Another time

An Unlikely Library of Obsolete Technologies

Deep in Brooklyn, there's a warehouse that supplies vintage electronics to film and movie sets.

Ever wonder how film producer recreating past decades come up with electronics and devices that match the era? 

The Lower East Side Ecology Center was founded in 1987 to help New Yorkers recycle electronic waste, keeping countless quantities of toxic chemicals from old computers, televisions, and other electronic devices from ending up in landfills. While much of what comes in is recycled, some products are refurbished for reuse. Interestingly, they’ve found that there’s great demand from movie and television studios for vintage electronic props, and this has resulted in the creation of a historical collection of devices, offering a prop library for recreating past eras. So if you’ve ever wondered where they got all those old televisions, typewriters, and phones for shows like Mad Men, now you know.