Things the kids won't recognize

[Serk]

I'm always amazed at the once every day items that fall into disfavor and that the younger generation don't know of.

This one struck rather close to home. Kali's car died. Like timing belt broke while she was driving it, take the $500 salvage price and have it towed away died.

My mom had a spare car, her mom's 1998 Toyota Camry. Literally the real deal "Little old lady drove it to church once a week" car that she insisted on giving to Kali as her graduation present.

So Kali's now driving a car that's been through 4 generations of my family (We're gonna title it jointly in my and Kali's name specifically to achieve that) that's older than her (And ironically the same year as the Valkyrie I let her ride) and this morning she sends me this in a message:



She wasn't joking either.


I told her to push it in then wait for it to "pop". Then told her we used to use that to discipline unruly children before the "time out" generation  took over, instead of a namby pamby spanking we'd brand the kids with that when they wouldn't behave.

(At that point she figured out it was for lighting smokable products.)

[Fazer]

How about the side vent windows we used to crank open--before AC.  I remember cars before we had seatbelts.  Remember having to pull down the top of the license plate to add fuel?  Or how about the dimmer switch on the floor?

[Jess from VA]

Don't push that, it's the ejection seat.    

Also, in some old cars, when that thing got hot and popped out, it might pop clear out of the housing to the floor.  Don't do that.  It's distracting.  Hopefully, she's not smoking your cigars.  

Joint ownership generally means joint liability (though it does give you joint control of ownership).  I'm just saying.    

Edit:   If policy limits are exceeded in the claim/suit. 

And if it goes in her name only, locking the title in a safe makes selling it (without permission) a bit difficult.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. 

[0leman]

I rarely used that lighter.  Never smoke, but used the  "lighter" when forgot to bring matches for starting fires to cook hotdogs.  Worked great. 

Yeah had several vehicles with push button on floor to dim lights.  Gave left foot some to do besides pushing the clutch in.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang, now I really feel old. I remember when cars didn’t even come with the lighter. Just an ashtray. 

[scooperhsd]

12V outlets are popular now - cell phones etc.

[The emperor has no clothes]

12V outlets are popular now - cell phones etc.

I think now it’s USB ports. It’s actually kind of funny. You could show my in-laws some and they would be just as oblivious as Kali was to the cig lighter.

[old2soon]

        O6 Pontiac I own has No ashtray No floor mounted dimmer switch No side vent windows No window crank handles and the push buttons on the radio Do NOT change the channels. But I Like the heated front seats the quiet turn indicators-No noisy click click click-the near effortless feel of the wheel while backing a trailer in or parralell parking BUT the road feel I get at speed. I also Like the newer radial tires on cars today as opposed to those nylon tube type subject to being flat Anywhere and Any time-generally early in the oh dark thirty when tryin to git to work!   Even at -20 F or colder She Still started. Any one here that had an old 6 volt point and condenser ignition KNOWS about What I speak!   BUT as we Are All aware of these strides come at a PRICE!   All that being said would Not mind havin our old 51 Ford Flathead V 8 stock car back.   RIDE SAFE.

[hubcapsc]

My 1st gen Tacoma has a lighter socket and a charging socket.
When I first got the truck I plugged the charge-adapter into the
lighter socket and the fuse blew...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

I miss those vent windows more than anything else.  I used those all the time for ventilation and fresh air.  

[hubcapsc]

I miss those vent windows more than anything else.  I used those all the time for ventilation and fresh air.  

It is like some cars aren't even designed right for driving around with the
windows down anymore... you get that awful throbbing reverberation that
makes your eardrums flutter... "roll down the back windows a little, see if
that helps!"...

The Mini does GREAT with the windows down  ...

-Mike

[John Schmidt]

When I was a wee one, the windshield cranked out from the bottom on this old car we had, don't recall the make or model. I just remember sitting there with my face near the bottom of the windshield, the breeze blowing in my face keeping me cool as we stormed down the highway at nearly 60mph...on level ground. I recall my uncle taking me along when he went to the local repair shop to have the aftermarket turn signal apparatus installed. All the way home he kept going around corners not on his normal route, just so he could see his new turn thingy work...like a little kid with a new toy.    Many, if not most, cars of that era only had one taillight....the left side. Back then it was a state law in Iowa, you had to have at least one working taillight on the left side for any vehicle being driven or towed on the highway. I'll never forget my uncle getting stopped by the local constabulary while he was pulling a loaded manure spreader down a gravel road while headed for a distant corner of the farm reachable only via that country road. The issue; he didn't have a taillight. My uncle was disgusted with the young kid/deputy, wasn't required on farm equipment going from field to field. The kid still wrote him up(which was dropped). My uncle decided to share the load...so to speak! With the deputy near the back of the spreader, he reached back and engaged the spreader as he pulled away. As the old saying goes...the wind blew and the poop flew. The young deputy was pissed beyond description, but wasn't about to try pulling my uncle over again. Wish I could have been at the station when he returned.  

As for the old crank-out vents, I found that at the right angle the breeze would blow my date's skirt up quite handily. Depending on her reaction gave you a clue as to how the evening might go. 

[msb]

Funny how fast technology passes...I guess it always has, just seem to notice it more. During my 36 year career with my one company, I always got a new truck every 3-4 years...got to purchase whatever I wanted (within reason). Each time there was always one or two options I didn't have that I tried to get on the next truck, so that's why I probably noticed the changes so much. My last and current one, a 2019 F150, is the first truck I've had without a CD player since they first became available.

OK, anyone identify with one of these? I wasn't driving at the time, but I remember them on the family car

[Jess from VA]

It's like some cars aren't even designed right for driving around with the
windows down anymore..

My new truck, the driver's windows don't even go all the way down, last three inches (and there are no rear windows, that open).  It's OK for air, and the truck is so big, you can't lean your elbow out there anyway while driving (and get skin cancer on that arm).  

[GiG]

" at the right angle the breeze would blow my date's skirt up quite handily. Depending on her reaction gave you a clue as to how the evening might go"

The vanity mirror on the backside of the passenger sun visor, at the correct angle, can tell you what color panties she has on - if any at all 

[old2soon]

Funny how fast technology passes...I guess it always has, just seem to notice it more. During my 36 year career with my one company, I always got a new truck every 3-4 years...got to purchase whatever I wanted (within reason). Each time there was always one or two options I didn't have that I tried to get on the next truck, so that's why I probably noticed the changes so much. My last and current one, a 2019 F150, is the first truck I've had without a CD player since they first became available.

OK, anyone identify with one of these? I wasn't driving at the time, but I remember them on the family car

         Evaporative water bag. The evaporation keeps the water cool. Well a bit cooler than the outside temp. RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Funny how fast technology passes...I guess it always has, just seem to notice it more. During my 36 year career with my one company, I always got a new truck every 3-4 years...got to purchase whatever I wanted (within reason). Each time there was always one or two options I didn't have that I tried to get on the next truck, so that's why I probably noticed the changes so much. My last and current one, a 2019 F150, is the first truck I've had without a CD player since they first became available.

OK, anyone identify with one of these? I wasn't driving at the time, but I remember them on the family car

We must have been living the high life. We had one of these. Although I think my Mom got 99% of the cooling in the front passenger seat.

[cookiedough]

I remember Dad's old 1968 chevy bel-air growing up with the front triangular crank out small windows in front.  I also remember they never sealed up fully tight and whistled all the time, but I still thought they were cool growing up.  too bad my brother rolled it on it's roof in 1985 falling asleep drunk at the wheel went into a deep ditch alongside the road, tried going back on road and it turned over on him guessing going 35 mph or so, it was toast after that. 

Yah, my kids 'need' a backup camera and multiple USB ports good old cigarette lighter is mostly done away with as well as CD player in most newer cars.   I do not miss the old AM ONLY radio though that sucked upgraded my 1978 car back in high school with 6x9 cutout speakers in the top of trunk cutting holes thru the cardboard top and upgraded BOOMING radio.  Even in the 80s still NO CD player, just a cassette.  WOW, what an upgrade in sound from cassette to CD though as much as the upgrade from crappy stock AM or AM/FM stock radio with OEM junk speakers.  Even in 2014 car does not have a backup camera and ONLY 1 USB port for a 4 seater car.  Most new cars have 2 USB in front and some even have 1 or 2 USB ports for rear passengers.

Serk,  glad Kali is not too 'unhappy' with driving an older tried and true 1990's camry.  I say if it runs kids should be happy basic transportation for free right.  Smart putting both of you on title and in an OR format either one of you can sell or get rid of the car when the time comes.  My 1 kid does not like the old 2004 pontiac vibe to old, too slow, etc, but the younger boy age 20 does not care.  It runs is all he cares about with 160K miles on it now goes from point a to point b.  Is old enough when bought 4 years ago with 104K miles on it that do not care one bit if gets another dent or large scratch in it since has dozens already from prior owner. 

[Oldfishguy]

Still using:

[The emperor has no clothes]

Still using:

I have a friend that almost cried when I fixed his.

[msb]

Still using:

Party line as well? 

[RustyValkry]

Funny how fast technology passes...I guess it always has, just seem to notice it more. During my 36 year career with my one company, I always got a new truck every 3-4 years...got to purchase whatever I wanted (within reason). Each time there was always one or two options I didn't have that I tried to get on the next truck, so that's why I probably noticed the changes so much. My last and current one, a 2019 F150, is the first truck I've had without a CD player since they first became available.

OK, anyone identify with one of these? I wasn't driving at the time, but I remember them on the family car

Lister or lyster bag.  They are pretty cool, cooling bags.  I recall my parents had one they hung on the front of the car once when we took a trip to Canada.

[Jess from VA]

Things the kids won't recognize

How about any kind of physical labor?

[Patrick]

I told her to push it in then wait for it to "pop". Then told her we used to use that to discipline unruly children before the "time out" generation  took over, instead of a namby pamby spanking we'd brand the kids with that when they wouldn't behave.






LOL !

[Patrick]

Things the kids won't recognize

How about any kind of physical labor?

I remember doing that !  Probably many more of us do to ! Heck of it is, its illegal in NYS now. Gotta be 13 or 14 to mow now. I guess we're all just plain lucky we cut our feet or legs off.

[hubcapsc]

Things the kids won't recognize

How about any kind of physical labor?

I remember doing that !  Probably many more of us do to ! Heck of it is, its illegal in NYS now. Gotta be 13 or 14 to mow now. I guess we're all just plain lucky we cut our feet or legs off.

11th and 12th graders were the bus drivers at my high school...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

That's interesting.  

But it's not physical labor.  (though perhaps it was a job?)

[DIGGER]

I drove a 1961 Ford Falcon to high school.   It had a short in the  Wiring of the steering column and the horn wouldnt work.   So to pass inspection I wired a second dimmer switch on the floor to honk the horn.    Had a date once that I convinced her that if she bounced on the car seat it would honk the horn.    We were going down the road with her bouncing in the seat as I was honkkng the horn with my left foot....ha.     50 yrs later she and I are still friends and she recently brought that memory up.    She still remembered how embarrassed she was when she found out the truth...ha

[Jess from VA]

Continuing the drift:

When I got out of service in CA and had my Hog shipped to VA with household goods, it was my first state with inspections, and they failed the bike for no horn.  The horn worked, but the wiring in the handlebar/switch was kaput (and had been for many years.  My Pythons were 12 times louder than my horn.)  The handlebar problem was beyond my kin, so I ran home and wired the horn to a button under the tank.  There was no way in heck you could hit that button in any kind of emergency, but I passed the inspection.  I continued to use the Pythons for a horn until I sold the bike.

I wonder if kids today call adults sir and ma'am anymore? 

[JimC]

I took the grand kids to the drive in for ice cream. When we returned I told them to roll up the windows. Once inside the house, I overheard one of the little ones asking their mother why I asked them to ROLL up the windows in stead of shutting them.

Seems they were not familiar with that term, (which I still use to this day) all they have ever had to do was push a button, not turn a handle.

Jim

[John Schmidt]

I drove a 1961 Ford Falcon to high school.   It had a short in the  Wiring of the steering column and the horn wouldnt work.   So to pass inspection I wired a second dimmer switch on the floor to honk the horn.    Had a date once that I convinced her that if she bounced on the car seat it would honk the horn.    We were going down the road with her bouncing in the seat as I was honkkng the horn with my left foot....ha.     50 yrs later she and I are still friends and she recently brought that memory up.    She still remembered how embarrassed she was when she found out the truth...ha

My first car was a '48 Dodge 4-door while still in HS. Lots of room front and back which my buddies seemed to enjoy when we double dated. Problem was, they shamelessly messed up the back seat even though it had seat covers. I finally ran a wire from the ignition all the way back there and pulled the covers up just enough to run it between the seat and the seat covers. I did put a small resistor in the line to lower the voltage somewhat and installed a pushbutton under the dash left of the steering column. It had an "interesting" effect on the various passengers, depending on who they were. I'll leave it at that, your imagination can fill in the details and in many cases you won't be far off...believe me! I enjoyed high school immensely. 

[F6Dave]

The first cars I remember had AM only radios with mechanical pushbutton presets. I was amazed at how you could set each of those 5 buttons to the stations of your choice. I looked up the mechanism that makes them work and it's interesting.

The 'radio buttons' on computers and phones which you use to make selections were inspired by those old car radios.

[Hook#3287]

The old mopars that had the floor vents about the size of a toaster

We used to be able to fit about 1/2 a case of beer cans in each one.

Then again, no one knows what a case of beer is anymore.

[Patrick]

HEY HEY HEY, I still know what a case of beer is ! Thats the only way to buy it !

As long as we're telling old stories,
We sold Studebaker and Ford.

We sold a few Edsels and the high class model [ forget the model] had the shift buttons in the steering wheel. This one we sold would go into neutral during a turn, I had to fix it. That was interesting . We also sold a number of Ford Retractables. Nice cars until the top decided not to work. I also got the job to fix them. Thats all we heard, give it to the kid he'll fix it.

Also always heard from my Grandfather, is it tight !?  Yes, grandpa its tight. Well, give it another turn  was always the response.

[Willow]

My first car was a '48 Dodge 4-door while still in HS.

We were not far off in auto years but moreso in age.  My first car was a 1953 Ford wagon.  I used to clean it and tune it and then go out to a country road to see if I could get it to 100 mph.  My second car was a 1956 Mercury.  It cost me $150.  Times have changed.

[old2soon]

My first car was a '48 Dodge 4-door while still in HS.

We were not far off in auto years but moreso in age.  My first car was a 1953 Ford wagon.  I used to clean it and tune it and then go out to a country road to see if I could get it to 100 mph.  My second car was a 1956 Mercury.  It cost me $150.  Times have changed.

       54 Ford 2 door three on the tree with over drive! Got tired of that light green quickly-Dads old ride-and put it in that brown primer. Blue and white Leather front seat from a 56 Crown Victoria. And some maroon carpeting from a friend up front. Illinois winters were Cold! RIDE SAFE.

[Patrick]

First car ?

1948 Ford coupe. We had a 1957 Cadillac Barritz and all I could see were those 2 WCFBs. So that engine transmission went in and at 14 I couldn't figure out how to hook that all up to the Ford torque tube. So that came out and in went the Cadillac  rear end.
A year later in came a Chrysler with one of those engines where the spark plug wires disappeared into the middle of the huge chrome valve covers. So, that engine transmission went in. I had to save up for a long time to afford a blower manifold and drive for that engine. I took a blower off a 6:71 Detroit we had and stuck it on the manifold.  I welded the side gears in the rear and ended up making adapters for dual wheels. Tires of the time we skinny little things. Car ran good.

[carolinarider09]

My first car, that I purchased, was a 1959 MGA.  It cost me $600 as I remember but that was in 1967 so I could be wrong.  

I don't remember how many miles it had on it but, it had side curtains instead of windows.  I drove it from GA to Naval Statin in Great Lakes, IL (more than once) and in the late winter early spring of 1968-1969.  

One day, when I was visiting a girl friend in Kenosha, WI, I went to get in the car and drive back to the back to the station and I noticed that one of the knock offs was missing from the left front wheel.  I drove it back to the base anyway.  Wheel did not fall off.

Ahhh youth............  

As an aside, I got married to a lovely lady from Minnesota in 1969 and when we got back home to GA, we purchases our fist new car.  A 1970 Yellow Ford Maverick.  Three speed manual transmission, six cylinder.



Two weeks later we drove it to Bainbridge, MD (this was early January 1970) so I could attend NUC School.  



This car made it from GA to Maryland, to Massachusetts, to Bremerton, Washington (northern route) and then back to GA, (southern route) all in less than two years.  It was funny, on trip to Bremerton, we got on a road (it was winter time) somewhere in Idaho and the road was not plowed.  You could see where the road should have been so we took it.  When we stopped for the night, I could not pull into the motel parking spot due to ice in the front wheel wells.  Ahhh youth........

[Patrick]

My first car, that I purchased, was a 1959 MGA.  It cost me $600 as I remember but that was in 1967 so I could be wrong.  

I don't remember how many miles it had on it but, it had side curtains instead of windows.  I drove it from GA to Naval Statin in Great Lakes, IL (more than once) and in the late winter early spring of 1968-1969.  

One day, when I was visiting a girl friend in Kenosha, WI, I went to get in the car and drive back to the back to the station and I noticed that one of the knock offs was missing from the left front wheel.  I drove it back to the base anyway.  Wheel did not fall off.

Ahhh youth............  

As an aside, I got married to a lovely lady from Minnesota in 1969 and when we got back home to GA, we purchases our fist new car.  A 1970 Yellow Ford Maverick.  Three speed manual transmission, six cylinder.



Two weeks later we drove it to Bainbridge, MD (this was early January 1970) so I could attend NUC School.  



This car made it from GA to Maryland, to Massachusetts, to Bremerton, Washington (northern route) and then back to GA, (southern route) all in less than two years.  It was funny, on trip to Bremerton, we got on a road (it was winter time) somewhere in Idaho and the road was not plowed.  You could see where the road should have been so we took it.  When we stopped for the night, I could not pull into the motel parking spot due to ice in the front wheel wells.  Ahhh youth........

LOL. Did you like the Maverick ?

[John Schmidt]

Wow...look at the tire chains on those back wheels. Another thing you don't ever see anymore.