Technology has changed a lot over time, from how we get from place to place to how we interact with each other to how we see the world around us.
The way we use technology is constantly evolving too. What we don’t often do is take a look back through time to see where it all started or to admire the effort that once went into our daily lives.
That’s what we’re doing now though, by collecting a gallery of some of the most interesting, amusing and brilliant images of retro technology and simpler times you’ve ever likely seen.
Nikola Tesla and his Magnifying Transmitter
A classically retro photo shows Nikola Tesla casually sitting near his Magnifying Transmitter as it sends 7-metre-long arcs of electricity across the room.
These were produced for effect and helped to create quite a spectacle. This was part of Tesla’s experiments into wireless power and an impressive part of his works.
Leonard Nimoy and son
This brilliant photo from the 1960s was taken during the filming of theoriginal series of Star Trekand shows Leonard Nimoy along with his son Adam.
The actor spoke about the photoat a later datesaying: “The makeup folks put ears on my son Adam to surprise me. A precious moment while shooting the original series.”
Jack Reilly
This awesome old photograph from 1929 shows daring photographer Jack Reilly hanging casually offer the 74th floor of the Bank of Manhattan (still under construction) taking a photo of the surrounding landscape.
This sort of image shows how daring and death-defying photographers are not a new thing.
Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker
This is Lonnie Johnson, an American inventor with over 120 patents under his belt, the most notable of which is the Super Soaker.
Johnson came up with the idea for the world’s most famous water pistol while working with the US Air Force in the 1980s. He’s carried on doing a lot since then including receiving lifetime achievement awards, setting up his won eSports arena, establishing The Lonnie Johnson Educational Complex (a science centre) and appearing onReddit to do AMAs.
The first women in space
On the left isValentina Tereshkova, the first woman who ever went into space well over 50 years ago.
On the right isMae Carol Jemison, the first black woman to go into space with NASA aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Years apart, but both space travelling legends of their time.
An air-conditioned lawnmower
Mowing the lawn is such a chore, especially in the baking summer sun. In the 1950s, one company came up with a pretty futuristic solution.
A self-contained, ride-on lawnmower with air conditioning. It looks more like a spacecraft than a lawnmower, but was actually a genuine product.
Columbia Pictures Logo
This brilliant image helps paint a picture ofthe story behind the Columbia Pictures logo. The images came into being in the early 1990s when Michael Deas was commissioned to create a painting for the film company. PhotographerKathy Andersonwas asked to take reference photos for a painting while her co-worker, Jenny Joseph did the modelling.
The photos from that shoot were then used to craft the painting that went on to become the iconic and perhaps most well-known image from the silver screen. It took Michael Deas two months to paint and the rest is history. You can find out more about itin this interview.
A Super Mario Bros victory
A Redditor postedthis photoof their father posing on Christmas night 1988 after beating Super Mario Bros on the original Nintendo Entertainment System.
Classic gaming on a chunky tube television. If this isn’t retro, we don’t know what is.
The Golden Gate Bridge
It isn’t just awesome films people turn out in their droves for. It’s also bridge openings apparently. This image from 1937 shows the crowds that turned up when the Golden Gate Bridge was first opened to the public. Legend has it that the bridge “flattened out” and strained under their weight.
In 1987, for the 50th-anniversary celebrations, it almost happened again when an estimated350,000 people turned out to walk the bridge. Most of the walkers were turned away when the bridge was closed - but only after the weight of those that made it caused the bridge to sag by seven feet.
Taking a screenshot
Computing wasn’t always easy. Back in the 80s, it wasn’t a simple task to take a screenshot if you need to for instruction manuals, school lectures or something else.
A camera, a steady hand and some clever gear were needed, then the arduous task of developing and printing to make the shots useful.
