Fifty years ago.

[V8Ian]

It has a couple of drawbacks. [bigwhistle]


https://youtu.be/KliWHCzE16c

[JDNSW]

Generally similar devices, but non-electronic, displaying a route map rather than talking, date back around a hundred years. They never took off - same as this device!

[scarry]

Ask a teenager today when they last used a Refadex.

What the hell is that they usually say[biggrin]

I used to wear them out many years ago, generally used about 3 a year at least.

Then SWMBO bought this little television thing that stuck on the windscreen, the very first Garmin street finder, for my birthday.
Bloody expensive in those days' didn't like it to start with,but once I got used to it, loved it.
My brother still has it in his cabinet with all his old LR memorabilia.[bighmmm]

[JDNSW]

Ask a teenager today when they last used a Refadex.

What the hell is that they usually say[biggrin]



That is what anyone not from Brisbane will say if you talk about Refidex - Gregory in Sydney, Melway in Melbourne, UBD in multiple cities, the general term is is "Street Directory". (And some of these crossed to other cities, for example "Sydway" and "Gregory's Brisbane Street Directory" and then there were other maps such as "100 Miles Round Sydney".

I find they are still useful for planning routes and seeing alternatives that may be better if your priorities are not exactly those of the GPS designer. Not to mention the just plain errors that exist in the maps - both in street directories and GPS systems.

[rick130]

That is what anyone not from Brisbane will say if you talk about Refidex - Gregory in Sydney, Melway in Melbourne, UBD in multiple cities, the general term is is "Street Directory". (And some of these crossed to other cities, for example "Sydway" and "Gregory's Brisbane Street Directory" and then there were other maps such as "100 Miles Round Sydney".

I find they are still useful for planning routes and seeing alternatives that may be better if your priorities are not exactly those of the GPS designer. Not to mention the just plain errors that exist in the maps - both in street directories and GPS systems.And a UBD was far easier to use than a Gregories in Sydney.
Just saying [emoji16]

[3toes]

Still carry a refidex even though my last few cars have had a sat nav built in. Is useful for not just planning a journey but what is along the way or near the destination. You need to know it is there and tell the sat nav

Sat nav does not say leave road here as there is a petrol station not far off the road with fuel at real not motor way prices. Also find real food not reheated muck from services that is priced at level that makes the Ritz look like a bargain. Or perhaps I spend too much time on the road