Hey everyone, welcome back to The Tamnation Gilsey Podcast. I’m James Mitchell, and today we’re exploring something thats really fascinating—how vintage technology can actually inspire more sustainable living. Now, if you’ve been following the show, you know we’ve talked about rediscovering lost skills and how old-school trades are still holding their own against AI. But today, I wanna zoom in on the tech itself—the gadgets, the machines, the stuff that, well, just keeps on ticking.So, what do we mean when we talk about vintage technology? I always think of it as the kind of gear that was built to last—durable, simple, and, honestly, a lot less likely to end up in a landfill after a couple years. There’s something about the way these old radios, typewriters, and even early computers were made. They weren’t designed for obsolescence. You could open them up, see how they worked, and, if you were a little handy, fix them yourself. That’s a far cry from the sealed-up, glued-together gadgets we see today.And that brings me to the environmental side of things. Every time we reuse or repair an old gadget, that’s one less piece of electronic waste piling up somewhere. I mean, e-waste is a huge problem—millions of tons every year, and a lot of it is stuff that could’ve had a second or third life if we just took the time to fix it. I might be wrong about the exact numbers, but the point stands: keeping these devices in use is a small but real way to cut down on waste.Actually, let me share a quick story. I still have this old radio from my childhood—probably from the late seventies, maybe early eighties. I always mix up the year, but it’s definitely older than most of the stuff in my house. And you know what? It still works. I’ve had to replace a couple of parts over the years, but it’s outlasted at least three or four “modern” radios that just gave up after a few years. There’s something satisfying about that, right? Knowing you’re not just tossing things out and buying new every time something breaks.Now, let’s talk about what it actually looks like to bring these old machines back to life. I’ve seen some amazing case studies—folks restoring old radios, typewriters, even those chunky early computers. Sometimes it’s just a matter of cleaning out the dust and swapping a few parts, but other times, it’s a real labor of love. I remember reading about someone who took a battered typewriter from a thrift store and, after weeks of tinkering, got it working like new. That’s not just repair—that’s restoration.And it’s not just a handful of hobbyists doing this. There’s a whole movement out there, especially in eco-conscious communities, where people are seeking out vintage tech on purpose. They’re not just after the nostalgia—though, let’s be honest, that’s a big part of it—they’re also looking for ways to live more sustainably. It’s kind of like what we talked about in our episode on rediscovering lost skills: there’s this growing appreciation for things that last, things you can fix, things with a story.Of course, it’s not always easy. I mean, finding parts for a forty-year-old radio or a typewriter isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Sometimes you have to get creative, or even make the parts yourself. And there’s a learning curve—figuring out how these old circuits work, or how to re-thread a typewriter ribbon. But the rewards? They’re huge. Not just in terms of saving money or reducing waste, but in the satisfaction of bringing something back from the brink. There’s a sense of accomplishment there that you just don’t get from clicking “buy now” on a new gadget.That brings us to something I think gets overlooked a lot: the aesthetics and nostalgia of retro tech. There’s just something about the look and feel of these old devices—the click of a typewriter key, the warm glow of a radio dial. Design really matters. It’s not just about function, it’s about how these things make us feel. And, honestly, I think that’s a big reason why people are drawn to them, even today.When you choose quality and longevity over novelty, you’re making a statement. You’re saying, “I value things that last. I want to know the story behind what I use.” It’s a mindset shift, and it’s something I’ve come to appreciate more and more. I remember my first typewriter—an old Smith-Corona, heavy as a brick. I got it at a garage sale, and I must’ve spent hours just figuring out how to load the ribbon. But it taught me to slow down, to appreciate the process, and to think twice before tossing something out just because it’s not the latest model.So, as we wrap up, I hope this episode’s given you a little inspiration to look at your own tech habits—maybe dust off that old radio or typewriter, or just think twice before upgrading to the next big thing. There’s a lot we can learn from the past, and, who knows, maybe the next big step forward is actually a step back. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time on The Tamnation Gilsey Podcast.

Episodes

Retro Tech Revival