Category: Gadgets and Tech

Plenty of technology today – promise we’ll balance it out with more fashion and design tomorrow. But when we see something as stylish as these Exeluxe Champinos hi-fi bookshelf speakers, we just have to feature them.

Ideal for a vintage twist to your modern stereo system, the speakers are a throwback to mid-century guitar amps, but still everything you want for a solid modern-day sound. That includes high-quality Audax coaxials, 5.25-inch drivers and a 1-inch dome tweeter. The wood enclosures come covered with various colours of faux-leather vinyl, as well as several grillcloth options. And there’s a handle for easy carrying.

You can pick them up via Etsy, priced between $125 and $155 (around £70 and £80).

Find out more at the Exeluxe Etsy website

Contexture – the people behind the 45 record iPod cases – are back with another way of recycling vintage audio – the 45 nano.

Despite the name, there’s no vinyl here, this time it’s all about the humble audio cassette. One side of a cassette case is hollowed out to fit first- and second-generation iPod nanos, shielded by a clear plastic window that includes openings for access to the music player’s controls, headphone jack and charging dock. The rear still looks like an old tape.

And if you happen to own one of the brand new nanos, they’re working on a similar case for those too. If you want one of the cases, they’re available online now, priced at $45 (which is around £23).

Find out more from the 45 iPod cases website

Unless you have splashed out on a Mac, chances are that your computer monitor is off-white or grey/silver and looking every bit the functional item. There is an alternative – the HANNspree Boston wood-effect LCD monitor.

Matching up with your vintage furnishings, the Boston goes for a dark wood and metal look, not unlike certain lines of sought-after vintage furniture from the late 60s. Technically, this 19-inch anti-glare screen is worth a look too – HD-ready, a 150-degree viewing angle, built-in speakers and with adjustable height and wall mounting.

Available now, you can pick one up from Misco for £134.99.

Find out more at the Misco website

We featured the Ericofon (or the Cobra as it’s known in Europe) some time back, describing it as the world’s coolest house phone. Well, it must be – I have one! But there is a downside, which is the ever-increasing price of good condition originals on the vintage market.

That could change with the introduction of the ScandiPhone by Wild and Wolf. The company doesn’t use the word ‘Ericofon’ in its advertising, but you only need to look at the picture to see that this is pretty much identical to the early models of the handset. But there are some differences – this new one-piece phone has push button dialing (like the later model I own and use daily), a redial button, ringer volume and a tone/pulse switch.

The company will be selling these in a variety of colours, but you can only pre-order one on red right now at the V&A, priced at £45 – considerably cheaper than a mint condition vintage model.

Find out more at the V&A website