Argos Book of Dreams

[StevieBee]

Can't see this discussed elsewhere.

Full versions online of every Argos Catalogue published since the year dot!

Rather absorbing!

http://argosbookofdreams.co.uk

[Smitters]

It's a thing of joy isn't it. The late 80s Head bag variety is mind boggling.

[Xaero]

I'm not going to look inside, but found it interesting how many featured Casio watches and a Sony gadget on the front page of them.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Didn't realise they'd been around since the seventies. First memory of getting anything from Argos was after getting into fishing at maybe 12-13 years old (eighties), they did a good value fishing umbrella so decided I wanted one for Christmas. Remember it being quite busy (it was Christmas) and you had to wait a while for your stuff, no Click and Collect back then. In fact it was always a gamble as to whether they had stuff or not, fill out your little ticket, take it to the cashier and hope

[CrossMember]

Well, there goes my afternoon...

[deadtom]

Cool, what a curious place the internet is.

I'm glad to see that the popularity of the 'laminated book of dreams' joke is enduring almost as well as the popularity of the catalogue itself.

[EarlOfHazard]

deadtom said:

Cool, what a curious place the internet is.

I'm glad to see that the popularity of the 'laminated book of dreams' joke is enduring almost as well as the popularity of the catalogue itself.

I heard it from Bill Bailey, not sure if he first coined it though.

[Mr Ben]

Thanks for this...

Fond memories (mid/late 80's) of sitting on the sofa with my little brother in the run up to Christmas comparing the features of digital watches illustrated by the little icons :-)

[Orchid1]

C0ffin D0dger said:

Didn't realise they'd been around since the seventies. First memory of getting anything from Argos was after getting into fishing at maybe 12-13 years old (eighties), they did a good value fishing umbrella so decided I wanted one for Christmas. Remember it being quite busy (it was Christmas) and you had to wait a while for your stuff, no Click and Collect back then. In fact it was always a gamble as to whether they had stuff or not, fill out your little ticket, take it to the cashier and hope

And if they didn't have the item you would try your luck in the nearest Index shop.

[chris4652009]

Thanks
fond memories from my childhood

[anonymous-user]

I got send that a few days ago and lost a few hours of my life!

I loved looking at the toys and gadgets I used to have in the 80’s and 90’s.

[bobmedley]

If you put some of the 74/75 costs through an inflation calculator, the prices are jaw dropping.

£425 for a pocket calculator, crappy Amstrad hi-fi £1,400, 26" colour tv £2,600

[Taylor James]

Great post OP. I worked for them 1978-1980. Brought back some happy memories.

[grumbledoak]

Mr Ben said:

Thanks for this...

Fond memories (mid/late 80's) of sitting on the sofa with my little brother in the run up to Christmas comparing the features of digital watches illustrated by the little icons :-)

A fond memory I had long forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.

[anonymous-user]

bobmedley said:

If you put some of the 74/75 costs through an inflation calculator, the prices are jaw dropping.

£425 for a pocket calculator, crappy Amstrad hi-fi £1,400, 26" colour tv £2,600

I was doing the same thing and was horrified.

I got an Amiga 500 when I was 9 and it was £499 in 1989, which equates to an eye watering £1400 now.

£1400 for a ‘plug into your TV’ consumer computer aimed at kids.

I don’t think we appreciate how cheap electronics and gadgets are these days.

[miniman]

Lord Marylebone said:

I don’t think we appreciate how cheap electronics and gadgets are these days.

Agreed, I was always gutted that we had a crap TV and no VCR for years, but they were proper expensive bits of kit, let alone any ground-breaking stuff like computers and consoles.

[anonymous-user]

miniman said:

Agreed, I was always gutted that we had a crap TV and no VCR for years, but they were proper expensive bits of kit, let alone any ground-breaking stuff like computers and consoles.

Hence why I suppose there were still shops like ‘Radio Rentals’ in the 80’s, because household electrical equipment and appliances were so expensive.

It actually makes me feel a bit bad. As kids in the 80’s and 90’s my parents pretty much bought whatever computer, console, Lego Technic, or Tamiya remote controlled car we wanted.

Totally took it all for granted at the time

[Butter Face]

A similar link was posted a few years ago on here.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Promised Land]

Lord Marylebone said:

Hence why I suppose there were still shops like ‘Radio Rentals’ in the 80’s, because household electrical equipment and appliances were so expensive.

Fill your boots, 1983 and Beta max was hanging on still.

[anonymous-user]

Promised Land said:

Fill your boots, 1983 and Beta max was hanging on still.

£650 for an ordinary Video Recorder in 1983.

That’s like having to pay the equivalent of £2160 now.

Amazing.