List Of Obsolete Technologies

When the ''modus operandi'' of a new product or process is ''fundamentally'' different from its predecessor, then obsolescence will not be far away. This obsolescence may also include a loss of process machinery, materials processing methods and application knowledge.

The speed at which the obsolescence occurs is, in part, due to the depth of the Paradigm Shift the new technology engenders. This transitional change may happen quickly - such as the fairly rapid death of the slide rule once the low-cost 'basic' pocket calculator was introduced c.1972 - or more slowly (such as in the case of the reciprocating steam engine or mechanical television).

As the march of the progress of technological development is ever onwards and forwards, it is, perhaps, worthwhile to reflect on those devices, processes, materials and finished articles that have fallen by the wayside. Such finished goods utilizing these anachronistic technologies are now attractive to collectors as they hearken to a simpler age.

But what devices and processes perished so rapidly that they are in danger of becoming forgotten? It is worth noting a few examples, such as:

Wire Recorders - largely replaced by Magnetic Tape c.1951 except in certain specialist applications.

8-track Cartridge - replaced by the Compact Cassette and other media c.1970. However, tape cartridges similar to the 8-track cartridge may still be found in Radio Station s as a Jingle playback device.

Slide Rule s - replaced by Pocket Calculators from the late 1960's onwards. It is worth noting that, allegedly, Wernher Von Braun designed the Saturn V rocket using a slide rule for the computation.

Mechanical Television - the Nipkow development of the scanning disc was brought to practical fruition by John Logie Baird in the late 1920's. The system was replaced c.1936 by the 'all electronic' television work of Philo Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin

Electro-mechanical ; Cash Registers ; Comptometer s; Totalisator s) replaced by all-electronic equivalents from 1960 onwards

Cold Cathode tube displays (such as the Nixie Tube ) - replaced by LED and LCD displays from c.1970.

Vacuum Tube s themselves have largely been replaced by single Transistor s or (more usually) Integrated Circuit s. They remain, however, in production for High Fidelity audio use, Guitar Amplifier s, and in specialist applications such as Radar , TV & radio Transmitter s, X-ray and Microwave applications and as the Cathode Ray Tube .

Airship s for trans-continental passenger services – replaced by better aircraft c.1936 (especially after the failures of the R101 and Hindenburg )

Electro-mechanical switching in a Telephone Exchange - replaced by electronic and digital connection systems.

Stationary Steam Engines for industrial machine use - industrial process machines are now powered by self-contained drive systems rather than from a central plant.

Certain Radio Navigation systems for commercial use - such as LORAN and the Decca Navigator . Now replaced by cheap and highly accurate GPS devices.

Gas Lighting has been practically replaced by Electric Lighting , with the exception of novelty or decorative uses, or fuel-fired portable lamps usually used for Camping .

The Bessemer Converter for Steel manufacture was a technological breakthrough of its time, but now has been entirely replaced by other processes.

The production of coal-based Town Gas has almost entirely been replaced by the use of Natural Gas .

Ice Box es and daily ice deliveries. Some ex- Ice Box es in places like older Tavern s have been converted to Refrigeration .

Early forms of dynamic computer memory (before chip-based implementations), such as Magnetic Core Memory , the Williams Tube and mercury Delay Line Memory .

EXTERNAL LINKS

The Dead Media Project, a survey of obsolete media

	APPAREL
	BABY
	BEAUTY
	BOOKS
	CAR TOYS
	CELL PHONES
	DVD'S
	ELECTRONICS
	GOURMET FOOD
	GROCERIES
	HEALTH & PERSONAL
	HOME & GARDEN
	JEWELRY
	MUSIC
	MUSIC INSTRUMENTS
	OFFICE PRODUCTS
	SOFTWARE
	SPORTING GOODS
	TOOLS & HARDWARE
	TOYS
	VIDEO GAMES
	SHOPPING HOME

	MORE SHOPPING...

Information About

List Of Obsolete Technologies