If you were a kid in the 80s, you will recognize these 20 nostalgic objects from the 80s. If not, some things may make you wonder how we survived these childhoods.
In the 1980s, children grew up very differently than they do today. It was a time without a mobile phone, limited TV channels and the internet was unknown. A time when everything was different. Also a time when things happened that you would now disapprove of. Curious about what was normal in the 80s, but is no longer possible? I already wrote about it last week in my article:8 Typical things from the 80s.
From a dial telephone to a walkman, below you will find 20 nostalgic objects from the eighties. Fun and recognizable if you grew up in the 1980s.
At a time when there was no telephone with which you could listen to music on the go, there was only 1 alternative:the walkman. Here you put a cassette tape in and then you could listen to music on the go with your headphones.
Music was either on an LP or a cassette tape. Cassette tapes were especially popular among the youth. Although they also had many drawbacks. Because if the ribbon got stuck again, it invariably caused a lot of annoyance. From twisting the ribbon back with a pencil to hitches in the music part as the ribbon was now wrinkled or even broken and stuck again.
If you wanted to watch something outside the range on TV, you had to go to the video store. There you would find films that were no longer showing in cinemas or that were a bit older, but that did not appear regularly on TV. You had to rent a video tape. At home you could play the video tape in the video recorder. You had to watch a movie in one go or manually fast forward the next time to the part where you left off.
You can't imagine being a teenager now, but you used to play movies on a video tape. That was a pretty sturdy and large rectangular band with a ribbon on which the film was written. You then had to put it in the video recorder to be able to watch a movie.
Nowadays, young and old have a mobile with which they can call, photograph and record videos to their heart's content. In the 1980s, cell phones barely existed. You had a landline telephone at home that was placed in a fixed location in the hallway or living room. There were no keys either, the telephone worked with a rotary dial.
Today you no longer need a separate camera. Most smartphones have super good cameras, so that a camera is no longer necessary. In the eighties it was a completely different story. There you had photo cameras that worked with a roll of film. You should not forget that roll, otherwise you would not have any photos at the end of the day. When placing the film, you had to be careful not to expose it to too much light. Was the roll full? Then you could hand it in to the photo specialty store, who would then make prints of it. Only then did you know whether the photos were really successful or not.
I am currently sitting in front of the computer typing this article. Just under 40 years ago, this was unimaginable. There were computers, but mainly for companies. Ordinary households did not have a computer at home. Did you have to type a letter? Then you had to use a typewriter.
If you wanted someone's number you had to look it up in a phone book. Those were mega thick books containing all names in alphabetical order and behind them the telephone numbers from your own place. Did you want someone's number from a place other than your hometown? Then you had to request that.
Just as important as a telephone directory was the postcode directory. It was not possible to send an email yet. If you wanted to surprise someone, you had to send a handwritten card or letter. And for that a zip code was necessary. The zip codes can be found in the thick paper zip code guide.
Online ordering was not possible, but you could place an order via Wehkamp and Otto's paper catalog. Before that you received a very thick paper catalog in the letterbox. You could browse through this and then you could place an order with the order form at the back. For this you had to fill in the order form correctly. Item number which was next to the photo, desired size or size and color. Then you had to put the order form in a letterbox of PTT Post (now Post.nl) and then you could wait a while for your package with the order.
There is a good chance that you also have something like a pen tray or something on your desk. But this one doesn't come close to the retro pen trays from the 80s. Preferably in a (spooky) orange color. And then organize everything neatly, of course.
You could have photos printed and then pasted into a photo album. Or you had it made into slides. You could then project this onto the wall with a slide projector and view it. That way you could view photos of your children or your wedding with the whole family.
A kettle, what is that? You used to have a simple kettle for cooking. Three guesses where the name comes from? Right, as soon as the water boiled there was a lot of steam and this steam caused the kettle to whistle. That way you knew the water was ready.
Take the train from Amsterdam to Hilversum? No idea where to be and what time? The NS app was not available yet, so you had to use the timetable. Indeed, a paper booklet containing all connections, times and more.
Maybe you've already seen them pass by. Crochet coasters were a real hit in the 1980s. Of course your mother crocheted these herself (or yourself, because you just learned to crochet as part of your upbringing).
Want to listen to music on the go? Before that, you had a boombox that worked with cassette tapes. Volume button full and then walk or cycle on the street with it. Attention guaranteed.
A TV was a monster and heavy it was! Where TVs are now thin and big, in the 80s they were fat monsters or as we would say now:TVs with a butt.
Not an object you had in your house, but what you encountered everywhere and nowhere outside. A chewing gum machine! With a few cents in your pocket you could then roll a gumball over other candy from the vending machine.
The most hip game console from the eighties was the Commodore 64. You didn't have many games for it, but Pacman was a must. What else did you need besides the game console? Lots of patience 😉
It's hard to imagine, but in primary school you wrote with a fountain pen. That was a special pen that only wrote when you put an ink refill in it. There is a good chance that you came home every day with blue fingers, because somehow the fountain pen always leaked.
Which nostalgic object from the 80s do you miss or not at all and why?
