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This toy with all its intricate, mechanical components cost $7.44 in 1977, equivalent to $32 today. Electronic Pong games of the day cost 8X to 24X more. Craz
by rkagerer 7y ago
This toy with all its intricate, mechanical components cost $7.44 in 1977, equivalent to $32 today.
Electronic Pong games of the day cost 8X to 24X more. Crazy how that ratio has flipped, with electronics becoming cheaper and mechanics more expensive. I bet someone could recreate it with a 3D printer; a lot of it was plastic and the patent has some detailed diagrams of the gearing and cams: https://patents.google.com/patent/US4147350 https://patents.google.com/patent/US4147350
- jccalhoun 7y agoa 3D printed version was my thought too.
- fortran77 7y agoThat low cost was what stuck out in my mind. There used to be very complicated mechanisms in low end consumer electronics (VCR, Cassette Recorder, toys) that we don't see today in low-end items. In fact the only items I can think of that consumers see that have complicated mechanics are SLR cameras and lenses (and cars, of course).