A VHS tape, a landline phone, and a Walkman are all things that kids today would look at and have no idea what they are. I grew up during a time of great technological progress, and it’s amazing to see how quickly ordinary household items that had been used for years became useless.

I have to say I had no idea what the thing below was when I first saw a picture of it. I was sure it was some kind of metal tool, but I had no idea what else it was. Can you remember and name this thing?

Recognize this gadget? It’s a vintage oil can opener, designed to puncture and pour from those old metal oil cans. Surprisingly, these weren’t ancient tools, they were actually common in the 1980s! You’d use the pointed tip to make a hole in the can’s top, then flip out the spout for mess-free pouring. Simple in design, but clever in function – this tool made working with oil a lot easier back in the day.

My memories of the ’80s feel so recent, it’s hard to believe how much time has passed! While these oil can openers aren’t really needed nowadays, I bet many folks still have one stashed away in their garage. They’re a bit of a collector’s item, especially for mechanically-minded people. If you happen to spot one at a yard sale or antique store, it might be worth grabbing as a cool little piece of history.

It’s hard to believe, but there was a time when people watched movies on clunky plastic tapes, used phones that were tethered to the wall, and listened to music on portable cassette players. Today’s kids, growing up with smartphones and instant access to entertainment, might be completely puzzled by these once-commonplace devices.