RE: ADSactly Tech News - A Walk Down Memory Lane, Forgotten Devices of the Past (Part 3)
Oh man. I let my Pioneer Technics (Panasonic made them, the brand was Pioneer) Turntable go away with my entire Stereo system in '99. I gave it to a stepson. What a piece of gear that I owned for 25 years. I had the first pair of KLH Acoustic 1 speakers that Henry Koss shipped. Serial numbers 0006 and 0008. A Marantz Gold amplifier. The sound was stunning. I had a few digital LPs that were pressed in Japan. Ella Fitzgerald fronting Benny Goodman was the best of them.
My best buddy here went in the Navy in '66. His original rate was Signalman (Panty Waver), and he can still tap Morse Code at a pretty good rate. They had to be able to read and send it perfectly with sound, light and flags. Radio was thought to be 'not secure' so line of sight transmission was the key to fleet movement. He also learned to sew on a US Navy issued sewing machine to be able to maintain and make the 'battle flags' that flew from the mast. All based on Morse Code.
The wrist computer never made it to popular acceptance, so I never even saw one. It was an effort to mimic a popular cartoon of the time "Dick Tracy". He had a wrist radio in the 50s. Even Dick Tracy would be amazed today...
Up until 2008 Telegraph Operators were exempt from Jury Duty in Washington State. That'll tell you how important they were.
Another simply great post. Thank you!
Yes, I remember Pioneer! A very famous brand indeed. Sad to hear it slipped through your fingers but it sounds like it went to someone who would love it and use it even more. Morse code is fascinating, I learned about it in school but we had to use our voices to practice instead of the actual gear needed. The wrist computer didn't make it very far at all so I doubt most ever got a chance to see it, it was a real shocker to come across it! I remember Dick Tracy and his cool get-smart like gadgets! That is a really interesting fact about telegraph operators, who would of thought as recently as 2008 they were considered to be so important! Thanks @bigtom13.