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If you’re on Instagram, be sure to follow the user retroplanet. , where you’ll find a slew of vintage photographs, new photos of collectibles and other rare finds. You’ll also get first-hand looks of design photos direct from the Retro Planet studio. To follow, just search for “retroplanet” in the smartphone app, or click here [...]
One of America’s most prolific artists, Norman Rockwell produced more than 4,000 paintings and illustrations. For 51 years he illustrated the Boy Scouts’ calendar, and also worked on classic books like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Rockwell’s most recognizable works, though, were his covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Three of America’s favorites are showcased [...]
Richard Drew, a 3M mechanical engineer, designed Scotch Cellulose Tape to give bakers and grocers a quick, waterproof method to seal packages. Until then, water was needed to seal cellophane. > Read the History of Scotch Cellulose Tape 3M kicked off marketing for the tape on January 31, 1930. It soon entered the common household [...]
Years ago it was common to carry home fresh bread, cakes or pastries in boxes or paper held closed with decorative twine. This twine was commonly red-and-white (and sometimes blue-and-white). Many would untie it carefully and save it for future fix-it use. Some refer to baker’s twine as butcher’s twine, though the twine the butcher [...]
From Fisher-Price’s Classic Retro Toy Series comes a 1971 reproduction music box. The appearance is very much the same, but this newly-made version follows current product standards. Included are five discs, which play a total of 10 songs, including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Farmer in the Dell and London Bridge. Tots can still wind [...]
In days past we scribbled our name on generic Valentine cards to pass out to our classmates. Occasionally, there would be a special one that landed in our heart-shaped envelope we’d made out of construction paper. Now that we’re older, we look for other ways to show our adoration for our spouses, significant others and [...]
In celebration of its 100th birthday, Formica has introduced a new collection featuring retro designs and colors. Revealed today at the International Builder’s Show today the collection was designed by renowned firm Pentagram, and will be available beginning January 31, 2013. According to Formica Group, this 2013 Anniversary Collection reflects on the Formica® brand and [...]
From May 1959 comes this ad for Armstrong Vinyl Corlon. Trademarked in 1946 and introduced in the late ’50s, Corlon became a popular “luxury” material. It was pricey, but was built to last. > View Larger Image of this Ad This vintage ad represents the pride companies took in their products, and the appealing designs [...]
The world’s largest office building, construction began on the Pentagon on September 11, 1941. Designed by architect George Bergstrom, approved construction contracts totaled $3.1 million. The original site for this government facility was Arlington Farms, which was shaped like a pentagon. This is why the building is shaped as such. However, concerns that the building [...]
On January 11, 1935, Amelia Earhart was the first to fly a solo transoceanic flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California. Many others had attempted the route, most notably pilots who participated in the Dole Air Race in 1927. Also known as the Dole Derby, the air race route ran from northern California to Hawaii. [...]
If you’ve been hunting for that perfect match of vintage meets today’s tech, we just might have found it with this unique project. Via Design Sponge, SugarSCOUT’s Sara and Stacey share turning a train case into a fully-functional station for charging those gotta-have gadgets. While this isn’t a “quickie” project, we think the end result [...]
Forget kneeling, bending and reaching. This oven features a slide-out insert that simplifies the task. Frigidaire introduced the Pull ‘N Clean oven in 1958, and continued producing it through the mid-60s. Those wanting wall-ovens found simplicity, too, with a drop-leaf door that opened fully. Related PostsRetro Candy: Bull’s Eyes and Cow Tales Nostalgic Candy: The [...]
From the Retro Planet Collection come these originally designed smartphone and tablet cases. Made of durable plastic, these cases were designed by the Retro Planet team, and printed in the USA. Openings are included for headphones, charger inputs, cameras and other key features, resulting in a custom fit for the iPhone 4 and 4s, iPhone [...]
Following suit of total color coordination, Rubbermaid created matching dish drainers, sink mats and countertop drainer trays. Many retro colors were available. This late ’50s ad shows a turquoise/pastel. Other colors included sunshine yellow, green, red and deep blue. This entire set could be had for under $10 (ad shows “as little as $7.96″). Related [...]
