Olivetti Valentine typewriter, 1969 - the lipstick red portable typewriter exemplifies 1960s pop culture.
Amstrad 512PPC, portable computer, 1988 - the UK built PPC 512 was the first portable computer made by Alan Sugar’s firm Amstrad. It predates apple’s Macintosh portable computer by one year.
Panasonic R-72 Toot-a-Loop, portable radio, 1972 - pre-dating the Sony Walkman by several years the bangle radio was an attempt to combine mobility and personal audio.
Braun P1, record player & radio, 1959 - the revival of interest in vinyl records has resulted in a demand for vintage hi-fi equipment. The Braun P1 was designed by influential industrial designer Dieter Rams.
Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 Land, instant film camera, 1972 - though expensive, the SX-70 was popular in the 1970s and retains a cult following today
Sony TV8-30, portable television, 1960 - the world’s first non-projection type 23 transistor television was prone to malfunction, which led to it being called Sony’s “frail little baby".
Need a blast from the past? UNSW's Beautiful Obsolescence exhibition showcases some of the quirky, cumbersome electronics that were once part of our lives. Curated by Miles Park for the Sydney Design Festival, the exhibits are part of the University’s Industrial Design program collection.