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"...but that was a long time ago in a far away place."

 

Yeah, I remember the 1990's fondly, too! ;-)

 

I have too many records that aren't available on CD, or have been poorly remastered, so I'm

sticking with them for now.

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A number of things mentioned here are not really household words but are specialty items well known only to people in a particular field or with a specific interest or hobby. That's not my understanding of what "iconic" means. It should really be something that is more broadly appreciated. For example, my wife never heard of a Rollei TLR but has heard of the Hasselblad camera (which I guess is well known since it is )or at least was) the choice of so many wedding photographers.

 

My list would include an Aston-Martin or DeLaurian car (masde famous by movies); Stradivarius (or Amati) violin, Steinway concert grand piano; Viewmaster (which were well known at least when I was a kid :-)); Swiss army knife (someone mentioned above, this is a good one); Frigidaire (which became synonymous with refrigerator); Chippindale furniture; Seth Thomas clock; Paul Revere silver tea service; Spaulding rubber ball; Wilson tennis racket, Coca Cola (notice that the word "cola" is now used almost generically); and the like. There are many many more.

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Despite Eliot's suggestion that iconic requires wide awareness I would add the Selmer Mk6 Alto - at one time the sax of choice for the Bird and many others. Indeed you could extend that to include all Mk 6 Selmers from Sopranino to Bari or Contra Bass.

 

Iconic certainly to Jazz afficionados.

 

M

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Nice idea Roger.

 

For me Rolex and other iconic mechanical wrist watches - other everyday use items include fountain pens; fine bone china; wonderful Irish Waterford lead crystal.

 

Ah and then automobiles must include that marvellous Citroen 2CV!

 

And back in the kitchen one would have to include Le Creuset - just love that enamelled cast iron - now maybe there is an idea for the Leica M8 - in an enamelled cast iron body!

 

In the bedroom one would have to include the Tivoli bedside clock radio!

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Dear Eliot,

 

I'm with you that wide public awareness -- outside the realm of specialists -- is important but the example you chose shows how it changes with time; I think probably a Rollei TLR would have been far more familiar than a Hasselblad before the moon landings.

 

Your list also shows how it changes with space: I am only very dimly aware of what a Seth Thomas clock might be, and not a lot further ahead on a Tompion. Likewise Simopn's Tivoli bedside clock -- but no-one has mentioned a Teasmade yet (too culturally specific?)

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

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This thread is the most ridiculous tripe I have ever read in this forum. The original post

should have been deleted. Slow day at the keyboard Roger? Then again, you did not

mention the ALPA, which ironically, meets the criteria for this thread. I would rather read

misplaced FS posts than this balderdash.

 

However, to be charitable, I will waste some more time. I regularly tow out bogged and

broken down Landrovers in my non-iconic 4X4; A Leica will not fit comfortably in the

pocket of 501 Levis; Ray Bans prevent you seeing the frame lines and make you look like a

dope; Rolex watches are generally fake and the fake ones keep better time; The motor

driven Nikon F was an owner's and technician's nightmare - each drive matched to a

single, specific camera body; Minox? you must be joking; Speed Graphic - Now there's a

real blast from the past. Are they doing a digital version soon? Iconic? Ironic? Moronic?

too close to call.

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"1983 was was half my life ago so it seems a long time. :-( "

 

I'm afraid I'm in the same boat.

 

Seems like just the other day I was buying "London Calling" to spin on my turntable, and then

I saw the 25th anniversary remastered CD on the shelf.... :-(

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It's nice to be younger, so you're able to buy all the great dead or near-dead musicians' "Greatest Hits" albums, and not have to put up with all their floundering experimentations. Just the other day I bought Wagner's Greatest Hits. Just the thought of sitting through his "Rings" cycle creeps me out.
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