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Old Timey

The Old Timey contributors are a team of collectors, vintage lovers and history nerds. We love researching the stories behind unique collectibles, and finding retro inspired products with modern functionality.

The Phonograph, the Gramophone, and the Foundations of Recorded Sound

Phonograph and Gramophone

In today’s world, it’s hard to imagine having anything less than unlimited access to music, books, podcasts, and other audio recordings. We can access thousands, …

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Your Guide to the History & Return of Vintage Electric Fans

Vintage Electric Fans

Electric office fans have been around for more than 125 years. Their utility is undeniable and they have an interesting history. Invented around the time …

Read MoreYour Guide to the History & Return of Vintage Electric Fans

Antique Teapots: History, Styles and Identification

Antique Teapots

Teapots have been around for centuries and have a vast history that might surprise you. These objects also underwent many upgrades that altered their appearance. …

Read MoreAntique Teapots: History, Styles and Identification

The Leica M6: History and Praise

Leica M6

It’s been nearly 20 years since production ended on the Leica M6 camera, and photographers are still reviewing it. So, how is it that this …

Read MoreThe Leica M6: History and Praise

A Guide to Vintage Walkie-Talkies and Two-Way Radios

Walkie-talkies and two-way radios are so common today that most pay no attention to them. However, at one point in history, they were considered to …

Read MoreA Guide to Vintage Walkie-Talkies and Two-Way Radios

A History of Streetlights: Out of the Darkness

Have you ever felt the pervasive darkness of a city without streetlights? Power outages, rolling brownouts and a night in the country remind us of …

Read MoreA History of Streetlights: Out of the Darkness

Cordwainer vs. Cobbler vs. Shoemaker: What’s the difference?

Cobbler vs Shoemaker: What's the difference?

Humans have needed shoes since time immemorial, and the types of shows through the ages show how the art and practicality of our mobility have …

Read MoreCordwainer vs. Cobbler vs. Shoemaker: What’s the difference?

Rotary Phones: History, How They Work and Vintage Models

When the telephone was created in 1876, it inspired many inventors to improve upon its basic design. One of these improvements was the rotary dial …

Read MoreRotary Phones: History, How They Work and Vintage Models

A Guide to Prohibition Era Clothing & Styles

Hey, all you Flippers and Flappers, do you know your onions about clothing during prohibition? Don’t know who that is? A flipper is a guy, and …

Read MoreA Guide to Prohibition Era Clothing & Styles

7 Best Retro Cotton Candy Machines For Your Home

Best Retro Cotton Candy Machines

What’s that childhood memory that comes to mind whenever you think of fairs and carnivals? Cotton Candy! Nothing excites kids and even adults than tucking …

Read More7 Best Retro Cotton Candy Machines For Your Home

The Original Speed Date? The Myth and History of the Courting Candle

Courting Candle

You find yourself in a thrift store and while looking through the shelves of trash and treasures, you spot a strange candle in a twisted …

Read MoreThe Original Speed Date? The Myth and History of the Courting Candle

Why the Rooster? A Short History of Weathervanes

Rooster Weathervane History

Weather vanes, or wind vanes, are often found perched on top of roofs to indicate the current direction of the wind. While these are mainly …

Read MoreWhy the Rooster? A Short History of Weathervanes

History of Smith-Corona Typewriters: From Shotguns to Spell Check

A few years ago, I bought a typewriter. It’s vintage, blue and cream in color, and made sometime in the 1960s or 1970s. It probably …

Read MoreHistory of Smith-Corona Typewriters: From Shotguns to Spell Check

Vintage Navigational Tools (And How They’re Useful Today)

Vintage Navigational Instruments

Navigation can be pretty tricky. Considering how many people can get lost in a parking lot, just think how much harder it was for people …

Read MoreVintage Navigational Tools (And How They’re Useful Today)

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