18 Things People Learned From Instruction Manuals in the '80s Instead of Looking Them Up

In the 1980s, instruction manuals were silent guides in people’s homes, cars, workplaces, and workshops. They helped to comprehend unknown buttons, cables, adjustments, maintenance procedures, and troubleshooting tips. It was common to read a VCR manual before recording a TV show; one could learn commands from an enormous reference manual for the newly purchased computer. One could practice exposure for cameras, wire stereos in cars, and connect sophisticated audio equipment by looking at drawings. They promoted patience, experimenting, and practical problem-solving. Prior to having easy access to information via quick searches and video demonstrations, learning involved sitting next to the new gadget and repeating the instructions.

1. Programming a VCR

In many households, when a new VCR came into play in the living room, a manual became necessary reading before the movies started. People discovered how to hook up the machine to their television, select the right channel, load VHS tapes, and change channels from television mode to video mode. Programming the timer was perhaps the most challenging part of this learning process. The manuals of VCRs manufactured by companies like Panasonic, JVC, and RCA described how to set the time, select a channel, and schedule the recording session. Pressing the wrong button might result in watching one hour of snow instead of “Dallas”.

2. Setting Up and Using a Home Computer

Personal computers came with big books because there were no other places where one could find answers to simple questions. The owners of computers like the Commodore 64 found out how to plug their computer into a TV set or monitor, how to connect external devices, load programs, and input commands. The book “Commodore 64 User’s Guide” went as far as teaching BASIC programming, so that the curious owners turned into coders right at the dinner table. The appearance of the blinking cursor was often scary until the user figured out what to type in. Then it became clear that typing “LOAD” and “RUN” brought programs to life.

3. Cooking With a Microwave Oven

A new microwave was supposed to help people prepare food more quickly, but sometimes its buttons were not self-explanatory. Owners referred to instructions on how to cook their food, at what temperature and what mode, and which containers could be used inside the appliances. Manuals from Sharp, Panasonic, Amana, etc. provided information on why it was not advisable to use metal cookware and why some foods had to stand after being heated up. Some recipes included ways of how one can cook vegetables, reheat food, melt butter, and prepare a meal. As for a person who had always used an ordinary oven, he/she had to adapt to microwave cooking.

4. Setting a Digital Alarm Clock

Programming the digital alarm clock would make bedtime a mini-project itself. Instructions told what buttons were responsible for the time, the alarm time, the radio station, the volume level, the sleep timer, and the snooze button. Digital clocks made by manufacturers such as Sony and General Electric packed many controls in one housing, and one could reset the wrong function by trial and error. People could differentiate the twelve-hour display, the alarm mode, and the auto-shut-off options using the diagrams in the instructions. After getting everything ready, people usually put the manual away in a drawer. They took it out when the blackout wiped out all the settings.

5. Installing a Car Stereo

The installation of a car stereo required much more than simply inserting a cassette into the dash panel. Installation instructions for various models by manufacturers such as Pioneer, Alpine, and Kenwood included details about wiring, speakers, antennas, balance, and operating a cassette player. The individual installing the unit himself had to know how to recognize the power wires and the terminals of speakers. It also included such items as auto-reverse, Dolby noise reduction, presets for stations, and equalizers where applicable. An error might result in no sound, poor sound, or even blowing a fuse. For young motorists, learning the manual of a car stereo became one of the rites of passage.

6. Taking Pictures With a 35mm Camera

It took more skill to take good pictures since the cameras were doing less automatically. Manual guides from 35mm cameras like the Canon AE-1 Program and Nikon brands detailed the process of loading film, adjusting ISO values, focusing, shutter speed, aperture, flashes, and exposure settings. The new user had to get used to loading film and checking if the rewinding button worked during the shooting process. The guide helped them understand why fast shutter speed gave sharp images, but slow shutter speed created blurs. The user didn’t get immediate feedback on whether the shot was good. The family usually had to wait for the film to be developed in order to learn about the mistake.

7. Threading and Operating a Sewing Machine

This was a new sewing machine with a manual which would save your day from any entanglement of threads. One learned about winding bobbins, threading needles, adjusting tensions, changing stitches, changing needles, and cleaning the lint out of the sewing machine. Singer and Brother’s manuals carried drawings since it was important to know how to thread through guides in a particular sequence. Missing even one step could result in loose stitches, snapped threads, and even difficulties in feeding the fabric through. This manual told you what kind of presser feet to use and how to set them for various types of fabrics without going through YouTube tutorials.

8. Caring for a Portable Cassette Player

Cassette recorders seemed quite straightforward until the day came when all of their features were needed to be fully functional. Users of Sony Walkman or other models learned from manuals about the installation of batteries, connection of headphones, direction of the tape, restrictions for volume, radio tuning on combination devices, and tape mechanism maintenance. Some brochures gave advice on cleaning the playback head and capstan using the right materials in case the sound was poor. They warned not to keep the tapes in a hot car or expose the device to any moisture. This was important since the favorite cassette might get jammed in a poorly maintained recorder.

9. Setting Up an Answering Machine

Answering machines for the telephone introduced a bizarre new duty to households: leaving a message for the caller who had come electronically. Manuals included directions about hooking up the answering machine to the phone line, putting the tape in or preparing the cassette, recording your outgoing message, setting the ring delay, and playing the saved messages. Greetings were rehearsed until no one giggled in the middle of the greeting. Remote message retrieval was even discussed in some machines and usually involved secret codes. Without the Internet to guide them, manuals became the experts of the house when messages disappeared or didn’t answer properly.

10. Recording Family Events With a Camcorder

Initially, early camcorders allowed people to record family members’ birthdays, holidays, and educational activities, though using one took preparation. VHS and VHS-C camcorders from manufacturers such as JVC, Panasonic, and RCA had manuals that described how to charge batteries, load tapes, adjust viewfinders, focus, zoom, record in various ways, and play back video. The user was aware of battery life and how not to mistakenly record over something important. Moreover, there were some camcorders with built-in date and time display that needed setting up. Often, before leaving on a family vacation, somebody would sit and try out all the buttons in the book. It was important since a missed recording could not be redone.

11. Using a Scientific or Programmable Calculator

The programmable calculator would feel like a miniature computer in the hands of the students and engineers. The manual for the Hewlett-Packard and Texas Instruments calculators described all the functions not necessary for regular calculations. There were lessons in memory operations, scientific notation, trigonometric functions, statistical calculations, and programmable sequences for some models. There were examples of working with these machines in the manual, and readers had to enter them symbol-by-symbol until they felt comfortable doing so. In case there was an error, the user did not have any search box with the answer. He/she had to go back to the example and start over.

12. Connecting a Home Stereo System

The home stereo system used to be a collection of equipment that filled an entire rack of equipment with switches everywhere. There was an explanation of how to hook up the receiver, turntable, cassette deck, speaker, and even graphic equalizer without confusing inputs and outputs. Users got to know where speaker connections were supposed to go, how to balance channels, and tune the radio properly. Instructions for the turntable involved the settings of tracking force, cartridge, and record maintenance for those units requiring setting up. It was important since even one mistake would result in no sound at all or terrible noise. Audiophiles usually kept those manuals close to their stereo system.

13. Exploring an Electronic Keyboard

Electronic keyboards came into household use, and the manuals for them had much more to teach than just where the power switch button was to be found. Manuals of Casio and Yamaha keyboards had rhythms, instrumental sounds, accompaniments, and demo pieces which would stay hidden if not for instructions. The users learned how to choose sounds, adjust tempo, produce automatic chords, and use pre-installed rhythms. Some manuals provided basic information on music or demo pieces, which motivated the novice to try out the instrument. Kids could play around with the keys for hours and find all kinds of combinations, whereas grown-ups read the instructions more attentively.

14. Loading a Dishwasher Properly

Dishwashers were efficient in terms of saving energy, yet the manuals informed users of yet another issue that could arise if they loaded the dishwashers improperly. The manufacturers provided instructions as to where the plates, glasses, cutlery, and pots should be placed in order for the water to reach all the corners properly. People found out how much detergent they had to use, what cycle they should choose, and when rinse aid would come in handy. Manuals also warned people about things that could not be washed in a dishwasher because they were fragile or made of wood. If dishes turned out to be stained or glasses cloudy, there were troubleshooting tips for the possible cause.

15. Setting Up a Cordless Telephone

Cordless phones liberated the user from having to stand against the wall while making phone calls, although some initial steps had to be undertaken. Directions included installation instructions for the base, charging the battery for the handset or installing a new one, extending the antennae, choosing channels on certain phones, and storing commonly dialed numbers where memory dialing was possible. Users were informed of the range within which the phone could transmit a signal. Information about potential problems, including interference and battery handling, as well as the location of the base around electrical appliances, was also included. If static interfered with the phone conversation, the troubleshooting guide provided ways to check for any problems.

16. Connecting and Playing a Video Game Console

The home video game consoles were inviting enough; however, the instruction manual showed just how the real fun began. Instruction manuals of the Nintendo Entertainment System taught the player how to connect the machine to the television, load the cartridges, how to operate the controller, and what the right television channels were. Game manuals were no less important than the video game consoles themselves. Manuals provided an introduction to the characters, controls, goals, enemies, items, and rules of the game before the player was transported into the unknown world. For instance, the original manual of the Super Mario Bros. game included information about the actions of the game and its elements that could be known only through experience.

17. Choosing the Right Washing Machine Cycle

The brand-new washing machine would have many different cycles whose names would be very confusing before the manual would reveal what they are for. Users were informed about which options worked best for washing cottons, permanent-press garments, delicates, or really dirty laundry. Instructions included information on such things as water level, temperature, amount of detergent to use, bleach dispenser usage, and even basic cleaning advice. Users were told never to put too much laundry into the washing machine, as improper circulation might result in clothes not being washed properly. Information on troubleshooting possible issues such as shaking, problems with draining, or damp laundry after the wash would also be included.

18. Setting Up a Dot-Matrix Printer

It certainly took some effort to set up a home printer back in the 80s. Users were supposed to plug in cables, insert ribbon cartridges, feed the paper via the tractor system, and set the paper guides properly. The user manual described the use of control panel buttons and settings for lines, characters, and other options via the small switches. It required experience to feed the perforated paper in the correct way without losing its holes on the pins of the tractor mechanism. In addition, computer users needed to know how the printer worked together with the software. When the printing was misaligned, blank, or full of bizarre characters, the printed user manual was the first place to look.