Dadjunk » Retro

DIY Laptop Etch-A-Sketch – Dadvine

chad — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:29:35 +0000

Anything that combines retro-toys with tech gets my stamp of approval. And – especially because the Etch-A-Sketch hasn’t change the main font of their name since forever ago – I have a soft spot for that analog wonder. Arduino + Etch-A-Sketch makes me wish that I completed more than three of the 160-in-1 electrontic projects in that kit my parents gave me in the 80′s with the hopes that I’d understand all this “computer stuff” and take care of them in their old age. But I digress. Techno-mashups like this are simply inspiring.

Hack-a-Sketch from nootropicdesign on Vimeo.

Before the Björn, earlier than the Ergo

chad — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:04:13 +0000

5 old time baby carrier patents that show there has always been a desire for hands-free baby schlepping.

Beginning with William J. Sprong’s “Child Carrier” patented in 1915. This carrier was either made for a largely proportioned daddy or a tiny baby.

Four more patents here.

Wallace Lippincott of Philadelphia won the patent with this strap with a sort of swing. Maybe kids were less squirmy back in 1916, but that harness looks pretty complicated.

Frederick D. Wood of Jacksonville, Florida came up with this baby carrier in 1944 (Patent# 2,409,331) that is a half sling, half seated platform.

Rewinding to 1911 and Mary E. MacFarlane’s child carrier (Patent # 983,376), for only the most elegant baby-suitcase-and umbrella carrying gal about town.

Rewind again to 1896, when Mary Collins of Scranton dreamed up this child-carrying strap. Her stern-looking illustration-mom definitely means business. Wonder what she’s carrying in that little pouch.

Baby Walker on Rails from 1900

chad — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:05:19 +0000

Edward Firnhaber of Worms, Nebraska dreamed up this baby walker on a track back in 1900 when railroads were all the rage. The purpose of his “simple and efficient device” was to teach a baby to walk and move in a “predetermined confinement without annoyance or irritation.” Seems like a great way to learn how to walk – IN CIRCLES.

Ye Olde Kid Wearer Outer

chad — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:43:15 +0000

Leon Bernadzikiewicz must have had an energetic kid back in 1913. His patented “run around the table until you pass out contraption”, also known as an “Exercising Device”, was either the work of parenting genius or an example of “outdated” cruelty to kids. As a plus, it doubled as a dining table. I wonder if it came with a matching Lazy Susan.

100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About | GeekDad

chad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:51:05 +0000

via wired.com

This is a great list of many of the things that our kids will never know about. We can find a few gaps, like the “auto-reverse” function of a Walkman. But that’s really more of a subcategory to number 3, “Playing music on an audio tape using a personal stereo.” But let’s take a moment to honor auto-reverse as a huge advance in personal stereo technology. It meant that you didn’t have to bother actually turning a tape over to hear the other side. Genius. At the time. Thanks GeekDad.

Posted via web from Chad