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55 Decade-Confused Devices

In Honor of the Charlie Chaplin Film's 1928 Time Traveler

— October 28, 2010 — Art & Design
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.
5.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
55
Touchscreen Fax Machines
Touchscreen Fax Machines
The Panasonic KX-PW821 Proves That the Fax Isn't Dead Just Yet
<
54
Time-Traveling Carriers
Time-Traveling Carriers
The Big Business Case Collection is Where Old School Meets New
<
53
Medieval Internet Detectors
Medieval Internet Detectors
WiFi Dowsing Rod Gives a New Purpose to an Old Gadget
<
52
Retro MP3 Converters
Retro MP3 Converters
The HIDEOTO Cassette Tape Deck Brings Back Your Old-School Beats
<
51
Speedy Music Players
Speedy Music Players
The Sonic the Hedgehog MP3 Player is for Old School Sega Gamers
<
50
Cassette-Inspired Hard Drives
Cassette-Inspired Hard Drives
The Freecom Mobile Drive CLS is a Retro Throwback
<
49
Polaroid 2.0
Polaroid 2.0
The PoGo Portable Instant Digital Prints
<
48
Retro Tech Periodicals
Retro Tech Periodicals
Cassette Tape Magazine Reads Like a Micro Blog, Looks Like an Old Cassette
<
47
Designer 35MM
Designer 35MM
Leica M7 Edition Hermes Combines Old School Tech With Hip Designs
<
46
Water Powered Calculator
Water Powered Calculator
<
45
40s Lamp Revivals
40s Lamp Revivals
Robolux Flower Power Lamp Projects a Floral Pattern on Your Wall
<
44
Hefty Vintage Phones
Hefty Vintage Phones
The Ediphone Concept Brings Us Back to a Simpler Time
<
43
Foghorn-Style Speakers
Foghorn-Style Speakers
Teac and Avantgarde Make Postmodern Speakers
<
42
Polaroid Pendants
Polaroid Pendants
Pay Homage to the Polaroid Camera With a Snappy Necklace
<
41
Ghetto Blaster Watch Bling
Ghetto Blaster Watch Bling
Is the Blaster Boom Box Watch Pendant Inspired by Flavor Flav?
<
40
Two-in-One Retro Calculators
Two-in-One Retro Calculators
Revamped Old-School Typewriters as Calculators
<
39
Fake Record iPod Cases
Fake Record iPod Cases
MP3 Case Looks Like an Old School Vinyl Player
<
38
Toy-Inspired Digi Cams
Toy-Inspired Digi Cams
The Holga D's Design is Inspired by the Original Holga Camera
<
37
The Return of "New Retro"
The Return of "New Retro"
First Gen iPods As Fashion Accessory
<
36
Throwback Gaming Lighters
Throwback Gaming Lighters
The Sega Zippos Would Make a Geek Start Smoking
<
35
Retro Gadget Pillows
Retro Gadget Pillows
Floppy Disc Pillows From MyMimi Provide Cuddly Gadgetry
<
34
Designer Digital Jukeboxes
Designer Digital Jukeboxes
Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 5
<
33
USB Floppy Disks
USB Floppy Disks
Reinvented Retro Gadgets
<
32
Old Walkman As iPod Camouflage
Old Walkman As iPod Camouflage
Hidepod?
<
31
Astonishing Analogue Amplifiers
Astonishing Analogue Amplifiers
The Bone Collection iPhone Speaker is Electricity-Free
<
30
Retro Instant Photo Revival
Retro Instant Photo Revival
Resurrecting Old Polaroid Film and Camera Models is Reality (UPDATE)
<
29
Vintage Vinyl Accessories
Vintage Vinyl Accessories
The Turntable Necklace Will Show Off Your Love for Music
<
28
Old School Phone Holders
Old School Phone Holders
This Retro iPhone Phone Dock is a Blast From the Past
<
27
Viewmaster-Inspired Shades
Viewmaster-Inspired Shades
The Vintage Red Walter Van Beirendonck Sunglasses are Nostalgic
<
26
Vintage Camera Disguises
Vintage Camera Disguises
The Wooden Camera Tape Dispenser Plays Tricks on Your Eyes
<
25
Retro Gadget Protectors
Retro Gadget Protectors
The Etch A Sketch iPhone Cover is the Best Thing Ever
<
24
Old School Weather Monitors
Old School Weather Monitors
Sputnik Barometer Weather Station with Steampunk Look
<
23
Old School Gaming Chargers
Old School Gaming Chargers
This Nintendo Controller i-Dock Recharges Your iPhone in Retro Fashion
<
22
Cutting-Edge Old Clocks
Cutting-Edge Old Clocks
Fred Niell's Indicator-6 Nixie Clock Blends Retro & Nouveau
<
21
Vintage Calculator Apps
Vintage Calculator Apps
iPhone Gets Old School With Hewlett Packard
<
20
Traveling Turntables
Traveling Turntables
The Crosley Echo is Designed to be Taken Anywhere
<
19
Steampunk Goggles
Steampunk Goggles
Mac McGowan Designs Victorianesque Eyewear
<
18
DIY Hot Rods
DIY Hot Rods
'VooDoo' Converts an Old Philco Refrigerator into a Hot Rod
<
17
Musical Pencil Cases
Musical Pencil Cases
The Cassette Tape Pouch Makes Great Back-To-School Gift
<
16
Papercraft Phonographs
Papercraft Phonographs
GGRP Corrugated Cardboard Envelope Unfolds Into Record Player
<
15
Retro Arcade Clocks
Retro Arcade Clocks
The Pac Man Alarm Clock Wakes You Up in Old School Style
<
14
Retro Smartphone Covers
Retro Smartphone Covers
The Cassette iPhone Case Makes Everything Old School
<
13
Old School Tech Wallets
Old School Tech Wallets
Retro Pocket Wear Likes Like An Old Cassette Tape
<
12
Revamped Toy Weaponry
Revamped Toy Weaponry
The Steampunk Nerf Vulcan is Battery-Powered Vintage Fun
<
11
Hardwood Flash Drives
Hardwood Flash Drives
The Narrow Bridge Steampunk USB Comes in a Faux Vintage Tin Box
<
10
Spherical Steampunk Writers
Spherical Steampunk Writers
The Writing Ball is a Peculiar Vintage Typewriter
<
9
Portable Rotary Phones (UPDATE)
Portable Rotary Phones (UPDATE)
For Haters of the 'Califronia Hands Free Law'
<
8
Reinventing Retro Gadgets
Reinventing Retro Gadgets
DIY iPod Cigarette Case
<
7
Toy Tablet Protectors
Toy Tablet Protectors
The Etch a Sketch iPad Case Shows This Tablet is All Fun and Games
<
6
Vintage Luggage Speakers
Vintage Luggage Speakers
The BoomCase Turns Old Suitcases into Boomboxes
<
5
Wood Paneled Playstations
Wood Paneled Playstations
Steampunked PS3 Brings Old School to the Future
<
4
Carved Computer Cases (UPDATE)
Carved Computer Cases (UPDATE)
The Rainer Spehl Laptop Case Screams Classic Masculinity
<
3
Old-School Style Gadgets
Old-School Style Gadgets
The Boombox iPod Cradle Keeps It Fresh
<
2
Retooled Hot Rods
Retooled Hot Rods
Bo Zolland's ‘33-34' Automobile is a Blast from the Past
<
1
Faux Brick Phones
Faux Brick Phones
Carry Your New Mobile Like Your Old School Cell Phone
<