Saturday, January 22, 2011

Grandma's hairdryer

My grandmother died in 1996.


Here she is in 1971. (She's the one standing.)

After she died, for some reason I got her hairdryer.



I'm too scared to use it though.



Apart from my fear of electrocution, I'm afraid I could end up looking like this.


(I have no idea who this woman is. She's here solely for comedic effect. )
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30 comments:

  1. CloudbustingJanuary 22, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Oh orange, the colour of my 1970s home! We never had such a funky hair dryer though! What a lovely Grandma :)
    I love the picture, the Dad is having a great time blow drying his daughter's already dried and styled hair!
    I probably wouldnt use it either!

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  2. EstelleJanuary 22, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Lordy, you and Martha look alike!

    I too inherited my Grandmothers hairdryer, also orange. I remember it always smelt like burning hair.

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  3. Make mine Mid-CenturyJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    Cloudbusting, Orange - It marked a decade with one big tangerine-stamp of grooviness. I thought the same thing about that photo!

    Estelle,
    that's one good reason not to plug in the 'dryer!

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  4. Bayside RoseJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    A very groovy hairdryer there MMMC! Pam x

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  5. HelenJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    I'ld be tempted to remove the cord and give it to the kids to use as a play toy :D

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  6. DebJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Your Grandma was mod. Mine wouldn't have known what to do with a hairdryer. Martha does look like you. I can see your resemblance to that lady in the last pic. ;)

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  7. littlemissairgapJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    I remember that model. Either my sister or my mother had it. Wow! You do have some retro things.

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  8. Meg and Mum'sJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Noice! No, I wouldn't plug it in either. But very groovy! Have you noticed that the guy's hairstyle on the box is now back in fashion? Except it looks way better on Justin Bieber than a 30 odd year old.
    Megs :)

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  9. RachelJanuary 22, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    It looks like the funnest hair dryer ever! And it's orange!

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  10. BerniceJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    This would go fabulously with my esky - inherited from the past elderly owners of my house. Now if only blow drying hair whilst picnicking would take off - we could look really cool!

    I have a crystal lamp and a red anodised thermal lamp that I'm too scared to plug in too.

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  11. Raine and SageJanuary 23, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Orange was very popular. I hope those comedic horn shaped glasses do not make a resurgance.

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  12. IngridJanuary 23, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    Hi, so good to hear from you (you're blog was hidden and now I can see it again!) it always makes me smile! Love you're hairdryer and the sweet picture of you and your grandma!

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  13. theoldboathouseJanuary 23, 2011 at 12:53 AM

    I agree with deb you grandma was obviously very groovy. Mine had one of those ones that were like a vinyl plastic bag that you put over your head like a shower cap and it puffed up with hot air blowing in when you turned it on....sexy(not)! You could get it electrically tested for safety and then you would be free to blow away without fear ....just look how happy that little 70's family is.

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  14. Make mine Mid-CenturyJanuary 23, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Bayside Rose,
    yes, it's cool. It takes up space though.

    Helen,
    that's not such a bad idea ... though I think it'd be used as a space-aged gun against younger sisters.

    Deb,
    That is ME in the last pic!!

    LittleMiss AG,
    more like I have a lot of worthless junk!

    Meg,
    the Dad is uber cool ... I wonder if he's recently taken that photo into his barber and said, "Make me look like I did 30 years ago".

    Rachel,
    yours is almost the funniest comment ever!

    Bernice,
    we should plug them all in at the same time and blow the Qld power grid! Let's do it on Australia Day.

    R&S,
    as I said to Deb, that's ME! Just wait 'til you see me when I drop off your chair.

    Ingrid,
    hello again ... I'm glad this blog makes you happy. I always worry you get melancholy.

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  15. Make mine Mid-CenturyJanuary 23, 2011 at 1:01 AM

    OBH,
    I just laughed so loudly at your grandma's hairdryer anecdote, that Child 1 looked at me strangely.

    And I agree, dressing as a trio in orange terry-towelling is obviously the key to eternal bliss.

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  16. ElisabethJanuary 23, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    A hairdryer is a great thing to get. Especially when it's orange and has that perfect vintage feeling. And makes that fantastic hair volume. Maybe this would be the solution for my thin, flat Scandinavian hair. I never got a funky hairdryer, which you would notice if we met IRL.

    Great to be back here.

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  17. ElisabethJanuary 23, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    And I love your Moomin obsession. Here in Sweden I believe you could build up your own Moomin house. I believe it's possible to buy Moomin equipment for everything from your walls to your stomach. Please e-mail your address and I'll send you a carefully picked Moomin-package. In the honour of dear Tove J.

    I've visited the Moomin Valley in Finland. Just mentioning it to make you envious. Or have you made a pilgrimage there?

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  18. brismodJanuary 23, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Oh too funny. Go on use it. I dare you and then show us the finished "do". Let's hope burnt hair won't be the final result. Just the perfect Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) bob.

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  19. I.S.January 23, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    oh nice post ! I like this story , it shows how much you love your granma :) !

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  20. MaaikeJanuary 23, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    hahaha, what a Great Post. You really made me laugh out loud! Lovely blog you have, I like the colours and style. Enjoy your Sunday!
    Love, Maaike

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  21. TrollringenJanuary 23, 2011 at 3:35 AM

    That's one lovely looking grandmother (would you like me to draw her? :):) and it really wouldn't be easy to tell you and Martha apart.

    I remember those smiling faces on the Braun box from somewhere way back, scary to think of all the stuff the brain stores - almoust like your house.

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  22. CherieJanuary 23, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    Nahhhhh I wouldn't use it after all this time. Treasure it. Gorgeous post ;-)

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  23. Laura, Happy Homemaker UKJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Not your typical 'teary eyed' remembrance of a loved one - LOL :) I wonder what other grandchildren received? Yours is such a classic. And look at you as a cute little munchkin :) XOL

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  24. Ariane ReichardtJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    Dear MMMC,
    at that time (70th) we had the same dryer - in orange!
    and: Yes, Martha is your daughter! This striking similarity...
    Big hugs, Ariane.

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  25. MidcenturymadamJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    I'd use it. It's much cooler than the ugly brown one I use everyday. And I wish everyone would quit making fun of me in my lovely cat-eye glasses.

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  26. Laura, Happy Homemaker UKJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Just got lost in your list of blogs on the side - just added a few to my favs :) XOL

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  27. HeidiJanuary 23, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    You had a hip grandma mine wore curlers...How display worthy is that work of art!!! Love the color.

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  28. DMCJanuary 23, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    You can't tell me that that lady is not an early Barry Humphries.
    You must get the machine tested . If it's safe, use it. If unsafe, toss it or use it as a wall hanging in your orangery where the oranges grow.
    As against the blue room where you indulge the blues.
    And the green room warmed by tree-hugging visitors.
    You're spoiled for choice.

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  29. Sarah BJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    I think it's great!! I am in desperate need of a hairdryer (have never owned a proper one, despite having long hair). I have Mum's oe from the 70's somewhere in the house, not sure where, but it does tend to suck in hair a bit. So, when you use it, beware of hair-sucking effect :)

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  30. Kickcan and ConkersJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    What a laugh - I inherited a 1950's baking bowl (which I love), not quite so much fun!

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