Young and old switch on to retro gadgets

Jill Hulm, of Mosgiel, introduces her grandson Otis Jorgensen (6) to an old-fashioned manual typewriter at the Retro-Lab in Mosgiel Public Library on Monday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Inventions and gadgets from yesteryear, which sparked the development of modern technology, have been fascinating young and old alike.

The Retro-Lab was ''an opportunity to play with some old-school gadgets; the sort of stuff we thought was so out there and innovative back in the day'', Dunedin Public Libraries marketing co-ordinator Kay Mercer said.

''Amazingly, 90% of these things you can do on your smartphone now.''

One of the most popular exhibits was a cassette recorder.

''The parents have been enjoying showing their kids how these old inventions work.''

Others include 33rpm and 45rpm vinyl records, a Walkman, slide viewers and box Brownie cameras.

The Retro-Lab will appear in the Dunedin Public Library today, Port Chalmers and Waikouaiti libraries tomorrow and Blueskin Bay Library on Friday.