i never took typing in HS, so eventually came up with my own system. i literally never use the shift key on the right side of key board. i can't type without looking at the keys to some extent. i have no idea what my wpm is, but i can go pretty quickly at times. i know it's time to tk a break when i have all the correct letters in a word but not in correct order.
What's a lost skill that no one seems to remember how to do anymore?
- Thread starter charry
- Start date
hearlady
Homebody
- Location
- N Carolina
I missed out on typing too. Long story but I do hunt and peck pretty well.
My Dad was a tool and dye maker.
My Dad was a tool and dye maker.
sewing... hand sewing and machine work. i really don't like hand sewing and avoid it at all costs. will opt out of shank buttons so i can attach them with sewing machine. my grandmother taught me the basics on her little Singer. my sister has it. it only sews forward and back, no zig zag or decorative stitches. thinking if it's not 100 years old, must be close to. she had it overhauled... that fabric covered cord replaced and a belt or 2 tucked away.
for a while i did decent amount of garments. now fabric is so expensive and pattern prices are insane.
for a while i did decent amount of garments. now fabric is so expensive and pattern prices are insane.
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
It's not an art, but it's something I don't think an 18 year old kid would know-the sound of a RINGING telephone-not the electronic phone alert, but the actual ringing phone bell.
how about thinking i knew how to drive stick... and then found myself stopped on a HILL!! was first day we ever had more than one car. dad had just purchased a brand new VW beetle (around $1200). he wasn't pleased that i stalled out MANY times before getting over that hill. he found a street near our house with a hill and made me start/stop/start MANY times till i could do it to his satisfaction.
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have a friend who has had a neat turquoise blue, rotary wall phone in her kitchen. one day her daughter asked if a school friend could stay for dinner. mom said fine... just go ask your mom. a few minutes later, the kid comes out of kitchen... she didn't know how to use a rotary phone! and this was WAY before cell phones were available. all the kid knew was push button phones.
NorthernLight
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northern BC
Sure they would. Some people have that as their ringtone!
Bella
ᕙ ᕗ ᕙ ᕗ ᕙ ᕗ ᕙ ᕗ
My mom had a mangle. That was when people actually ironed things. You know, to get rid of the wrinkles. I used it for tablecloths, napkins, my dad's handkerchiefs, T-shirts, and other things that were flat. It was quicker and more fun than standing over an ironing board. I loved that thing!
dobielvr
SF VIP
- Location
- California
I love my ironing board. And, writing checks.
My mother would mark her wrapped Christmas packages in shorthand to indicate what was inside , so as to give it to the right person.
My mother would mark her wrapped Christmas packages in shorthand to indicate what was inside , so as to give it to the right person.
LadyEmeraude
Northwest Washington State, USA
@Bella Yes, that is it! Oh gosh the memories! It was a terrific thing to have and use, that is for sureMy mom had a mangle. That was when people actually ironed things. You know, to get rid of the wrinkles. I used it for tablecloths, napkins, my dad's handkerchiefs, T-shirts, and other things that were flat. It was quicker and more fun than standing over an ironing board. I loved that thing!
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Farrah Nuff
Senior Member
- Location
- East of the sun, West of the moon
Flagpole sitting
Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
Perhaps not Wattle and daub, but the skill of working with lime plaster & lath is very much alive here especially in the conservation of old properties.
Pebble dashing is known as 'harling' here and is a standard finish on most new houses.
Not so many people use cheques here, but a lot of people like our coal & potato merchant only takes cash & cheques.
We still have chimney sweeps and they too take cash.
JimBob, 2 people have answered your question already, but
just in case you want to do some, to waterproof your home,
here is a video, 2 minutes long.
Mike.
Been There
Well-known Member
- Location
- Florida
Milking cows by hand. We only had anywhere between 12-15 cows to milk, but we did them by hand. It takes time. Gramps didn't want to invest the money into buying electric milking machines. Grandma, meanwhile, made all of her own bread and pastries. Sometimes, I would ride my bike to school. I haven't seen a bike rack at a school in years.
Furryanimal
Y gath o Gymru
- Location
- Wales
Darn socks
Supernatural
Senior Member
TYPING! Oh deary me, the keyboard are getting smaller and smaller these days. On these wee ones, it's one index finger for me. I'm typing this with it on my tablet LOL!
I was lucky with typewriters in general. I'd seen the older ones at museums along the Titanic's SOS machine. It intrigued me... 1964, sister's going out with future brother-in-law. He'd just begun working at...wait for it... IBM. So my first experience was IBM Selectric. Papa bought me an Olympia manual. It was fun and came with spare ribbons and its own zippered cover. I learned a certain keyboard finger position which I still use to this day on standard keyboards with PC or Laptops.
I cheated during the writings of my novel series, using Voice typing... After all these years, my arthritis is worst, bummer. However, my wpm at it's highest was about 130.
Two skills that are gone keypunch cards on a huge machine that took half the room it was in at school. Never used it again afterwards
. The second one making paper copies with the purple alcohol ink that smelled sooooo good! Oh and filing cabinets ... Arranging in alphabetical and sometimes numerical order as well. Now, you can carry your entire filing cabinets on a USB or SD Card.
Finally, slamming a phone down and ending the annoying convos ... Can't do that with a mobile phone or your expensive piece of tech will have a spiderweb of cracks. Oh my!
I was lucky with typewriters in general. I'd seen the older ones at museums along the Titanic's SOS machine. It intrigued me... 1964, sister's going out with future brother-in-law. He'd just begun working at...wait for it... IBM. So my first experience was IBM Selectric. Papa bought me an Olympia manual. It was fun and came with spare ribbons and its own zippered cover. I learned a certain keyboard finger position which I still use to this day on standard keyboards with PC or Laptops.
I cheated during the writings of my novel series, using Voice typing... After all these years, my arthritis is worst, bummer. However, my wpm at it's highest was about 130.
Two skills that are gone keypunch cards on a huge machine that took half the room it was in at school. Never used it again afterwards
. The second one making paper copies with the purple alcohol ink that smelled sooooo good! Oh and filing cabinets ... Arranging in alphabetical and sometimes numerical order as well. Now, you can carry your entire filing cabinets on a USB or SD Card.Finally, slamming a phone down and ending the annoying convos ... Can't do that with a mobile phone or your expensive piece of tech will have a spiderweb of cracks. Oh my!
Feelslikefar
Senior Member
- Location
- Nashville, TN
Using a Sextant to find your position.
Knowing how to use one was part of learning to Sail, according to my Dad.
Never needed it, but think I could still use one.
Knowing how to use one was part of learning to Sail, according to my Dad.
Never needed it, but think I could still use one.
Heh, a friend of mine upgraded his boating experience and bought a rather large sailboat
Decided to sail to Hawaii from San Diego
Navigating by sextant (no electronics)
Took a class
Asked the instructor to go with him
They got a couple hundred miles out and the instructor fessed up
He'd never actually sailed
Just used the sextant on land
Couldn't successfully use it due to the swells
Nothing with which to notify anyone
Got lucky
Met up with a fishing boat after a couple days
Paladin1950
Still love 50's & 60's music!
- Location
- Mohawk Valley, NY
Sending smoke signals
Using the telegraph
Smoking cigarettes with a cigarette holder
washing clothes with an old style ringer washing machine (my mom did that)
using fuses in the house for electricity
shaving with a shaving brush (my dad did that)
Using the telegraph
Smoking cigarettes with a cigarette holder
washing clothes with an old style ringer washing machine (my mom did that)
using fuses in the house for electricity
shaving with a shaving brush (my dad did that)
