Do You Remember That

Acetronic MPU 1000 TV Entertainment Centre

admin — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:32:27 +0000

The MPU 1000 was an early video games system that was compatible with software produced for the Interton VC-4000 (a system that was most popular in Germany).

The system came with two corded controllers, which has a small thumb stick, twelve black buttons and two red buttons. On the system itself were buttons for “load programme”, “game select” and “start” - as well as an off/off switch. It connects to the TV by RF cable and comes with a aerial/game switch box which is of metal construction and the switch feels satisfyingly robust.

Invaders Club

Owners of the Acetronic were invited to join the “Invaders Club” where they would get the opportunity to enter local and national championships and get advice for themselves and their families on how to get the best from their Acetronic TV Entertainment Centre.

(click to enlarge)

I picked my one up just recently at a boot fair in Surrey and am looking forward to trying it out soon. Did you have an MPU 1000? What did you think of it? Were you in the Invaders club?

Motorola M301 Flip Phone

admin — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:50:05 +0000

This was iconic phone of its time. A simple grey fascia and rubberised button, and basic three line screen. It was manufacturered by Motorola and available from Mercury One 2 One. There were some amazing contracts at the time offering unlimited calls and there were rumours later on of the telephone company having to pay large sums to buy customers out of their unlimited call time contracts.

Mercury One 2 One later became just One 2 One, and was subsequently taken over by the European mobile giant, T-Mobile.

Tomy Omnibot

admin — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:06:49 +0000

Omnibot was a dome headed robot made by Tomy in the mid 80s. I had one myself and it seemed like the coolest thing ever at the time. It was controlled by a remote, which let you move its around also talk through it and have your voice come out of the loud speaker. Combine that with the plastic tray it had and you have the perfect dinner party host, bringing drinks into your bemused guests. The Omnibot also had a tape deck built into the front of it and a digital clock.

Omnibot was later superceded by Omnibot 2000 which enjoyed a cameo appearance in the robot flick, Short Circuit. If you want to revisit Omnibot, check out eBay where you still them floating around.

Cadburys Wispa

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:07:40 +0000

Cadburys Wispa came out in the 80s and were a bit like the rival Aero bar, but were made entirely of milk chocolate and had a velvety texture. They were in a distinctive blue wrapper and had the name in red/orange. They launched with an advertising campaign starring Ruth Madoc and Simon Cadell (seen below) and later adverts starred Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.

Wispas disappeared from the shelves but there’s now various campaigns online (such as on YouTube and FaceBook) to get them brought back.