Sony Walkman WM-4, Stereo Cassette Player. c. 1983
Heavy. Gift rec’d c. 1996. Been keeping this inspired by the Retropod (shut down in 2004).
Keep/Discard: Either it becomes part of the sea monster, or out the door it goes.
Day 29 – Sony Walkman
Day 27 – Chinese Propoganda / Ephemera
Stack of Papers/Posters Promoting China – circa 1977
Purchased this at the same garage sale I bought the light meter and the Royal close up lens. The guy had been to China in the late seventies, when China opened its doors to tourists. (“Between 1949 and 1974, the People’s Republic was closed to all but selected foreign visitors” – Wikipedia) . I’m not sure if this material was produced specifically for tourists. It feels like “feel good” material. They may also have been printed earlier than when he bought them. They are almost like broadsheet newspapers rather than posters. Each sheet has a photograph and some text. I think I may hang them and re-photograph them all.
I love the packaging. The creased brown envelope and the colours. They are mainly black & white images with red text, but there are a couple of colour images as well.
Probable keep – because they are unique. Should frame and hang though. Unless, of course, I find out they’re worth a lot:)
n.b. Every once in a while I walk by the house where this chap had that amazing garage sale (it’s a distinctive house, and across the street from a park is why I remember it) and wonder if he just chucked the remaining unsold stuff or lugged it with him to his new home. He had a lot of stuff from traveling. That house, incidentally was ~$850,000 say in 2006 I think. Similar homes are for sale at close to 2 million now. Does he regret not waiting longer to sell, or did he buy it in the seventies and make a killing anyway?
Day 26 – Hard Drive for MBP
250 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive
My MacBook Pro is just over 3 years old. Recently the battery was replaced, because it was swollen. Most dangerous apparently. It was fixed under extended warranty. At the same time, I upgraded the ram and the hard drive, because this one, that came with it, was stuffed to the gills. I don’t know if they wiped the data when they replaced it. Probably not. So it’s also a possible back up.
I’m keeping it with intent (of course) to use in my sea monster, who is still only a prototype. As is, I like the colour and how it vaguely resembles a subway map.
It’s amazing how 250GB seems like chump change now. This object could generate another category, but most of my old computers I sell or donate. Although there’s probably more than a few cables and accessories lounging about that are long ago obsolete.
Day 25 – Turkish Coffee Pot
Turkish Coffee Pot. Vintage / Antique.
This beauty was appraised at the Antiques Road Show (the Canadian One). It didn’t make the cameras though. Although I was on the show another time, in Montreal. My 5 minutes of fame have been established. The appraiser said that it was originally brushed (or some techie term) with gold. You can still see a few flecks. It is worth a little bit. I wish I remembered more about what the appraiser said – you think you are listening, and really paying attention to all the details, but then they fleck off your memory, and all you have left is the traces – just like the gold paint.
I like the shape of the handle and spout. And the embossed pattern. There is a maker’s stamp on the bottom, but as I don’t read Arabic, it remains anonymous.
My parents acquired this. Not sure where, if it was both of them, or my mom might have got it a flea market. I don’t think they ever used it. I have not. It’s decorative lines are why I’ve kept it. As with other objects, undecided about its ‘keep’ status.
Day 24 – Hen & Rooster Salt & Pepper Shakers
Turkey Hen and Rooster Salt & Pepper Shakers, Made in Occupied Japan.
Purchased at a community centre fundraising sale. So I’ve tagged it rummage sale, as garage sale seems to belong to the purview of individual. Used once, as decoration on the table for Thanksgiving.
It’s the orange that caught my eye. And that they are so cute and well painted. The soft green is lovely as well.
Although many of the objects I’ve photographed so far could fall in the category “Collectibles” this is the first one I’ve tagged that way. I think because I bought it that way – when I saw the “Made in Occupied Japan” stamp, and that I do in fact collect salt and pepper shakers. But please, don’t buy me a set for xmas.
n.b. The whole Occupy movement has changed how I see the words “Made in Occupied Japan”. Have to do some thinking on this.
p.s. I thought these were Turkeys, but my friend Nancy corrected me. They are hen and rooster. Still cute as buttons.
Obsolescence Project 