You may have a cell phone that can make a call, play the latest video release, access the 'net, and give you turn-by-turn directions to the nearest steak house, but back in the late 70's, a gadget that could catch fish AND fit in your pocket is what got guys excited.

Early infomercials running on the limited channels of UHF television - many invented by the king of over-hyped gadgets, Ron "But Wait, There's More" Popeil - promoted products that made plaid-bell-bottom-wearing guys everywhere break out their BankAmericard and dial the toll-free number.

So in memory of a simpler time, before the number of apps in your handheld was a measure of your gadget-forwardness, let's take a look at the top five classic guy gadgets of the past.


The Pocket Fisherman
Essentially a toy version of a real fishing rod, it debuted in 1976 with Popeil proclaiming it as the wave of the future, ready to knock the fishing industry on its ass. A compact, folding rod and reel, made to fit in a pocket, some say that you can actually catch a fish with one. I'm thinking when the fish saw you with it, they gave themselves up because they felt sorry for you. Ridiculous a product as it was, by the end of 1976, one million units of The Pocket Fisherman were sold. And versions of it are still available today.




The Smokeless Ashtray
You gotta love a product whose commercial shows a guy, smoking in his car, windows up, wife and kids along for the ride, concerned he may be offending them. Never let it be said there weren't gentlemen back then. (Today this guy would be dragged from his car and beaten with the remnants of a black lung.)




Mr. Microphone
Another Popeil brainstorm, Mr. Microphone, was visionary because it was karaoke before karaoke was karaoke. The concept was simple: it was a wireless microphone that "broadcasted" to a boom box. Sure it was essentially a kid's toy, but savvy 70's Casanovas figured they could give a chick the illusion that they were serenading them through the radio. A couple of Harvey Wallbangers, a little "Baby I'm-A Want You" sung through the boom box, and if she was dumb enough to fall for that, well, it was gonna be a good night. Thanks, Mr. Microphone!




Automatic Glass Froster
What guy doesn't love ice-cold beer in a frosted mug? But who wants to put one in the freezer and wait for it to get cold? Not Ron Popeil. He's too busy inventing crazy shit to remember to put a mug in there. So he invented this device to shoot some chemical into his glass so it'll instantly freeze and frost. Probably the same chemical he used inhale when inventing all this crap.




Ginsu Knives
"In Japan, the hand can be used like a knife (hi-yah!)... but it can't cut a tomato."

Amazingly, not a Popeil product, Ginsu knives didn't sell because they were awesome knives. They're decent, but cutting a tomato is not exactly a big deal as far as knives go. The genius of the Ginsu Knives was they made the owner feel powerful. What guy didn't want to wield a knife that could cut through a beer can or a pipe and still slice through a tomato? Back then, cooking was for chicks, but Ginzu knives made guys feel manly in the kitchen. It was martial arts cooking, and their Kung Fu was good. Because they're still selling after 30 years.