While Matt was here we bought some bits of obsolete electronic junk and put together some strange semi-abstract artistic machinery, including a nightlight based on an old amplifier tube switched by a noisy relay and an old low-magnification micro-viewer to display slowly-moving, microscopic photographs.
At the same time I discovered a copy of Survival City by Tom Vanderbilt, “Adventures Among the Ruins of Atomic America.” That’s when it struck me that I want the office at my new home to be built in that style. I call it “Atomic American.” The best single word to describe it would be “Bakelite.”
In researching more, I came to learn that the style of design and architecture popular during that era is called ‘Eames’. Boomerang-shaped coffee tables, desk lamps that look like Sputnik. Even the clock Nanny used to have in the living room, that looked sort of like a stylized sun, would probably be considered Eames-era.
Anyway, off to Ebay I’ve gone, to get busy WINNING things! Today I snagged first of many treasures.
This Electrohome logo fits the Atomic American bill nicely, even though it was a Canadian company know for, “its reputation for its large heavy floor models boxed in hardwood cases.”
The next item I bought was an electro-mechanical emergency beacon switch. Apparently it is a wind up mechanism that fires some circuits as it slowly unwinds itself. Sounds like a neat contraption. Good raw material for something.
Currently, I am the leading (only) bid for a Blasting Galvanometer. This galvanometer is used to test the soundness of high explosive blasting circuits before they’re ignited.
What else am I working on? Haggling with people over a gravy boat. Looking for interesting journals from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Preferably from engineers or scientists or something. So far no luck.
I did spot this amazing Danish-made Eames-era folding secretary. I’d love to get a high quality piece like this to keep all my administrative shit in. Luckily, I have a Danish friend who is an auction addict, so I am hoping I can get something from Denmark, rather than a detour through expensive USA Ebay.
One thing about Ebay is that these little bits of junk aren’t cheap. These are the kinds of things you’d buy for 50c at a yard sale, not $7.00. Of course, I don’t have the luxury of going to yard sales, so it’s not a true alternative.
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