this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2026
100 points (98.1% liked)

Vintage and Retro Ads, Promos, Fliers, Etc.

2396 readers
286 users here now

For sharing images of vintage magazine ads, fliers, promos, etc.

We're going to play it pretty loose with timeframe here so please don't get offended anyone :)


Be nice. All instance rules apply.


Rules:

  • Be respectful. Everyone should feel welcome here.
  • No bigotry - including racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia.
  • No Ads / Spamming.
  • No pornography.

Règles :

  • Soyez respectueux. Tout le monde doit se sentir le bienvenu ici.
  • Pas de bigoterie - y compris le racisme, le sexisme, le capacitisme, l’homophobie, la transphobie ou la xénophobie.
  • Pas de publicités / Pas de spam.
  • Pas de pornographie.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Wikipedia page for Merlin

These came out in 78 and were sold through the 80's. For some reason, inflation calculators for pounds sterling differ a lot, but looks like £22 in 1980 might be in the £90-122 range today.

Wikipedia says they could play these games,

  • Tic tac toe
  • Music machine
  • Echo, a game similar to Simon
  • Blackjack 13
  • Magic square, a pattern game similar to Lights Out
  • Mindbender, a game similar to Mastermind

And about the music machine,

The music machine game functions as a musical instrument; in this mode, each key is assigned a musical note, and sequences of notes can be recorded and played back. This makes Merlin one of the earliest digital sequencers as well as an early consumer-level electronic synthesizer.

top 16 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] QueenHawlSera@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 days ago

Ah yes, Merlin.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 week ago (2 children)

1970's

1970s

Save the apostrophes from overuse before they go extinct.

[–] elevenbones@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

-Who's Merlin is that?
-Oh that? That's the 1970's.

[–] EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca 3 points 1 week ago

Haha, yes. I almost never make that mistake with words, but I got into a bad habit with numbers and it's hard to break. I guess I need to read Strunk and White again.

[–] EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The kerning on that ad is so painful I went blind for a moment. Seems like a cool device though.

[–] calliope@retrolemmy.com 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I actually think it’s some of the worst kerning I’ve ever seen. For no reason, too. It doesn’t fit the shape of the ad or anything.

Remark able!

[–] pdxfed@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Remark....................................................able.

An adult thought that was reasonable.

[–] calliope@retrolemmy.com 8 points 1 week ago

apowerfulcomputerbrain

I feel like this could be in a textbook about what not to do.

[–] elevenbones@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Canyououtsmart Merlin?

[–] paddythegeek@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago

This was my favorite toy as a kid!

[–] KindnessIsPunk@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

They definitely learned into the futuristic look for the time.

[–] EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Indeed. It has a little bit of early cell phone vibe, except before those were a thing.

[–] klu9@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Time for a Merlinphone kickstarter?

[–] EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That would be hilarious. I'm in. :)

[–] klu9@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago

Thought maybe it could be charged in a Simon docking station, but perhaps that form factor is more suited to a robot vacuum cleaner.

Simon game on carpet

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago

I had one and loved it.