6 of the best: Retro Gadgets

The mere mention of the word retro sets some people perspiring as they have nightmarish flashbacks to a time of flower prints, flares and big hair.

The world of tech however has taken all that was good from yesteryear and brings us a fine selection of gadgetry with retro detail on the outside and innards packed with bang-up-to-date technology.

Old-Skool needn’t mean old-fashioned. Let me show you.

Coffee Creator - Kenwood Cafe Retro - £93.99 - £118.99

www.electricshopping.com
This machine will never be in danger of ending up at the back of a cupboard along with that arsenal of gadgets you thought were a good buy at the time.
This is a work of art that you’ll want to have out on display, and it makes decent coffee too with a frother for you to add your own Italian flair. Available in chrome, retro red or cream.

Wakey Wakey - iPod Alarm - £39.95

from www.firebox.com
Shaped in the same style as a “dingaling” alarm - you know the ones that shook the house when the hammers started hitting. Place your player in the back and select your wake-up melody from your play list - thrash rock for midweek and something smoother for the weekends I think. And those bells on top don’t ring; they are cleverly disguised stereo speakers. Available in black, pink or white.

Unmistakable Sound - Retro Phones - £59.99

from www.iwantoneofthose.com
Say pah to sleek and slender telephones and kick-start a campaign in your office to have the boss buy everyone one of these bulky and brash creations. Thrill in your re-enactment of a seventies call centre as they begin to ring. The rotary dial retains that fabulous whirring sound. It may be slow but it is superb. In red, ivory or black.

Image is Everything - Leica Digilux 3 - £1,700

from www.shop-com.co.uk
There is little point harping on about the incredible image taking qualities of this camera, because at this price you would expect no less and possibly a free holiday thrown in. In the looks department though this could well be the best looking camera around. You can get cheaper retro digital cameras but we thought we’d would make your eyes water with this top-end one.

Stackable Storage - Lacie Brick - prices start at £48.95

from www.pcwb.com
We should all have an external storage system for our computers and what better way to protect all your contents than backing them up onto one of these fine looking creations. Available as mobile units or slightly larger desktop bricks these are available in a choice of memory capacities and colours. The more you need to store, the higher your construction will become. It’s lego for big people.

Radiator Radio - Asono DAB1 - £149.95

at www.aqdab.com
Eagerly awaited arrival in the UK any day now – one of the best looking DAB radios in the world. This Norwegian creation is cooler than a penguin’s posterior. You can pause and rewind live radio, it has an SD card slot for your MP3 listening pleasure, and if you turn it on its side the display alters accordingly.

Contributed by Peter Jenkinson