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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.

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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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#6

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

People smoked in offices, including the doctor’s office, in church halls, on airplanes, trains, and buses, in restaurants, stores, and libraries. Teachers smoked in teachers lounges. However, if you were a “decent” woman, you didn’t smoke on the street. Only women of loose morals did that.

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

I remember fetching my dad a packet of No 6 when I was about 8 years old from Colin the news agent, don’t be alarmed! It was fine because he knew my dad! Nothing to see here

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

As a kid in the 80's 90's i would buy my dad's cigs often, there was no problem at all. In my country the first law about it was in 2004, fordidden to sold it to a kid under 16yo, and the ban for under 18yo went in 2010 and this is not really applied.

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

41 years I was addicted to nicotine. I am happy to see the stop smoking campaign has worked very well. From 80% smokers to 20%.

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

Cancer Sticks!!! Non-smoker now, but smoked for over 20 years, been smoke-free for 21 years this November... Best thing I ever did...

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

That was my mom and grandma’s cigs of choice. Now they’re going to be banned in the US

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Toujin C'Thlu
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to my dad, his parents were the only ones in his childhood neighborhood who *didn't* smoke. And this was in the 1950's.

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

"Tropenschatz"! Those were the cheapest cigars available in germany then, and some stores sold them in single pieces, not per pack. We didn't really like them, but we smoked them pretty often, due to them being cheap, and us being broke. Anyone around here know these? Disgusting, and old rope would have tasted better.......

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

I was amazed by cigs vending machines as a teenager in Germany. On the other hand i was amazed in Australia, when i was 18 or 19yo and my dad had to call my host family to say that i had the right to smoke. And the funny thing is that their own son was a smoker too but they didn't realize he was smocking a lot of pot and cigs. Maybe look at your sons eyes and smell before interfering in a strangers life?

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

Woodbine! Made from the leftover twiggs of the tobacco plant! Original B&H Gold box, can't see any Lambert & Butler though!

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

I was 9 and remember going over the road to pick up a pack of 12 Benson and Hedges for 2 shillings

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

My dad was a chain smoker and we had shag carpet. He smoked in the house and the car. When we went to the movies he'd get up about 10 times to smoke and say "Tell me what happened."

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Madre_Dr4gnZFly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was stationed at MCAS New River, NC in the mid 80's there was a cigarette vending machine in our barracks.

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

I'm so glad my parents stopped smoking when they wanted to have children and also never allowed guests to smoke in the house. My best friend's parents in kindergarden and the first years in school were heavy smokers and I never liked going there. We played mostly at our house. My mum even says it felt like se had four children sometimes.

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

These must be British cigs. My Mom smoked Camels. I had a preference for Virginia Slims Menthol Lights.

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

My chain-smoking neighbor’s filth comes in if I open a window. I can’t be out in my yard or on my porch. It even comes through the goddamn walls. Smokers get all aggressive about freedom to smoke and don’t give the slightest goddamn about anyone’s right to not breathe their filth! Smokers: I don’t care how “polite” you think you’re being, when you smoke; you’re violating everyone around you by doing it. Just because you can’t tell or people feel too worried about enraging you to comment, it’s happening and people hate you for it.

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

I used to get sent to our local shops as a kid by my mum to buy her ciggies. She'd give me a note giving permission for me to buy them for her.

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

My parents didn’t smoke, but if someone came over who did they would be allowed to smoke in the house.

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

I grew up in the 60s and 70s and everyone smoked. I couldn't stand it. They smoked everywhere. But I have one good memory of that time...in the summer when we' were camping and it was night, my dad would draw in the air with his cigarette making cool images in the dark. I can still see them to this day!

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

So previous to the 1980s cigarettes were mainly tobacco it wasn’t until after the 1980s that these cigarette industry started adding very toxic chemicals in order to increase the addictive properties of cigarettes. I believe there are over a half a dozen toxic chemicals in cigarettes these days which would actually require a hazmat suit to deal with

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

Pregnant woman at 60’s smoked because thanks that the baby was smaller, labor easier and they could back to their Old weight faster

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#25

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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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