Seemed like a good idea at the time.

[teamsaint]

I went off at a thought tangent when reading Gamba's new thread.

It seems to me that there are probably plenty of technologies which have sound modern applications, that one way or another have fallen or are falling out of use.

Flying boats, especially on commercial service.
Hovercraft.
Supersonic passenger aircraft.
Proper Bacon slicers.
Motorail

are just a few,.
Sometimes things make a return of sorts, such as vinyl records, salt and shake crisps, and so on.( althoughI suppose salt and shake isn't really a technology ......).
Any interesting thoughts on things that "they" should bring back?

Or is it all progress ?!

[Flosshilde]

I think the first three have sound reasons for them not got modern applications. Flying boats of a size to operate commercial flights, would need a sizeable body of water to land & take off from; not all destinations are conveniently sited, and transferring passengers from shore to plane would require large boats. I don't know if large flying boats - or seaplanes - are more or less efficient in their use of fuel for take off & landing than conventional planes.
Hovercraft - have you travelled on one? I did once - on the cross-channel ferry. I changed my ticket for the return journey to a boat. The hovercraft was noisy & uncomfortable & you couldn't go out on deck - which is one of the pleasures of being on a boat.
Supersonic passenger aircraft - Concord was beautiful to look at but horrendously greedy for fuel.

I'd agree about motorail - an excellent means of transport.

[gamba]

return all our old railway lines

[Serial_Apologist]

Radio 3 seemed like a good idea, at one time...

[mangerton]

return all our old railway lines

I wish!


Teamsaint - bacon slicers - that's a thought. Haven't seen one of these for years. Reminds me of being sent to the grocer to get - inter alia - "Half a pound of Ayrshire bacon - cut at 4."

[kernelbogey]

I thought the wind-up radio a clever idea - and from an 'amateur', to boot - but it seems not to have made much progress.

It seems to me that solar panels to generate electricity deserve better development. In the Himalayas three years ago I saw someone with a small array on his rucksack, presumably to charge his mobile phone or radio. I'd have thought that a good application, even in temperate climates.

[gamba]

The Leica

[gamba]

The Autogyro.

When I was young it was the expected thing that we would all eventually have flat roofs to our houses.

It made sense to both young and old.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I wish!


Teamsaint - bacon slicers - that's a thought. Haven't seen one of these for years. Reminds me of being sent to the grocer to get - inter alia - "Half a pound of Ayrshire bacon - cut at 4."

It could of course be another Health and Safety casualty: "Will ladies please stand clear of the bacon slicer as we are getting behind in our orders."

[Alison]

Anyone else remember those cans of coffee that had to be shaken in such a way to heat up the drink ?

Expensive and needing some skill in the technique, I enjoyed buying these until they suddenly disappeared from view.

[teamsaint]

Anyone else remember those cans of coffee that had to be shaken in such a way to heat up the drink ?

Expensive and needing some skill in the technique, I enjoyed buying these until they suddenly disappeared from view.

I would have loved to see them disappear from view.

No need for them these days, in the developed world you are never more than 37 yards from a major coffee shop chain. Fact.

[Nick Armstrong]

I would have loved to see them disappear from view.

No need for them these days, in the developed world you are never more than 37 yards from a major coffee shop chain. Fact.

See post just now on your 'beaches' thread, teamster!

[teamsaint]

See post just now on your 'beaches' thread, teamster!

I did. You are wasted.

in the right way !!

[Hornspieler]

I wish!


Teamsaint - bacon slicers - that's a thought. Haven't seen one of these for years. Reminds me of being sent to the grocer to get - inter alia - "Half a pound of Ayrshire bacon - cut at 4."

Our local Waitrose has two. In constant use, slicing ham, turkey, cold beef, pork, etc. The two ladies who use them still have all of their fingers.

HS

[Richard Tarleton]

Our local Spanish deli has one, for Serrano ham etc. (Yes, we have a Spanish deli in Pembrokeshire )