The 1970s homes were somehow welcoming, practical and personal. The objects that one could find in everyday life were designed to last and could also have a single obvious purpose, with no distractions. Their gradual marginalization was slowly done by changing technology, design trends and lifestyle changes over the years. Nowadays, they cause curiosity and nostalgia as they remind people of a life where people enjoy and love spending time together. Although some of these objects have survived, they are much less widespread and have been quietly supplanted by modern ones. This indicates the manner in which home life has changed.
Telephones with rotating dials
Rotary phones used to be super proudly on the hallway table or on the kitchen counter. Making a call through dialing was a patience test, and because the handset was heavy, it was as though you were calling in thoughts, and it would become an unforgettable moment in a normal conversation.
Console television sets
Big television consoles would be looked upon as a piece of furniture. They would sit together in the evenings, and the television would tend to be fixed in the same place, influencing the living room layouts and joint viewing.
Record players
At home a usual source of music was provided by record players. Placing the needle carefully and flipping records was a ritual, and the touching nature of albums made the music seem more deliberate and intimate.
Typewriters
The use of typewriters was applied in letters, schoolwork, and office work at home. It was not new to hear keys hitting paper, and errors had to be endured patiently, and the writing was a slower but more deliberate exercise.
Manual can openers
Guardian Manual can openers were part of the kitchen. Their hands needed to be stable, and they needed time, but they were dependable and could have served many decades in the same household drawer.
Wall calendars with notes
The paper calendars were available in the kitchens or corridors with handwritten notes. Birthdays, appointments, and reminders are all seen by all people and this saves the family lives of being organized without computerized alerts and screens.
Encyclopedia sets
The encyclopedia collections were placed on shelves in most households. Research involved turning pages and reading attentively, and this might have promoted curiosity and attention to learning more than searching fast.
Ashtrays as decor
Ashtrays would be scattered all over the house, even in accordance with the decor. They even did mirror social norms and trends of design in houses where they were not much used.
Bread boxes
Kitchens had bread boxes on their countertops. They were used to preserve fresh bread and were also a useful but ornamental item, usually of metal or wood, of simple design.
Floor fans
During hot seasons, rooms were cooled with large floor fans. Their constant buzzing and the spinning blades that were visible were part of the house ambiance even before the introduction of central cooling systems.
Station wagons
The station wagons were also the favored family automobile. They were made to be practical, used to hold groceries, luggage and children, and frequently became closely associated with family excursions and journeys.
Kitchen clocks
Automatic kitchen clocks were utilized on a daily basis. The ticking timer was used so that cooking time could be counted, and thus meal preparation became more real and linked to the kitchen rhythm.
TV antennas
TV antennas were positioned on rooftops or sets. It was a mutual effort to adjust them so that the picture would be clearer, which at times demanded care in placing and a lot of patience.
Home bar carts
Many living rooms or dining areas had bar carts. They could be very decorative and practical as well as not frequently used, but they could represent entertaining styles of the time.
