Artifacts

Remember when these were common?

Inventory Control Cards
Cards from the mid-60s

I found these finely preserved specimens as I went through some old documentation in my Dad’s house. They were with the warranty papers from a gas range installed as part of a kitchen remodel in the mid-60s.

The range had a pair of small vents over the pilot jets. The tiny chrome covers stood out from the enameled surface like perfect jewels, just begging to be touched, irresistible. As a kid I’d sometimes briefly touch one, just because, even though I knew better.

When I was clearing out Dad’s house I smiled as I briefly touched the no-longer-perfect metal. I still knew better and it was still hotter than hell and the result was quite predictable.

Not long after, I had the gas service to the property shut off.

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2 thoughts on “Artifacts”

  1. 9-edge first! Damn, I feel really old now!

    Well, y’know, this sort of thing lasted well into the mid-70s, and beyond for some companies that were slow on the uptake. Why, I can recall working at one place in the mid-70s that still had mechanical calculators in use. Some didn’t even have a motor, you pulled the handle on the side. Anyway, I showed these cards to my kid (almost 17 now) and he was, like, ‘WTF are those?”

  2. I don’t recall warranty punch-cards, but I certainly remember punch cards. Notepaper? BAH! Pocketful of blank punch cards.

    When I go, bury me face down, 9-edge first!

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