Obsolete Skills and now niche, pretty much useless skills!

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Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 7:27 pm

That you could still perform if needed.

I could .....

Add just the right amount of aluminum foil and wire hanger to a broken rabbit ear antenna.

Fix a cassette that has the tape twisted.

What can you bring to the table? Cool

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 10:45 pm

^The tape bit is not obsolete for me and I even can splice them to this day while the rabbit ear trickery just recently left the party.

Sooo er I dunno...let me think...

I can fix just about any type of rotary phone, make lye soap out of pork fat and hardwood ash and have built a mean outhouse or two.

Wait those things aren't obsolete yet.

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 11:10 pm

I can sign up to, and post in an online forum....

So 2003 Razz

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Cursive writing. (Spencerian)

Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 11:46 pm

That delicate surgery of a twisted cassette with pen, scissors and tape was quickly acquired as a teenager in the mid 1970's and the tapes still play now Wink

Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 9:28 pm

^^And it was sometimes necessary to clean the recording/playback heads. A Q-tip and rubbing alcohol worked best.

I may still have some anachronistic automotive skills. I can work a manual transmission and reset the engine timing with a strobe light.

Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 9:50 pm

I can imitate a trim phone ring tone.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

lakeside77 wrote:

anachronistic automotive skills

Like gapping points with a matchbook cover?

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 1:48 am

^^Exactly. And like repairing an exhaust pipe with a 15 oz. tin can, tin snips, and a pair of hose clamps.

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 1:51 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6IDu8qRjLM

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 2:22 am

I can drink a cup of coffee, smoke a cigarette (although I quit 15 years ago), talk on a cell phone (no blue-tooth), and drive a standard shift truck (trailer optional). Simultaneously. In traffic. Laughing

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 3:53 am

^

I can do all of that with a trailer ...backing up. Razz

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 4:44 am

I can replace an Edison base fuse, with a penny.
I can hot wire a 1973 Chevy Chevelle.
I can siphon gasoline with an old water hose.

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 5:37 am

I can multiply and divide with a slide rule.

I can make a log table. Not with saws and drills, but with a pencil and lots of paper.

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 6:20 am

I can read 5 hole Murray coded punched tape.

This stuff...

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

I know this.

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 5:00 pm

I can find my way to any town in North America using only this:

.

.

Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 5:06 pm

Justcold wrote:

^

I can do all of that with a trailer ...backing up. Razz

But could you do it while noodling at the same time?

Posted: Sat May 05, 2018 4:42 am

^ and pleasing your sister all the while.

Baiting Guru Joined: 25 Jul 2017 Posts: 2107

I do decorative wood graining........turning steel doors (or even mdf) into oak, walnut or mahogany with 7-10 of paint/varnish.

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 3:18 am

^ I believe that is a current, marketable skill that produces beautiful results. I hate you now.

Laughing

I have a home-based CB unit around here somewhere. Breaker for Teddy Bear.

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 4:14 am

Justcold wrote:

I have a home-based CB unit

Married to own sisters

Plays banjo

Fists fishes

"House" has wheels and an outside toilet

Mullet

and

CB owner

Congratulations

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 4:53 am

Redneck and proud of it. The sister and fish business does not apply, but the rest is fairly close. Wink

I can escort your female relatives back to Luxemburg if you plan to marry one.

Baiting Guru Joined: 25 Jul 2017 Posts: 2107

JC you are right, I confused obsolete with archaic. The extremely small niche market just makes it look obsolete!

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 2:28 pm

Unfortunately, I'm a bit young to have developed any truly obsolete skills. Now, if we were talking about niche, pretty much useless skills, then I would have plenty to share. I'll just stay back and let JC and B8ER argue here.

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