Party story from late 50s TX. Students at prestige science/engineering school--hi-fi doesn't work

[bobbieinok]

So prestige school students gather around, look super serious, try to figure out problem

Finally a guest -- U TX student-- walks over, takes a look, bends down, and---plugs in hi-fi!

ETA who here remembers hi-fi??

[magicarpet]

1. Yester-year...

8 track tapes,
Rotary dialed copper line phones,
Carburetors for auto,
Nylon bias belted tires,
Cast iron drainage plumbing,
Lead paint,
Lead in gasoline as anti knock agent,
Asbestos in auto brake pads,
Clothes before the advent of polyester.

[bobbieinok]

3. Pretty sure party before 8 track tapes

[Brother Buzz]

2. Why am I riffing on Karl?

[LastDemocratInSC]

8. Always check the inputs and outputs first.

The "gozintas" and the "gozoutas".

I reckon Karl knew that OK, mm-hmm.

[TexasProgresive]

4. That sounds like an Aggie/Teasip joke

The 1st rule of troubleshooting an electrical device, "is there power?".
I remember mono low fidelity record players but windup victrolas are before my time.

[jmowreader]

5. My favorite Texas Aggie joke follows

A Texas Aggie was studying Sheep Husbandry. On Day 1 of Wool Growing Practicum, his class was told, “Everyone must buy a sheep this weekend and have it in Pasture Number 14 by Monday morning.”

Because he was a Broke Texas Aggie, he decided to try to get one for free. So he got in his car and started looking around the countryside around College Station looking for a farmer who might give him a sheep. He found one and approached the man.

“Hello sir. I am a broke college student who must bring a sheep to class on Monday. If I can tell you exactly how many sheep are in your flock, can I have one of them?”

The farmer thought this was a nice thing, so he agreed to it. The kid ran off and started looking at the field...”Sir, you have exactly 352 sheep.”

“How did you do that?”

The student starts explaining how to calculate flock size by evaluating the field and applying a very complex formula when the farmer stopped him. “Never mind. Pick the one you want, and good luck with your studies.”

The Aggie starts to walk to his car with a very confused beast over his shoulder when the farmer stopped him. “Son, if I can tell you which college you attend, may I have the animal back?”

“Sure.”
“You attend Texas A&M University.”
“How did you do that?”
“You’re carrying my dog.”

[abqtommy]

6. Not only do I remember hi-fi, I had an 8-track player in my car and that was a step up from the

4-track player I had before that!

[Archae]

7. My Dad had a 4-track player!

The rubber wheel wasn't in the cartridge, it swung up when the cartridge was loaded in.