17 Products That Used to Be Everywhere—Now They're Gone
Here's a look at once-popular products that were part of daily life but have since disappeared.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
These products were once found in almost every home, school, or store. Over time, new technology, changing trends, and updated designs replaced them. Each one brings back a bit of the past and shows how quickly everyday things can change.
1. Classic Glass Soda Bottles (e.g., Nehi, Crush)
Siju on Wikimedia Commons
These colorful glass bottles were once a familiar sight in stores and vending machines. Many people loved collecting them or saving the caps after enjoying the drink. Today, they are mostly found in antique shops or as decorative pieces in retro-themed cafes.
2. Floppy Disks
Jacek Halicki on Wikimedia Commons
Floppy disks were the standard way to store files for school or work. They held only a small amount of data compared to what we use now. Most people today have moved on to USB drives and cloud storage, leaving floppies as a tech memory.
3. VHS Tapes
Texas State University Department of English on Wikimedia Commons
VHS tapes made it possible to watch movies at home whenever you wanted. Renting them from the video store was a big part of weekend plans for many families. Streaming services have replaced them, but some people still keep old tapes as a collection.
4. Rotary Phones
Dave Lauretti from Burlington, Canada on Wikimedia Commons
The rotary phone was once the main way to make calls from home. The slow dialing sound was something everyone recognized. Now, they are seen more as a vintage decoration than a tool for communication.
5. Polaroid Cameras (Original Instant Film)
Jacek Halicki on Wikimedia Commons
Polaroid cameras gave you printed photos just minutes after taking them. Watching the image appear on the film was part of the fun. Modern instant cameras still exist, but the classic, bulky Polaroids are much harder to find.
6. Rabbit Ears TV Antennas
No machine-readable author provided. Bernd in Japan~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims) on Wikimedia Commons
These antennas were on top of almost every television and needed adjusting for a clear picture. Sometimes people even added foil to improve reception. They disappeared when cable TV and digital broadcasting became the norm.
7. Cassette Walkman
Dillan Payne on Wikimedia Commons
A Walkman let you take your favorite music anywhere. You could listen to mixtapes while walking, riding the bus, or hanging out with friends. MP3 players and smartphones have replaced them, but many still remember their first Walkman fondly.
8. Developing Paper for Disposable Cameras
Rudolfo42 on Wikimedia Commons
Taking photos used to mean dropping off film at a store and waiting for the prints. The smell of fresh photo paper and the excitement of seeing the results were part of the experience. Now, digital cameras and smartphones have made printed photos less common.
9. Gumball Machines for 1¢
Ka23 13 on Wikimedia Commons
Gumball machines were a treat for kids at the store or arcade. For just one penny, you could get a colorful piece of gum. Rising costs and health concerns have made these machines much less common today.
10. Metal Lunchboxes with Cartoons
維基小霸王 on Wikimedia Commons
Metal lunchboxes showed off popular TV shows and cartoon characters. Kids carried them to school every day, often with a matching thermos inside. Today, plastic lunch containers have replaced them, and the old metal ones are collector’s items.
11. Dusty Chalkboards
Artyom Svetlov on Wikimedia Commons
Chalkboards were the main teaching tool in classrooms for decades. Teachers wrote lessons in chalk, and students helped erase them at the end of the day. Interactive whiteboards and projectors have now taken their place.
12. Payphones
ChuietChing on Wikimedia Commons
Payphones were found on street corners, in stores, and at bus stations. They were essential for making calls when you were away from home. Now that almost everyone has a mobile phone, payphones are rarely seen.
13. Quad Roller Skates at Skating Rinks
MossAlbatross on Wikimedia Commons
Quad roller skates were a big part of weekend fun at the rink. Friends would skate to music and practice tricks under flashing lights. While skating is still around, traditional quad skates are used less often.
14. Fax Machines
Pittigrilli on Wikimedia Commons
Fax machines were once a normal part of office life. Sending a document meant hearing the whirring sound as the paper fed through. Email and online file sharing have made faxes nearly obsolete.
15. Overhead Projectors (OHPs)
Dennis Sylvester Hurd from Minuwangoda, WP, Sri Lanka, Canada on Wikimedia Commons
Overhead projectors were common in schools and offices for showing lessons and presentations. Teachers used clear sheets to write notes that appeared on a big screen. Digital projectors and smartboards have taken over that role.
16. Zip Disks
RetroEditor on Wikimedia Commons
Zip disks were a step up from floppy disks, offering more storage space. They were used for saving important files before USB drives became popular. Today, most people have never even seen one in person.
17. Pager (Beepers)
Florian Fuchs on Wikimedia Commons
Pagers were once a common way to send short messages before mobile phones became affordable. They were especially popular with doctors, business people, and teenagers in the 90s. Today, they are rarely used except in a few specialized jobs.