Interesting things in cases #1 (Patreon)

I often get sent links to things people have found for sale that they think I might be interested in. One of the more frequently suggested items is the subject of this video. There must be something about the way this looks that makes people think it’d be right up my street. While I do like ingenious, high tech gadgetry with plenty of clever features, this isn’t that - it just looks like it, provided you don’t look too closely. Its most interesting aspect is that it comes in a case…hence the video title.

Here’s the video: https://youtu.be/Nkd0b4qh8E8

Perhaps in a way this device could be categorised as a ‘Future-mugs eyeful’. By that I mean fifty years ago, when this was new, buying one would definitely not have been a foolish decision. The manufacturer wasn’t trying to deceive the customer into thinking it was any better than it was. It did exactly what it claimed to do and at a fair price. However with the passage of time it has managed to accrue a level of retro charm that now has the power to attract an unwitting person from 2023 towards it. Many who see one of these for the first time think they’ve uncovered a hidden gem from the past. The reality is rather more mundane. It’s still charming though, in its own simple way.

I had a lot of fun making the short intro to this video. Ideally I’d have shot this section in a city, with me wearing a sharp suit, walking past office blocks holding this briefcase, ascending up the outside of skyscraper in a glass lift, you get the idea. A 1970s look, 16mm film grain, accompanied by a soundtrack that mostly consisted of a rhythm played out on a high-hat and triangle. A bit Dirty Harry a bit New Avengers. However shooting this would have required a two person team, (I work alone) travelling to the nearest city (a lot of hassle), shooting in and around office buildings (that I wouldn’t be allowed in), composing a tune (with no musical abilities) and spending a couple of days (that I didn’t have) to shoot a few seconds of video (that in the grand scheme of things didn’t really matter). So I recorded it in a car park up the road with my camera on a tripod while avoiding people walking their dogs. I still like the results though…but it’s not exactly what I envisioned.

Anyway, that’s the video - hope you find it to be slightly interesting. Perhaps something to watch in the loo, I don't mind. Take care and enjoy your weekend.