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50 Fascinating Items From The 20th Century That We Don’t See Every Day Anymore
Interview With Expert
Depending on how old you are, you might remember half of the 20th century, or you may not have even been born until the early 2000s. But whether you want to reminisce on your childhood or learn about what the world was like back then, we’ve got a list down below that anyone can find entertaining!
Bored Panda has scoured the internet to find photos of objects from the 1900s that have survived for decades and are still around today. From vintage sewing machines to toys that your parents might have played with, we hope you enjoy scrolling through these blasts from the past. Keep reading to also find conversations with Karen Bil Ratzlaff, creator of Hunting for Vintage, and Kara Lines, publisher of The Collector's Companion magazine. And be sure to upvote the items that you wish you could have in your home today!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I Just Spent Christmas With My 89 Year-Old Grandmother. While I Was There, I Found This Picture My Grandfather Painted Of Her In 1949
RELATED:
#2
1935 Wedgewood With Everything Included
My grandfather got this off a friend in 1945 for 100$, the pepper shaker on top has been missing for 60 years but was found at an antique show completing the set. And it’s blue!
#3
My Barbershop Still Uses Their Original Cash Register From 1904
Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
This is beautiful and practical. Unlike an old box of Gatorade with a moldy straw.
#4
My 1959 Frigidaire Custom Imperial
My dream stove. I wanted a vintage stove for the longest time, and when this one popped up in my favorite color (for $400, no less) I made the four hour drive and shoved it in the back of my Honda Element and drove it right back home. She’s a dream. Works perfectly. Takes three grown men to move her, but she’s worth it.
#5
Antique Westinghouse Oscillating Fan
Here is my Antique Westinghouse fan. Its had the cord replaced sometime in its life and I have polished the brass, other than that it’s unrestored. Still runs strong and is over 100 years old.
#6
Our House Still Has All The Original Doorknobs From 1928
#7
The Original Phone Still Installed Inside My 1930’s Apartment
#8
Apollo 11 Original Flight Plans, Given To Me By My Grandpa
#9
This 1950’s Stove Has A Built In Soup Pot
#10
This House Built In 1947 Has A Built In Seat For Their Telephone Nook
#11
Rainbow Lights Installed Inside Railroad Underpass Built In The 1930's
#12
Grandpa Still Uses A Decades Old Computer That Still Runs Dos, Typing And Printing And Storing Things On Floppies
#13
1970s B/W Portable TV. $20 It Works!
#14
A Child's Car Seat From 1950's
#15
This Desk Lamp (Emeralite Banker’s Lamp) Is 100+ Years Old, And Is Solid As A Rock. So Cool Looking
LynzCatastrophe 1 year ago
Another thing my grandfather had before it ended up at the salvation army. I'm very mad at my mom and her sisters for this.
#16
Bought A Dresser Off Marketplace And Found Some Vintage Goodies & “The Gloves I Wore To My Wedding 7-22-1949”
#17
Got A Green Phone From The 70's At Goodwill $27 And It Works
#18
Still Operational, Origional 1957 Wall Mount Refrigerator
#19
1950 Zenith TV
#20
The 1928 Toaster We Still Use Today
#21
My Coffee Maker Is So Old That It Was Made In West Germany
#22
My Wife's Whirley-Pop That Her Grandmother Used. Still Makes Perfect Popcorn Every Time
#23
My Mom Has An Unopened Alice Cooper Record From 1972, Complete With Panties
LynzCatastrophe 1 year ago
Keep it that way. Guarantee that's worth something now. I had my dad's records appraised a few years ago, and while he doesn't have this gem, there were some real collectors items in it.
#24
My Grandfather's Gas On Gas Caloric Stove/Heater Purchased In 1958 That Has Been Used Everyday And Is Still In Pristine Condition
#25
My Late Grandma Still Had Her TV Operating Guide From 1962
#26
Banned Childrens Science Toy Kit That Cost $51 From 1951
#27
My Grandma Has Used The Same Waffle Iron Since 1955
#28
Found This 1960’s Wilson Baby Carriage In Perfect Condition For $70
#29
My Kitchen Has A Built In Ironing Board
#30
An Antique Pocket Shopping List
Heras buddy 1 year ago
The meats and cheeses you buy in the Deli section of your store. You used to buy at the delicatessen.
#31
My Grandma Still Uses Her Mixer From The 70’s
#32
My Great Great Grandfather's Pocketwatch That My Grandpa Recently Gifted To Me
#33
This Circular Playing Card Deck From 1929
#34
I Have Some Bambi Model Sketches From Film Production. Drawn In 1939
#35
Refitting Our New Houses Loft(Attic) And Found £500 Of 1981 Currency Wrapped In Insulation!
John Dilligaf 1 year ago
is it still good? US money from the 1980s would still be legal tender but I know that some countries will withdraw money from circulation sometimes.
#36
My Grandmother's Russian Playing Cards From 1967
#37
Vendo 44 Vending Machine From The 50s. The Smallest Machine That Vendo Ever Made. Found At An Estate Sale!
#38
Rolleicord 6x6 Film Camera From The 60's Still Going Strong And Some Examples Of The Pictures It Makes
#39
Client Were Working For Has This Functioning Washing Machine From The 60s, An Absolute Gem
sofacushionfort 1 year ago
Green k**b at the top was to be hit if you got pulled into the wringers
#40
I Found This Ring In The Dumpster On Monday! Had It Appraised Yesterday And Found Out It’s A Handmade Gold Ring From The 60s-70s! It’s 14k Gold Band Is Worth $200+ (Stone Is Glass). I Also Found Those Tiny Hands With It
#41
Lunch Box From ‘89. Thermos From ‘97. New Old Stock. I’m So Excited
#42
Doctor's Medicine Bag From The 1930's Complete With The Original Pills
Janissary35680 1 year ago
"One pill makes you larger / And one pill makes you small / And the ones that mother gives you / Don't do anything at all"
#43
1950’s Cigarettes With Your Inflight Meal
#44
Look What My Nana Found Going Through Her Old Bathroom Essentials
My Nana found these perfume nips going through an old box of bathroom essentials and I was absolutely fascinated! She says they have to be at least 50+ years old by now. I'm tempted to use one on my wedding day next year.
#45
A Shaving Razor, My Dad Purchased When He Was In College In 1976; In Palayamkottai. He's Been Using It Since Then For 46 Years.
Luis Hernandez Dauajare 1 year ago
I have one of these too! The smoothiest shave I've ever had and you save a lot in razor blades...
#46
Our New 1930 Majestic Radio 10 Gallon Tank
#47
My Grandma Still Has A Working Nintendo Along With A Few Games
#48
My Great Grandmothers Sketches Of Her Teachers 1924
#49
I Work For The Railway And Found This Gatorade Carton In Near Mint Condition In A Tunnel. Date On The Top Says June 16, 1988
#50
An 80's Camcorder I Found In My Parents' Attic. It Still Works!
#51
Psa 10 Graded Woodstock Ticket
#52
Found A Playboy At Work Today From 1978 That's Written Entirely In Braille
#53
1960’s Desk Someone Found At A Garage Sale
#54
Anti-Pix Chicken Glasses From 1939 - The Red Tinted Lenses Were Used To Stop Chickens From Seeing Blood On Each Other, Reducing The Risk Of Pecking Within A Flock
#55
112 Year-Old Vaccine Cards
Michael MacKinnon 1 year ago
I still have my mom's vaccine card from 1959. For all those saying this was an evil invention by governments looking to control you....
#56
23 Year Old Vtech Power Pad Still Going Strong!
#57
Found This Amazing Unopened 1970s Desk Topper Set By Hallmark!
#58
The Chandelier At Our Cottage Has This Vintage Light Bulb From The Early 1900s. It Still Works!
#59
[oc] My Friend Owns A Mini Comtesse, A Rare French Micro Car That Was Manufactured In The 70s
![[oc] My Friend Owns A Mini Comtesse, A Rare French Micro Car That Was Manufactured In The 70s](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/672b799204248_things-from-1900s.jpg "[oc] My Friend Owns A Mini Comtesse, A Rare French Micro Car That Was Manufactured In The 70s")
#60
A Sewing Needle Package I Found At My Grandma's
#61
I’m A Funeral Director And A Lady I Cared For Was A Seamstress For The Playboy Bunnies. She Had A Bunch Of Cool Old Playboy Memorabilia At The Wake, But This Was My Favorite
#62
Saw One Of The Oldest Typewriter (1910 C.)
#63
My Late Father’s Belt Buckles From The Early 70’s
#64
Great Grand Mother Moka With An Interesting Design, At Least 60 Years Old
#65
1980 Mcdonald’s Burger Lamp
#66
Old Pair Of Specs From The 30's,in Original Case
#67
Small Set Of Chinese Porcelain Vases With Gold Chains. Bought In China 1940 To 1950's Grandfather Bought It For My Mom When He Was In The Navy
#68
You Ever Seen A Stove Top Version Of A 1970s Okeef And Merritt With A Range
#69
Look At This Beautiful Abomination
Found this on Marketplace in my local feed. I know the LTT crew has done retro tech videos before but this beauty deserves to be saved.
Samsung GXTV with manuals and remote.
#70
This Fish Carving Cutlery From 1930
#71
122 Year Old Pocket Watch My Grandfather Gifted Me,still Works Like A Charm With Original Internals,more Info In Comments
#72
My 1950's Fridge. Still Works
#73
These Condoms Are Around 60 Years Old. Found In My Basement
#74
I Found A Book That Is Over 200 Years Old
#75
Found This Original 1914 Edison Lightbulb
#76
Pills From 1947
#77
Apparently, Lighter Fuel Was Also A Laundry Aid Back In The Day…
#78
My Dad Found These Batteries From 1945 Today
#79
My Cousin Still Uses A Double Oven From The 1970's
#80
My Grandparent’s Bathroom From The 1950s Has A Built In Toilet Phone
Keith Jenkins 1 year ago
The bathroom may be from the 1950's but the telephone isn't. Pushbutton (also called touchtone) dialing wasn't available until the early 1960's.
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What do you think ?
LynzCatastrophe 1 year ago (edited)
My grandparents house was filled with vintage stuff like this. My sister and I wanted to keep most of it between the two of us. When my grandfather died, my mom and her sisters wasted no time in emptying it out and putting it up for sale. My sister and I were never given a chance to even take time off our jobs to go up and salvage our share. It's something we're still mad about. My mom and her sisters said it was because it was painful and they wanted to move on, but by doing so they denied my sister and I not only pieces of our childhood, but closure as well. So much of this stuff brings me back. I'm still collecting pieces that have shown up at second hand stores and garage sales over the years.
Ms.GB 1 year ago
That's terrible. When my grandparents died my aunt tried to call dibs on anything of value. My grandma had these beautiful vintage purses and my aunt promised my mom and I we would get one. We never saw those purses.
Load More Replies...
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Interesting historical curiosities, but none was an invention ahead of its time. Please adjust the title.
LynzCatastrophe 1 year ago (edited)
My grandparents house was filled with vintage stuff like this. My sister and I wanted to keep most of it between the two of us. When my grandfather died, my mom and her sisters wasted no time in emptying it out and putting it up for sale. My sister and I were never given a chance to even take time off our jobs to go up and salvage our share. It's something we're still mad about. My mom and her sisters said it was because it was painful and they wanted to move on, but by doing so they denied my sister and I not only pieces of our childhood, but closure as well. So much of this stuff brings me back. I'm still collecting pieces that have shown up at second hand stores and garage sales over the years.
Ms.GB 1 year ago
That's terrible. When my grandparents died my aunt tried to call dibs on anything of value. My grandma had these beautiful vintage purses and my aunt promised my mom and I we would get one. We never saw those purses.
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
Interesting historical curiosities, but none was an invention ahead of its time. Please adjust the title.
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