It is hardly possible to surprise anyone with gadgets that make life easier for housewives with household appliances, modern furniture and other items of “luxury”. But just a few decades ago in our country, the situation was completely different. "Unseen" wealth in the form of imported equipment and scarce goods could afford only a few.
Some things that we have long been accustomed to, according to the stories of grandparents, in Soviet times could only be seen in the homes of wealthy people.
1. Color TV
In the 60s of the last century, not every citizen of the USSR could buy a black and white TV. The happy owners of such household appliances even staged real home mini-cinemas to surprise their neighbors. In the city, the owner of the TV, in the event that he lived on the first floor, put his purchase in front of the window and opened it. The neighbors were seated in chairs in the courtyard opposite. In the village, neighbors just every evening came to visit the owner of amazing equipment.
Color TVs in the USSR appeared much later - in the 80s. And many went to visit relatives and friends who were the first to buy such a novelty to watch their favorite shows and films in color. The first Soviet color TVs called Horizon were called, and they could be bought, including on credit, at small interest rates.
2. Walls
In Soviet times, a person was often judged not by clothing, but by how his apartment was furnished. Poor citizens of the USSR often could only afford a table, a bed, chairs and a bedside table.
The first walls and headsets in the USSR appeared precisely among wealthy people. Good furniture for many years has become a sign of wealth and success in life. Later, Soviet citizens began to buy the walls. Such furniture sets have become a kind of success indicator. Even today, some grandmothers do not understand young people who prefer to furnish their homes in the style of minimalism. According to people whose best years have passed in the USSR, every corner in the apartment should be occupied with something “beautiful”.
3. Washing machines
For a long time, Soviet housewives boiled linen and washed it with the help of a simple device - a “corrugated” board. This was a long and very difficult matter. Therefore, when semi-automatic and then automatic washing machines appeared on sale, women of the USSR breathed a sigh of relief.
In the homes of Soviet officials and the nomenclature of imported washing machines appeared in 1925. For ordinary citizens, such household appliances in the Soviet Union began to be produced and went on sale only in the 50s. The first automatic car "Vyatka" at the same time appeared in the 80s.
4. Microwaves
Many people think that such equipment in our country began to be used by housewives only after perestroika and there were no microwave ovens in the USSR. However, in reality this is far from the case. The first microwave oven by Soviet scientists was developed back in the 30s of the last century. To finish its design and put into production then the war prevented.
The first domestic Pluto microwave ovens in the USSR began to be manufactured in factories only in 1978. However, then only top officials of the country could buy such unusual equipment. Ordinary citizens of the USSR, of course, never had microwaves.
5. Phones
Today, all people have a modern smartphone or at least a mobile phone in our country. In the USSR, the presence of even a landline telephone was for a long time a sign of wealth and belonging to the "top". Even in the mid-80s, ordinary citizens did not always have telephones at home.
To get a number, the inhabitants of our country were forced to stand long queues.The population of the USSR was completely telephoned only by the beginning of the 90s.
Few people know, but mobile phones were also invented in our country. The first antenna network Altai appeared in the USSR in the 50s. Of course, only senior party officials could use the mobile phones that were installed in cars.
6. French decorative cosmetics
Today, women are literally spoiled for the presence of a variety of means to make their appearance more attractive. In the USSR, cosmetics, of course, was also produced. However, the quality she had was not too good and many women dreamed of French powder and lipstick, which was almost impossible to get.
For a long time, French cosmetics in the USSR could be ordered mainly only through diplomatic lines. Ordinary Soviet citizens could acquire such funds only from speculators with great difficulty. For ordinary residents of the USSR, an alternative to French cosmetics was Polish, which also had to stand long queues.
7. Perfume
In addition to makeup, every Soviet woman dreamed of becoming the owner of at least one bottle of French perfume. Such perfumes in the USSR, along with imported walls and color TVs, were considered a sign of wealth and success.
Ordinary Soviet women used domestic perfumes, the most popular brand of which was “Red Moscow”. Actually, even foreigners considered these perfumes to be very good perfume. “Red Moscow” was developed on the basis of a bouquet created by a French perfumer specifically for the last Russian empress. However, the choice of perfume in the USSR was very small. And the Soviet ladies, of course, wanted some new unusual odors.
At the end of the last century, spirits produced in the Baltic countries became fashionable in the USSR. Many people remember, for example, the very pleasant smell of Jurmala 1 and other Dzintars products.
French perfumery for Soviet women, even Chanel No. 5, which was quite widespread in the USSR at that time (by the way, it is believed that her bouquet was copied from Red Moscow), was relatively difficult to get to perestroika itself.
8. Cars
Personal transport in Soviet times has long been considered a thing extremely expensive and inaccessible to ordinary citizens. In order to buy a car, the inhabitants of the USSR had to save for a long time, and then also stand in long lines.
“Lada” and “Muscovites” in Soviet times cost about 7000 p., “Cossacks” - 4000 p. And this is with an average salary of 150-200 p. per month. For the most prestigious car, which only officials and trade workers could afford, the Volga, had to accumulate about 9000-9500 rubles.
