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Original poster

Genius inventions we no longer use

353 replies

Grumpypants78 · 01/09/2022 08:41

Inspired by a chat with a friend after struggling back from the corner shop yet again with the mountains of stuff my family can't survive without. My gran in the 70s used to have a little shopping trolley on wheels she'd take with her. You never see them anymore but what a brilliant idea. They sell them in Amazon, I'm going to buy one and be like my gran only without the curlers and housecoat 🤣
What else do you remember your DPs/DGPs use I can be inspired to invest in?

OP posts:
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OP posts:
Helenloveslee4eva · 01/09/2022 08:46

I’ve had shopping trolleys for years 😂.

my dad always said he watched an episode of tomorrows world in the 1970s where they ran a car on hydrogen . Where is that now ?

Mossygreenchypre · 01/09/2022 08:54

I have one 😀 I bought one when I moved to SW London and saw people using shoppers all the time . Young, old, male and female, all filling their trollies at the market.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 01/09/2022 08:55

Shopping trolleys are still quite common up here for shopping with no car. I think their demise on the High Street can be correlated to the demise of small separate shops (butcher, baker, greengrocer) - when you only go to one supermarket, you take the car or get a taxi

Original poster
Grumpypants78 · 01/09/2022 08:58

I can't believe people still use them and this has passed me by 🤷 @Helenloveslee4eva I'm still waiting for the hoverboard from BTTF 😭

OP posts:
Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 01/09/2022 09:06

I’ve got one,I bought it in France where you can hardly move in weekly markets for people dragging them behind them, filled with goodies. They are also very useful if you go to craft classes., put all your stuff in and still be able to use the car keys.

I remember when people used to laugh at the idea of the cheap to run, virtually everlasting light bulb , now we all have LEDs. I wish cold fusion would make its long awaited appearance, that would solve many problems.

Chillicheesebites · 01/09/2022 09:07

I see them all the time. Usually by the elderly but noticed a few younger and middle aged people with them recently too.
They are gaining popularity if anything!

AuntieStella · 01/09/2022 09:09

Shopping trolleys have always been around!

I did think my DMum looked wrong with a tartan one that was inside a sort of metal cage, so I got her one with sleek lines in leopard print.

She's now rather frail, so I think it might be time to liberate it my way

Needmorelego · 01/09/2022 09:10

Huh? Where I live shopping trollies (aka 'granny trollies') are EVERYWHERE. They are sold everywhere, used everywhere. They are something so normal that people just own and use like shoes or umbrellas.

shinynewapple22 · 01/09/2022 09:13

Helenloveslee4eva · 01/09/2022 08:46

I’ve had shopping trolleys for years 😂.

my dad always said he watched an episode of tomorrows world in the 1970s where they ran a car on hydrogen . Where is that now ?

There are buses running on hydrogen now . Birmingham has them and I think other UK cities do too.

Snowiscold · 01/09/2022 09:16

I have a wheeled shopping trolley. They’re really common where I am in London -maybe because car use isn’t as common. They are sold everywhere and lots of people have them, young and old, male and female. I’d say they are increasingly popular. My 20-year-old DD has one. I saw a young Australian man with one the other day in the supermarket. There are some very stylish ones.

Pe0pleMakeRacers · 01/09/2022 09:16

They are called sholleys

Lunar270 · 01/09/2022 09:17

Don't these come with the obligatory blue rinse 😂

Seriously though, a great labour saver.

I'm thinking mangles will come back in to save energy and drying time. Just watch those fingers!

MercurialMonday · 01/09/2022 09:18

I have a shopping trolley - it's not always great as can't leave it at front of local supermarkets (we don't drive and it's a bit of a walk to them) so have to manage it and a trolley so I tend to use it most at minute when I have someone else with me - but I'm mid 40s and can still manage heavy backpacks and bags.

But there not uncommon on buses or round town here at all.

MercurialMonday · 01/09/2022 09:21

I might have to upgrade to a folding one - would be easier around the supermarkets.

WhenPushComesToShove · 01/09/2022 09:22

Actual newspapers: stuffing wet shoes, floor protection while decorating, fish & chip wrapping, also ice cream wrapping, used to mask cars when spraying, home made swords for kids to play with, party game 'kippers', fly swatter, window cleaning, puppy training and so much more...

Longdistance · 01/09/2022 09:22

Anyone remember the key rings that you whistled at? If you lost your keys it would give out a high pitched noise. My dh needs one for everything 😏

Wrt the trolleys, my dm used to have one. I’d seen them being sold at a market yesterday.

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 01/09/2022 09:23

In terms of other inventions, why can’t you buy proper feather dusters on a stick anymore? My nan used to have two - they were great for getting to high-up cobwebs 🕸

ofwarren · 01/09/2022 09:24

I have one, it's invaluable
Does anyone have one of those manual carpet sweepers? Ewbank were they called?

Oysterbabe · 01/09/2022 09:24

I have one of those, loads of people round here use them.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/09/2022 09:26

You don't see many trebuchets these days. Sad

MercurialMonday · 01/09/2022 09:27

Does anyone have one of those manual carpet sweepers? Ewbank were they called?

IL have one - think MIL uses it more as FIl will insist on big appliances so hoover ca n heavy for her - amazon have a selection under Carpet Sweepers including that make.

LightDrizzle · 01/09/2022 09:27

I’ve had a shopping trolley for 15 years! Since my 30s living in a city close to lots of food shops.

My vote is for proper mangles. I don’t have one of those but grandma kept hers until she had to leave her house in the early 90s. It was massive, which does mean it takes up space, but things came out almost dry and in the hands of a skilful user you can eliminate or minimise most ironing. Perfect for a damp climate or rising energy costs as it reduces drying time enormously.

Maireas · 01/09/2022 09:27

Grumpypants78 · 01/09/2022 08:58

I can't believe people still use them and this has passed me by 🤷 @Helenloveslee4eva I'm still waiting for the hoverboard from BTTF 😭

Whaaat!
Loads of people have them where I live! It's very hilly. Some of them are young people (some obviously students). You can get them in quite funky designs.

BreatheAndFocus · 01/09/2022 09:28

Lots of people have shopping trolleys around here. Some are old, some use them for work, especially teachers, and lots of younger people (20s) seem to have one in trendy prints.

I’m disappointed because I was excited to read on and see your example of great things we no longer use, OP 😀 I can’t think of any myself. I guess most things have been superseded, eg portable DVD players which are no longer needed.