Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler A poll for the guys who grew up in the 60s and 70s

Tires have come a long way, how often do you get a flat tire? I don't remember changing one since I owned a vehicle.

But when the ol' bias plys were out, it was a regular thing!

Yep, we sure do take a lot for granted. (I voted for the disposable razor even though I wasn't shaving in the 70s)

I worked at Firestone in the '70s as a tire changer. Firestone was replacing their 500 series with the 721 series. The 500's had a problem with separation which would result in knots appearing in the tread. When I commented on tires, it was that I have seen fairly small incremental improvement sinc the 721 series. Batteries - a fairly significant jump when the alkalines came out - but since then small incremental improvements. If you look at TV's or digital cameras, the significant jumps have been numerous and often - just sayin...

As for batteries... I have two comments:

Portable music:
Then: Boombox with 8 Alkaline D-cells
Now: Player of choice with an internal rechargeable Li-gel battery.

ENG video cameras:
Then: battery belt of lead acid batteries that make you look like you're diving for sunken treasure.
Now: Lithium ion or Lithium polymer battery pack on the back of the camera.

Bren R.

Bren, those battery belts are still useful for weighing down light stands....

I'd strip them for the lead in them, but they're full of cadmium, too... cadmium fumes make Bren R. something something.

Bren R.

Marge: [timidly] "Go Crazy?"

Even though the mechanical aspects and basic concept of auto engines hasn't changed a great deal, the electronics/computerization of them has certainly made them more efficient not too mention cleaner. I remember reading an article comparing engines only as far back as the 80's that were putting out over 200 times the polutants as compared to a modern engine....might have been the same article that said driving a Porsche Turbo through Los Angeles actually helps clean the air.

Don't mind if I do!

Bren R.

For those of you not in the know on the recent exchange between me and BrenR, it's from the Simpsons episode [2F03] Treehouse of Horror V, which is an homage to the Shining: linky.