Gadgets
Some description or pre-amble....I Remember: 1981
Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had been in office for two years in 1981; policies to push privatisation of state-owned industries and utilities and the reform of the trade unions, combined with mass closure of heavy industry and factories contribute to the highest postwar levels of unemployment and a year remembered for a summer of civil unrest as the spending cuts and monetary policy bite deep. 100,000 people from across Britain march to Trafalgar Square in London for the TUC's March For Jobs.
After racial tension builds up, riots break out in Brixton, Peckham, Toxteth and Handsworth and by the end of summer riots against police occur in many towns and cities.
"Ghost Town" by The Specials hits number one in the UK charts, capturing the political mood of the summer.
John Lennon spends 6 consecutive weeks at number one with "Imagine" spending 4 weeks at the top, to be replaced by "Woman"; Adam and the Ants also have two number ones with "Stand and Deliver" and "Prince Charming".
Bucks Fizz win the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK with the song "Making Your Mind Up".
MTV hits the airwaves for the first time, Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" is the first song to be played.
I Remember: 1980
1980, unemployment is on the rise, reaching a postwar high of over 2,000,000 and the country slides into recession.
26 people are taken hostage after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy in South Kensington. After six days and the death of a hostage the SAS end the siege by storming the building, killing another hostage and all but one of the gunmen.
Philips and Sony launch the Compact Disc, although it is several years later before Audio CDs hit the stores and several years after that before the phrase "B side" is confined to history.
Lego Star Wars Table Football
This is another good example of somebody with too much time on their hands, but that's not a bad thing. Hats off for combining some of our favourite things, namely Lego, Football and Star Wars.
[ more... ]Morph - Poseable Vinyl Figure
Morph is a classic TV character, created by Aardman Animations in the 1970s. Today, he remains as mischievous and loveable as ever and now you can have your very own version! Morph made a habit of sneaking out of his art box and getting up to all sorts of mischief, and now Morph can be immortalised with your very own vinyl Morph figure.
[ more... ]Nintendo Mini Classics - Your thumbs’ greatest nemesis is back!
Before Nintendo Wii’d all over the competition with its consoles, it was busy pioneering handheld gaming with the legendary Game & Watch series. Containing (very) pared down versions of arcade classics, these LCD rectangles were to the Eighties what the DS is to the Noughties, and no self-respecting gamer would dream of hitting the playground without one sandwiched between his conkers.
[ more... ]Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer
It's easy these days to take the Internet, ludicrous processing power, massive hard disk capacities, cloud computing and mobile connectivity for granted. Back in 'the day' things were very different. Gordon Laing's well researched and elegantly designed homage to lots of different, lovely but defunct hardware from the era of "Home" as opposed to "Personal" Computers.
[ more... ]60 Years of the Vespa
Published to celebrate the diamond jubilee of this Italian cultural icon, "Sixty Years of the Vespa" brims with facts and photographs, anecdotes and advertisements. The Author, Giorgio Sarti, is an Italian Vespa expert.
[ more... ]Retro Slush Drinks Machine
Not only will this super Retro Slush Maker help capture the look and feel of a 1950's kitchen or diner, it will also make fruity frozen slush drinks in your own home. The Retro Slush Machine is perfect for entertaining on hot summer days, as it will provide your guests with an endless supply of ice cold beverages.
[ more... ]Vespa: An Illustrated History
This inexpensive photographic history of Vespa, first published in 1993, receives a much-needed overhaul to bring it up to date, and includes the addition of some colour imagery.
[ more... ]Is Your iPod or iPhone Looking Too Modern?
Give your iPhone a retro 80's look with this iPhone case. Looks like the old classic phones you used to own! It also works as a fantastic phone stand. By today's standards, you'd be forgiven for mistaking a 1980s mobile phone for, well, a house brick, but back in the day these chunky must-haves were the ultimate status symbol!
[ more... ]Invaders-Style Arcade Alarm Clock
Back in the 20th century we used to go to bed dreaming of blip-blopping aliens then wake up buzzing at the thought of hanging out down the arcade. Sadly we’ve all got jobs now (well, sort of) and the arcade as we knew it is no more.
[ more... ]ION Vertical Vinyl Wall Mounted Retro Turntable
Hear your music from another angle!
Catch the eye and ear of everyone with Ion Vertical Vinyl, a wall-mountable turntable. Vertical Vinyl is a fun, new way to experience your records - you can listen to them whilst they literally hang on the wall.
[ more... ]Retro Robot Money Bank
A money bank in the shape of a retro-style robot.
Not only does the Retro Robot Money Bank look exceptionally cool, but it's also very poilte - 'Thanks for your saving' every time you put a coin in!
Your Kitchen Is Invaded...
Did you spend a good portion of your childhood and your allowance blasting 2-dimensional aliens to smithereens?
Spend a good portion of your adult life in the kitchen?
Trying to find a way to combine to two?
No, well maybe you should...
Space Invaders, like Pac-Man, is one of the most famous retro computer games known to man and is now over 30 years old and to celebrate, we've found this fantastic selection of kitchen gadgets!
VW Camper Van Tent available to pre-order on firebox
"Officially licensed, this stunning four-man (or lady, natch) tent is a luxe, full-size replica of the iconic 1965 VW Camper Van synonymous with 60s counterculture. It’s so evocative you can almost hear the Mamas and the Papas singing California Dreamin’ every time you feast your eyes on its beautifully breadloaf-ish form. Indeed we half expected Mama Cass to tumble out when we first saw this groovy Vee-Dub. You’ll be the envy of the campsite! "
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