Cool name, but what exactly does it mean?
According to Merriam-Webster, one definition of vintage is “of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance or quality: classic.”
Stuff was defined as personal property, while anything glorious was marked by great beauty or splendor.
My definition is a little more specific.
To me “stuff” is all types of consumer products and technology manufactured between the late 1930s in the mid-1960s. A “vintage” time frame, full of wondrous knickknacks, each one created with a style and design absent from the current, cookie cutter era.
When I started writing posts for this blog, I thought I would focus mainly on technology, radios, clocks, cameras in the like. All consumer products to be sure. Each with a unique story all their own, not to mention a fantastic look.
But it seems that everything manufactured during those years has an appealing appearance, at least to me, that is sorely lacking in the future decades. I’m talking to you clock radio built in the 1970s that looks like a brown brick.
For example. Even the most functional of items, like a movie editor that would never be put on display has a hint of style that, while not required, turns it into a piece of art.
In the coming weeks you will see a lot of posts about vintage radios. For one thing, they look cool and aren’t expensive to collect. Another plus, if I indulge and purchase one or more from an antique shop or EBay, which is a given, they don’t take up a lot of room in my house.
What you won’t get from me are technical specs, detailed descriptions, or drawings of how the gadgets work. I’m no electrician and will leave such info to others. I’m going to talk about how they look and how they work and how they came to be.
Clocks, cameras, TV’s, kitchen gadgets and the like are also fair game. Basically, if there’s a knob on it, I like it.
The bottom line: vintage tech is cool. But as I dove into the world of antiques, I discovered there was much more coolness to be found out there beyond actual pieces of hardware.
Brochures, promotional flyers and games, all glorious in their own way, and all made with a sense of style and purpose nonexistent today.
So here’s the plan for this blog as of now. Each post will showcase an item related to a product or service available to the American consumer in the early to mid 20th century. I will not only comment on the look in design of the item in question, but will include a little history lesson as well.
So travel with me to yesteryear, and discover the innovative ideas and design extraordinary vintage stuff!
Glorious.
