.

I popped into Boots the Chemist the other day and noticed that they still sell compact 35mm film cameras, disposable 35mm cameras and about six varieties of film including Kodak, Fuji and Ilford. I couldn’t believe my eyes- I’d have thought phones would have killed availability off long ago.

Plenty of camera shops still around. Professional photographers don't use their phones. If you paid someone thousands of pounds to photograph your wedding you'd be a bit miffed if he just used his phone to take the pictures. A digital zoom on a phone just can't compete with an optical zoom from a long lens.

 

[cool110]

I popped into Boots the Chemist the other day and noticed that they still sell compact 35mm film cameras, disposable 35mm cameras

Plenty of camera shops still around. Professional photographers don't use their phones. If you paid someone thousands of pounds to photograph your wedding you'd be a bit miffed if he just used his phone to take the pictures.

Would still be in the same boat with one of those, they're going for the same "nostalgia" market as new music on vinyl records and cassette tape. The professional market will always be SLRs of both the film and digital variety.

 

[AM9]

Would still be in the same boat with one of those, they're going for the same "nostalgia" market as new music on vinyl records and cassette tape. The professional market will always be SLRs of both the film and digital variety.

Actually, few 'pros' are still using film, and few of those full sized digital cameras are SLRs, these days mirrorless is the most practical for pros.

 

[Mogz]

One more on the photography front…

In addition to making compact 35mm cameras (cheapo plastic ones that cost £25), Kodak also make Super 8 cine camera and films (remember them?)

In contrast to their 35mm still cameras, though, they’re bloomin’ expensive and obviously aimed at American film schools…

KODAK Super 8 Camera

The magic of analog filmmaking meets modern convenience.

www.kodak.com

 

[dcbwhaley]

True, but that’s rarely needed in my experience.

It is very important if you are taking cross bearings on distant landmarks to check your position

 

[Peter Mugridge]

One more on the photography front…

In addition to making compact 35mm cameras (cheapo plastic ones that cost £25), Kodak also make Super 8 cine camera and films (remember them?)

In contrast to their 35mm still cameras, though, they’re bloomin’ expensive and obviously aimed at American film schools…

There's one other very active supplier still providing cine products worldwide, but yes the prices are a bit high.

SUPER 8 FILM SHOP - WITTNER CINETEC

Super 8 Film Shop. Wittner Cinetec offers all kind of accessories and film stock for the dedicated Super 8, 2x8mm and 16mm movie film maker.

www.wittnercinetec.com

 

[izvor]

I'm tempted to run three experiments:

1. Spend a Scottish £50 note somewhere in England, Wales, or NI.
2. Spend a Bank of Scotland £100 note somewhere in Scotland.
3. Spend a Bank of Scotland £100 note somewhere in England, Wales, or NI.

All of these can be legally refused, as can a Bank of England £50 note.

What is legal tender?

Many people are confused about this – it is more about settling debts than how you pay for things in shops

www.bankofengland.co.uk

 

[dgl]

Of course the big difference between your smartphone camera and a decent digital camera s the size of the sensor.
No amount of "AI" trickery can make up for the extra definition you get by simply not having you pixels so close together.
Even my old and crap Sony A230 DSLR within it's APS-C sized sensor blows the phone camera out of the water if you zoom in on an image

 

[styles]

All of these can be legally refused, as can a Bank of England £50 note.

What is legal tender?

Many people are confused about this – it is more about settling debts than how you pay for things in shops

www.bankofengland.co.uk

I know. I'm not suggesting a legal tender transaction. Just seeing if anywhere will actually accept them.