The blogosphere is abuzz with speculation surrounding the alleged 1928 time traveler seen talking on a cell phone in Charlie Chaplin's silent film, 'Circus.' I have but one question: What kind of phone was this 1928 time traveler using?
In all seriousness, retro revival has devices blurring the lines between decades left and right. Charlie Chaplin and the entire cast of 'Circus' (including the 1928 time traveler) have nothing on this list of old school gadgets.
55 Decade-Confused Devices
In Honor of the Charlie Chaplin Film's 1928 Time Traveler:
Armida Ascano — Oct 28, 2010 — Art & Design
55
Toy Tablet Protectors
The Etch a Sketch iPad Case Shows This Tablet is All Fun and Games
54
Portable Rotary Phones (UPDATE)
For Haters of the 'Califronia Hands Free Law'
53
Retooled Hot Rods
Bo Zolland's ‘33-34' Automobile is a Blast from the Past
52
Papercraft Phonographs
GGRP Corrugated Cardboard Envelope Unfolds Into Record Player
51
Wood Paneled Playstations
Steampunked PS3 Brings Old School to the Future
50
Vintage Calculator Apps
iPhone Gets Old School With Hewlett Packard
49
Hardwood Flash Drives
The Narrow Bridge Steampunk USB Comes in a Faux Vintage Tin Box
48
Retro Smartphone Covers
The Cassette iPhone Case Makes Everything Old School
47
Carved Computer Cases (UPDATE)
The Rainer Spehl Laptop Case Screams Classic Masculinity
46
Vintage Luggage Speakers
The BoomCase Turns Old Suitcases into Boomboxes
45
Astonishing Analogue Amplifiers
The Bone Collection iPhone Speaker is Electricity-Free
44
Old-School Style Gadgets
The Boombox iPod Cradle Keeps It Fresh
43
Old School Phone Holders
This Retro iPhone Phone Dock is a Blast From the Past
42
Toy-Inspired Digi Cams
The Holga D's Design is Inspired by the Original Holga Camera
41
Retro Gadget Protectors
The Etch A Sketch iPhone Cover is the Best Thing Ever
40
Old Walkman As iPod Camouflage
Hidepod?
39
Cutting-Edge Old Clocks
Fred Niell's Indicator-6 Nixie Clock Blends Retro & Nouveau
38
Faux Brick Phones
Carry Your New Mobile Like Your Old School Cell Phone
37
Retro Instant Photo Revival
Resurrecting Old Polaroid Film and Camera Models is Reality (UPDATE)
36
The Return of "New Retro"
First Gen iPods As Fashion Accessory
35
Reinventing Retro Gadgets
DIY iPod Cigarette Case
34
Steampunk Goggles
Mac McGowan Designs Victorianesque Eyewear
33
Vintage Camera Disguises
The Wooden Camera Tape Dispenser Plays Tricks on Your Eyes
32
Revamped Toy Weaponry
The Steampunk Nerf Vulcan is Battery-Powered Vintage Fun
31
Old School Tech Wallets
Retro Pocket Wear Likes Like An Old Cassette Tape
30
Viewmaster-Inspired Shades
The Vintage Red Walter Van Beirendonck Sunglasses are Nostalgic
29
Musical Pencil Cases
The Cassette Tape Pouch Makes Great Back-To-School Gift
28
DIY Hot Rods
'VooDoo' Converts an Old Philco Refrigerator into a Hot Rod
27
Retro Gadget Pillows
Floppy Disc Pillows From MyMimi Provide Cuddly Gadgetry
26
Retro MP3 Converters
The HIDEOTO Cassette Tape Deck Brings Back Your Old-School Beats
25
Designer Digital Jukeboxes
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 5
24
Touchscreen Fax Machines
The Panasonic KX-PW821 Proves That the Fax Isn't Dead Just Yet
23
Spherical Steampunk Writers
The Writing Ball is a Peculiar Vintage Typewriter
22
Vintage Vinyl Accessories
The Turntable Necklace Will Show Off Your Love for Music
21
USB Floppy Disks
Reinvented Retro Gadgets
20
Cassette-Inspired Hard Drives
The Freecom Mobile Drive CLS is a Retro Throwback
19
Hefty Vintage Phones
The Ediphone Concept Brings Us Back to a Simpler Time
18
Retro Arcade Clocks
The Pac Man Alarm Clock Wakes You Up in Old School Style
17
Ghetto Blaster Watch Bling
Is the Blaster Boom Box Watch Pendant Inspired by Flavor Flav?
16
40s Lamp Revivals
Robolux Flower Power Lamp Projects a Floral Pattern on Your Wall
15
Polaroid Pendants
Pay Homage to the Polaroid Camera With a Snappy Necklace
14
Old School Gaming Chargers
This Nintendo Controller i-Dock Recharges Your iPhone in Retro Fashion
13
Designer 35MM
Leica M7 Edition Hermes Combines Old School Tech With Hip Designs
12
Water Powered Calculator
11
Retro Tech Periodicals
Cassette Tape Magazine Reads Like a Micro Blog, Looks Like an Old Cassette
10
Polaroid 2.0
The PoGo Portable Instant Digital Prints
9
Old School Weather Monitors
Sputnik Barometer Weather Station with Steampunk Look
8
Time-Traveling Carriers
The Big Business Case Collection is Where Old School Meets New
7
Medieval Internet Detectors
WiFi Dowsing Rod Gives a New Purpose to an Old Gadget
6
Traveling Turntables
The Crosley Echo is Designed to be Taken Anywhere
5
Throwback Gaming Lighters
The Sega Zippos Would Make a Geek Start Smoking
4
Fake Record iPod Cases
MP3 Case Looks Like an Old School Vinyl Player
3
Two-in-One Retro Calculators
Revamped Old-School Typewriters as Calculators
2
Foghorn-Style Speakers
Teac and Avantgarde Make Postmodern Speakers
1
Speedy Music Players
The Sonic the Hedgehog MP3 Player is for Old School Sega Gamers
Related Ideas
Premium Retro Mobile Phones
Nokia Presents the Nokia 150 and Nokia 130 as 'Dumb Phones'
Micro-Sized Alt Smartphones
The Nothing Phone (2a) Micro Was Shown Off for April Fool's Day
Accessible Space Age Timepieces
The Timex Marlin Jet Has a Midcentury Modern Design at a Low Cost
Upcycled Film Camera Designs
The FOTOFOTO OM-1 Presents a Revolutionary Camera Design
Nostalgic Gaming Timepieces
The Retro Gaming Watch Brings Gameplay to the Wrist
See-Through Mobile Typewriters
The Freewrite Traveler Ghost Edition Has a Crystalline Finish
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Magsafe Clock Smartphone Accessories
Hyunsub Shin and Yeji Han Designs the Olock Phone Addition
Smartphone-Inspired Accessories
HMD Dropped the Phonecore Range During LFW with Sinead Gorey
Industrial Cellphone Concepts
The Nokia N90 x Nothing Concept by Viet Doan Duc is Retro and Modern
Brand-Honoring Digital Timepieces
Hodinkee's G-SHOCK Ref. 5600 by Ben Clymer Rounds Out the Series
Posh Pill-Shaped Smartphones
The Nokia Infinity Pro Concept Has an Elegant Form and Function
Durable 5G Business Smartphones
The ThinkPhone 25 Will Be Backed by Updates Through 2029
Fan-Made Digital Audio Players
The Nothing Npod (1) Draws Inspiration from the iPod Shuffle
Futuristic Camping Trailers
LG's 'Bon Voyage' is Capable Of Towing Small & Large Vehicles Alike
AI-Powered Calculators
The 'OBSCURA' Calculator Concept by Divyansh Tripathi is Ultra-Advanced
Nostalgic Updated Flip Phones
Motorola Marks 95th Anniversary with Exclusive Razr+ Bundle
Cat-Inspired Camera Collections
Hello Kitty's Strawberry Kawaii Collection is Nostalgic and Fresh
Vintage-Inspired Instant Cameras
Fujifilm Introduces the INSTAX MINI 99 Point and Shoot Camera
Modern Digital Detox Boxes
The Stolp x Marie Kondo Emphasizes the Importance of Mindfulness
Millennium-Inspired Cellphones
These New Nokia Phones are Nostalgic with Modern Features
Quad-Lens GIF Cameras
The Moment 3D Camera by Olga Orel Captures Scenes from Four Lenses
Retro Sporty Luxe Accessories
adidas Presents a New Series of Nostalgic Retro Accessories
Watch-Like Smart Phones
Fire-Boltt's WristPhone Offers Crystal-clear Calls and So Much More
Modernized Millennium Cellphones
The Nokia 3210 is Back for the Cellphone's 25th Anniversary
Nostalgic Beer Brand Phones
The Boring Phone by Heineken Helps Adults Focus on What Really Matters
Retro-Style Anniversary Watches
The Casio 50th Anniversary Sky and Sea Series Watches are Geeky
Beer-Branded Music Sharing Devices
The Conceptual 'Hei-Five' Connects Strangers Over Music
Tech-Infused Analog Radios
Mark Choi Blends Retro Aesthetics and Modern Technology with i Ready O
Cassette-Style Smartphone Chargers
The Remax Powerbank Tape Offers a Retro Way to Charge Up
Micro-Sized Mirrorless Cameras
The 'Yashica - I'm Back' Has Interchangeable Lenses and More
Gradient Premium Timepieces
The Leica ZM 11 Timepieces is Made with Chronode Technology
Nostalgic Flip Phone Concepts
The Nokia N90 by Viet Doan Duc Reimagines a Vintage Design
Retro-Futuristic Sports Cars
The DeLorean Cyberpunk Concept by Loïc Chauvin is 80s-Inspired
Clutch Purse Smartphone Concepts
The Honor V Purse Transforms the Mobile Device into an Accessory
Retro Cartoon-Inspired Clogs
The Jetsons are Highlighted in the Latest Pair of Crocs
Pocket Computer Smartphone Concepts
This iPhone 16S Concept Reimagines the Aesthetic of the Device
Floating Marble Cosmic Clocks
Zanwen Li Designs the Mobius Calendar Clock with Two Marbles
Fan-Created Smartphones
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus Community Edition Was Developed with Fans
Nostalgic Retro Music Capsules
KICKBACK Blends Retro Design with the DIY Mixtape Kit
Reduced Connectivity Mobile Devices
The Minimal Phone Combats Against Too Much Scrolling
Lighter-Holding Phone Cases
A Celeb Duo Inspired BIC EZ Reach Lighters' Hold the Phone Case
Nostalgic Fashion-Tech Collabs
Sandy Liang and Android Partner Up to Turn Tech Stylish
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Pared-Back OLED Phones
The Light Phone III Supports Texting But Not Email or Internet Access
Deep Focus Desktop Displays
The Conceptual 'SINK' Tabletop Stopwatch is Smartphone-Powered
Nostalgic Nixie Tube Timepieces
The NEONWORKS BTF Nixie Watch Has a Retro-Modern Design
Pinkish Toy-Inspired Tech Products
The Caviar #Barbiecore Collection is Opulently Pink
Pager-Inspired Power Banks
The Conceptual Beeper Power Bank by PTPC is Vintage-Modern
Pixelated Flip-Style Wall Clocks
The Miniot 'Klapklok' is Covered in Mechanical Flaps
Activewear-Branded Smartphones
The Conceptual Adidas FOG Phone Highlights the Three Stripes Logo
Posh Celebratory Pocket Watches
The Citizen 100th Anniversary Special Edition Pocket Watch is Chic
Advanced Lifestyle-Focused Flip Phones
The TCL Flip 3 is Retro Yet Modernly Equipped
Simplistic Distraction-Free Phones
The LoFone Has an E Ink Kaleido 3 Color Display
Sculptural Pebble-Shaped Cameras
The 'Ditto' Camera Concept Captures with Holographic Effect
Pocket-Sized Clamshell Devices
The RG35XXSP is a Retro-Inspired Foldable Gaming Handheld
Resurrected Used Smartphones
Think Tank Team Makes Artifacts with Project Afterlife
Flexible Folding Concept Phone
Samsung's Flex in & Out Flip is a Bending Phone Concept
Adaptable AI-Enabled Smartphones
The Conceptual Play T 1 Foldable Phone is ChatGPT-Connected
Healthy Habit Smartphone Accessories
The 'FIKA' Smartphone Enclosure Concept Helps with Relaxation
Retro Cassette Brick Puzzles
The LEGO Sony Walkman is Designed by Srta.JirafaEnfadada
Sleek Modern Timepiece Homage
Casio Releases the Limited-Edition TRN-50 Timepiece
Cannery-Inspired Phone Boxes
LookUp Makes Digital Detox Tools in the Shape of Fish Tins
Retro Doll-Themed Cameras
Retrospekt's Barbie Film Camera Collection is Nostalgically Vibrant
Retro-Inspired Music Systems
The Victrola Century 6-in-1 Record Player Works with Most Sources
Memory-Making Retro Camera Concepts
The Polaroid Duo Modular Instant Camera is a Sleek Concept
Social Media-Free Flip Phones
The HMD Barbie Phone Fuses Nostalgic Style with Digital Wellness
Engineer-Honoring Pocket Watches
The Shinola Elijah McCoy Mechanic Pocket Watch is Retro-Chic
Sitcom Smartphone Accessories
The FRIENDS x CASETiFY Collection Marks the Show's 30th Anniversary
Fun-Focused Festival Phones
The Brahma Phone is a Pared-Back Device for a Worry-Free Experience
Global Timezone Timepieces
Nik Bentel Studio and TTT Watches Creates the Time Traveler
70s-Era Retro-Futuristic Timepieces
The Bamford London Neprosolar Revives a Classic
Retro Full-Frame Cameras
Nikon's 'Z f' Camera Blends Old-School Aesthetics & Futuristic Features
Nostalgic Handheld Gaming Phones
The Samsung Young Entertainer Nods to Earlier Eras
Vintage Camera Experiences
Nikon’s Vintage Pop-Up Diner Teases the Past at Yorkdale Mall
Space-Themed Flip Phone Sets
POP MART x Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 Cry Me a Galaxy Dropped in Thailand
Crystalline Handheld Gaming Devices
The Analogue Pocket: Transparent Limited Editions are Stylish
Phone Box-Inspired Building Sets
LEGO Introduces its Red London Telephone Box Set
Retrofuturistic Tube Amplifier Jukeboxes
LG Introduces the DukeBox with a Clear OLED Display
Ocular Support Smartphones
The TCL 40 NXTPAPER is a CES 2024 Innovation Optimized for Human Eyes
Charged Phone Ads
Apple's 'Miss You' Ad Features a Personified Plug Longing for a Phone to Charge
Chromatic Astronaut-Inspired Timepieces
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SSC947 is Heritage-Inspired
Smartphone-Mounted Translation Devices
The VocaEase AI Translation Ring Works with 138 Languages
Retro Handheld Computers
soulscircuit Draws Nostalgic Elements with Raspberry Pi and Pilet 5
Transparent TV-Speaker Hybrids
The LG DukeBox is Coming to CES 2024
Retro-Inspired T-Shirt Capsules
YoungLA Embodies the 70s with Vintage Colored Tees
Retro 3D-Printed Bags
Coperni's CD-PLAYER Swipe Bag Resembles a Portable Music Player
Quantum Security Smartphones
The Huawei Mate 60 Pro is Being Upgraded by China Telecom
Unique Timekeeping Devices
TempoFlow is a Rolling Ball Clock Project Based in Hong Kong
Revamped Color-Blocked Cameras
MAD Paris and Casablanca Drop a Reimagined Contax G2
Design-Forward Camera Collaborations
Eames Office Informs the Polaroid Now Generation 2 Camera
Multifunctional Sleek Pill Dispenser
Chanho Ju Designs the Clock Pill Dispenser Concept
Quirky Strummable Synths
This Reimagined Electronic Synth is a Throwback to the 1980s
Portable Photobooth Printers
The HP Sprocket Photobooth is Debuting at CES 2024
Tiny Retro Computing Laptops
The Pocket 386 Laptop Runs Windows 95 and MS-DOS
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Modernized Video Cameras
The Kodak Super 8 Camera Revives the Brand's Analog Hardware
Creative Manual Instant Cameras
Polaroid Unveils the New I-2 Camera with Instant Film
Time-Traveling Internet Searches
'Search a Year' Helps You Explore Web History with Precision
Luxury Handheld Camera Bags
KidSuper Designs This Louis Vuitton-Branded Camera Bag
Portable Holographic Displays
Looking Glass Go Shares Memories as 3D Holograms, Not Photos
Anniversary-Commemorating Cat Watches
Casio Previews its New Hello Kitty Watch Collaboration
Anti-Distraction Student Smartphone Features
Google School Time Limits Features During Class
Bespoke Brass Vintage Clocks
Sergey's Nixei Tube Vintage Clock is Inspired by the 19th Century
Miniature Haptic Communicators
ONECOM's FINTIN V1 is a CES 2024 Innovation Award Winner
AI-Generated Feature Films
'Man With AI Movie Camera' Will Be Generated on a Long, Single Prompt
Distraction-Free Mobile Devices
The pgLang Light Phone II Encourages Mindful Communication
Timeless Typewriter Keyboard
The Qwerkywriter Meets Modern-Day Tech Needs
Cassette-Inspired Power Banks
The 'Flashtape' Wireless Magnetic Power Bank Has a Retro Design
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Hands-Free Communication Devices
Milo is an Adventure-Friendly Walkie Talkie for the Outdoors
Tomato-Red Retro Cameras
Retrospekt’s New Hello Kitty 35mm Camera is Inspired by Summer Picnics
Heritage-Honoring Premium Timepieces
Rolex Honors its Roots with the First Perpetual 1908
Vintage Building Block Cameras
The LEGO Ideas Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera Set Arrives in 2024
Retro Social App Devices
Edwar Banquet Designs the Retro Instagram Gadget with a Console Shape
Vintage Projector Puzzle Kits
The LEGO Magic Lantern by Norders is a Functional Projector
Vintage Watch-Adapted Desk Clocks
Casio Transforms the Vintage A158W Into a Desk Clock
Universal Language Translation Devices
The Vasco V4 Instant Translator Has a Built-in SIM Card
Iconic Doll-Inspired Pink Phones
Mattel is Joining HMD To Create a Real Barbie Flip Phone
Movie-Inspired Vintage Handbags
Nik Bentel Launches a New Bag Inspired by Wes Anderson's Movie
Tubular Illuminating Clocks
Urwerk Designs the Space-Time Clock Resembling a Lightsaber
Nostalgic Radio Concepts
The Calming Noise Radio by Gisung Han has a Minimal Design
Retro Phone-Inspired Label Makers
102 Design Lab Presents the Vintage Phone Labeling Machine
Color-Inspired Iconic Instant Film
POLAROID Debuts a Polaroid I-Type Film Pack in Peach Fuzz
Fictional Spy-Inspired Suitvases
Globe-Trotter Presents the James Bond Carry-On Trolley Case
Distraction-Free Flip Phones
Consumer Cellular Unveils its 'Shot on Flip Phone' Campaign
Bourbon Phone Booth Pop-Ups
Buffalo Trace Distillery Invited the Public to Answer Its Call
Nostalgic Cellular Power Banks
The Trozk RetroTalk Has a 72Wh Capacity and Three Charging Ports
Invisibility-Illusion Portable Cloaks
The Invisibility Shield Co. Relies on Science
High-End Instant Cameras
The Polaroid I-2 Fuses Analog and Modern Photography Technology
Vintage Photo Camera Apps
mood.camera Brings Back Nostalgia in a Digital Age
Phone-Style Counting Toys
Leapfrog's Chat & Count Emoji Phone Mimics a Real Phone to Teach Numbers
Smartphone-Shot Live-Actions Films
Takashi Miike and Apple Presents the Midnight Film
Smartphone-Filmed Festive Campaigns
Apple Celebrates Lunar New Year with Little Garlic Film
Vintage-Inspired Camping Lanterns
The AUGE Minimalist Fusion Has a Three-in-One Design
Retro-Chic Nostalgic Flip Phones
HMD and Mattel Join Forces on a Bright Pink Barbie Phone
Retro-Tinged Polaroid Cameras
Fujifilm's New SQUARE SQ40 Celebrates Vintage Photo Formats
Digital Time Capsules
LastCapsule Users Can Upload Content Like Photos, Videos, and More
Smartphone-Fuelled Stopwatch Concepts
The SINK Concept is a Smartphone-Powered Device
Connective Time Zone Apps
Clockwise Helps You Stay In Sync Across The Globe