60s Shopping - consumer goods
The sixties brought a revolution to the home in the form of a multitude of electric and electronic gadgets that made life easier and more enjoyable. The 60s was the decade in which television became almost universal. At the start of the sixties three quarters of the population had a TV, by the end it was nearer 100%.
In our survey, television and radio were the most popular gadgets that people owned, although TV was by no means universal.
These are some of the most popular gadgets
- TV
- Radio
- Record player
- Radiogram
- Reel to reel tape recorder
- Washing machine (twin tub)
Cameras were also popular. Large numbers of people still used a box camera or Kodak Brownie in the sixties. The other most popular camera was the Kodak Instamatic.
In the kitchen, most people had a washing machine, but it was more likely to be a twin tub than an automatic. Separate spin-dryers were also common. Electric irons were also owned by most people. Electrical gadgets were still considered luxuries by many and people had to save to buy things in the sixties rather than have them on credit.
"I married in 1964 and had two children by mid '67. We had little cash for luxuries so we used the launderette, listened to the radio and played records. We did have a small refrigerator passed on by others (Astral). In 1969 I bought a small fridge with a freezer above. I had a second-hand "Burco Boiler" for boiling nappies and whites. Otherwise it was the sink or bath! In 1969 we bought a Hoover washer with matching attachable spin dryer - second-hand."
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