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Modern Living

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Equipment for Modern Living,
Betty Jane Johnston, The Macmillan Company, New York, 1965.
(a gift from Daughter C!)

Did you see #10? Plug-in vision-phone. How cool would that be?

What is the thing above #5 that has a line but no number?

[Betty Jane has a Ph.D. by the way, so that’s Doctor Betty Jane to folks like you & I.]

Crappy old books such as this are good for a laugh. How could they have been so wrong about the near future?

Crappy old books such as this can teach a valuable lesson. How could they have been so wrong about the near future?

This is true. See, for example, this compelling story of the electric quesadilla maker.

Before we look at a couple of “well-chosen” appliances, let’s examine the drawing, shall we? Those are cloth diapers hanging on the line. Pampers were introduced to US markets in 1961; the “modern” double-gusset version in 1973 (from that infallible source which has the whole history of diapers). Further, in 1965 there was not an electric dryer in every home. Dr. Betty Jane encourages you to purchase one. See that big pot piled high with bottles and a pair of tongs? That’s what this poor wretched homemaker used to sterilize the baby’s glass bottles, nipples, and rings. And would you look at her shoes! Believe it or not, in 1965 one wore flip-flops only to the pool or beach. One last thing. I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that teddybear has button eyes, and the ABC block has lead paint.

And now, to the appliances that will deliver our wretched homemaker from her personal hell of drudge work.

Completely immersible! Though look at the placement of the fork relative to the knife and spoon! And where’s the napkin? Dr. Betty Jane needed a better editor.

Nothing much has changed in the design of these appliances, has it? Today’s may have a magnetic safety feature on account of the crying little girl, but they still have removable probes.

Who sits down to iron? That’s like the life of leisure our wretched homemaker is missing out on.

I iron a lot of table cloths and similar items. The cord holder and extensions would be very useful accessories.

2019. 1965. One the one hand, only 54 years ago. On the other, more than half a century has passed. But things were so thoroughly modern, don’t you know?

Similar post regarding photographing your favorite TV scenes here. Go just to see the picture. It’s great!

2 Responses

  1. “Plug-in vision-phone. How cool would that be?”

    Heh. We have them now….without the plug-in part!!!

    1. I know. But why would a robot maid need a vision-phone? Or was this the beginning of the internet of things?

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