Philips Pocket Memo
22 May 2006
I wonder if anyone was watching "New Tricks" on BBC TV last night? One of these featured strongly in the plot. It is a pocket memo. This particular one dates from 1973 - the same year as Life on Mars. I think it's a cool piece of minimalist design. The silver and black look is so fashionable at the moment, it could have been made last week; though I'd have expected it to be a mobile 'phone as well!
They take these mini-cassettes (right). You can use it to record your thoughts. I find it useful instead of a notepad sometimes. If you were a high-powered executive in the 70s, you'd take the cassette and give it to a secretary to type up. I did actually use one for that very purpose in the 80s, when I broke my wrist and was unable to write. By then, the style had moved on and the colour was brown and cream - very 80s. I think they got it right the first time.