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We don’t really notice how fast time goes by. But this time, we are taking you on a trip to the past that shows how our households have changed beyond recognition since the '70s.

And trust me, in most cases, it’s for the better. Take a chip pan, for example—these crazy fire agents that produced the best chips on the planet your mom can probably still taste in her mouth would keep homes on the brink of tragedy, and yet people adored them.

Thanks to the Memorial Device Twitter page that shared this illuminating guide, we now have the full list of the 40 greatest '70s household dangers all posted in order. Both nostalgic and utterly terrifying, they make you wonder whether people back then had less of a sense of health and safety. Or if it’s us who live in an overly protective mindset. Anyhow, I prefer the latter one.

#1

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Andrew Gibb
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mum set the kitchen on fire using one of these- we first saw the flames through the serving hatch into the dining room. Luckily the local Fire Chief and his son, a fireman lived next door to us.

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Nannychachi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making the opening smaller results in a quicker draw on the coals which gives a quicker hot fire.

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Bored Panda reached out to the authors behind the Memorial Device Twitter page who shared this viral thread which listed 40 dangerous things that were casually used in ’70s households. Introducing themselves as “a band from Airdrie,” a town in Scotland, the creators said that their account was inspired “100% by the book ‘This is Memorial Device’ by the genius Scottish author, David Keenan.” They added that “You will have to read the book to really understand the account.”

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Here's the bizarre video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQcGIZioqQE&t=4s&ab_channel=FunFinder

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Robert T
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandma had a manual mangle (wringer). Before the advent of washing machines with a decent spin cycle, my mum had a spinner, which was basically a small washing machine drum mounted vertically and it did a better spin to get more water out.

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When asked how they came up with an idea to create the guide to all the miscellaneous stuff from the past, the creators said that it’s just one of many countdown lists on the “Memorial Device” account. “But it’s the one that most people seem to identify with,” they said and added that it may be because it’s “Proper working-class history.”

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#8

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Donkey boi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I nicked the red bulbs out of our and used then in my bedroom light fitting. The whole street thought my parents had started a brothel.

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DC
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used one of these in 2014, 2015 in Berlin, because I couldn't afford a decent place to be ... so I lived in the basement of a guy who was too old (>90) to take out the trashy and broken furniture.

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We also asked if they can imagine anyone living with some of these crazy household objects these days, the authors said that they in fact experienced “the bathroom ceiling heater in Whitby last week. Switched it on—nothing happened. Came back later and it was glowing hotter than the sun. And it was fitted above the bath.”

The band added that they’re “Big fans of the coal effect fire and the immersion heater, along with the working-class shower,” and found “drawing the fire as total madness.” “As is buying a full-size crossbow from the Kays catalogue on HP,” the Memorial Device concluded.

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Laura Jones
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they gave out fantastic heat but the gas bottles when full were so heavy and it gradually went up in price to a ridiculous level

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#15

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Natalia A
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are so overly cautious. Unless you put your fingers in there (and you'd have to be stupid to do that), what would go wrong?!

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F. H.
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are right. German households often have bread cutting machines. They are basicly small table saws. I used this thing without accidents since I was seven and didn't realize how terrifying it was until my 20s. So I got myself a bread knife instead - and needed my roommate to drive me to the hospital.

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Demi Zwaan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom used to make the absolute best fries with these. What is wrong with it?

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing. But some people just are too stupid to use something simple as this potato cutter. But they do procreate, drive cars and vote.

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Ellen Tannenbaum
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what In N Out burger kitchens use to cut their potatoes for fries.

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Norman Woelk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They still sell commercial models for restaurants. On TV there was the Veg-O-Matic that did everything (poorly).

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Trevor Baird
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have one of these - modern version - it's in a cupboard :-)

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StregAnna
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Using this since I was a teenager (now 44), no one in m y family ever got hurt using it.

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Ann Tegnér
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had one and you need the muscles of a gorilla to get fries (really big ones) out of a russet potatoe.

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Em Johnson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just bought one of these. You’d have to be pretty dense to put your fingers in and continue to push down on it after the first “OW”.

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Cheryl Carter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually use mine all the time!! Makes fries and diced potatoes so easy! Only mine is all metal. I am now 51 and looked for the one my mom had growing up, it lasts forever. Doesn't just do potatoes either.

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Kyle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a kitchen mandolin for slicing food and twice I sliced off the tip of a finger cutting apples with it. I know what finger muscles look like from the inside from the last one. These things are dangerous.

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Monika Lachova
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My parents still have this one, noone ever got hurt while using it

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Sarcastic Cow
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chips! (french fries) You put a potato in it and voilá - on the other side you have same size pieces

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Heather Williams
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had the best chips as a kid using one of these to cut the potato. Much safer for than a knife but it did have a tendency to slip around on the counter top.

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Bella Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, lord - I can remember this from great-grandma's kitchen as well. As I recall, it was pretty useless; the chips would never come all the way out. Unless I was just too small to have the necessary strength to push them all the way through.

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R L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These were great- was looking for one recently. Save me from chopping of my fingers when slicing potatoes.

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#19

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Redfox
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had these. Whacked myself in the nose so hard I thought my nose had gone to the other side of my head. I obviously did not learn co-ordination nor skill.

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DC
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That wasn't really frowned upon until the nineties. All my friends' parents, mine, and basically every adult we knew smoked in his house, his car, everywhere. Children's rooms ... not that often, but sometimes, too.

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Rain WhiteBuffalo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG I miss these shoes. I want a pair right now!! I remember having a pair in every color they offered (tan, white, navy and black). I loved these!!!

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#34

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Dhukath
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worst when your foot can off and the whole thing sprang up and smacked you under the chin!

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#36

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only in dysfunctional families would these be used a lethal weapon. The rest of the world used them to throw them at dartboards.

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#39

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Natalia A
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do this in Cyprus for new year's. You clean the coin, wrap it in foil and drop it in the cake batter. Everyone knows it's there so they're careful:)

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#40

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M O'Connell
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Leaving a battery on an unregulated charger is something a moron would do. 1970s or otherwise.

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