Link Love: The Resurgence of Analog

Maybe its a coincidence or foolishly seeing patterns where there are none, but once again, this week’s cache of link provided a theme when I least expected one. That theme, though you might assume its every week’s theme is the revival, renewal and continued passion around analog. As pen lovers, we have never really given up our love for analog tools but this week seemed to be a pinnacle of attention around analog pursuits.

First, Brad posted in his weekly newsletter about the terrible fire that destroyed the vinyl masters facility Apollo Masters in California and it’s potential effects on the resurgence of interest in new vinyl records.

Pair the Apollo Masters fire with the book I’m currently reading Vanishing Fleece by Clara Parkes about the American Wool Industry and the changes its facing and you can start to see a trend. As a knitter, I have an interest in the wool industry because if I’m going to spend hours, days, months or years working on a garment or project, I want to use the best materials to create it and wool is the best knitting fiber. Its durable, renewable, sustainable and can be spun with cotton, linen, silk or other fibers to change the quality of it. Like analog music, knitting is an analog skill.

The wool industry in the US, like the vinyl record industry, is also just a few steps away from being almost non-existent. As the years go on, there are fewer and fewer people interested in continuing these crafts. Sure, there are “hobby farmers” and small scale operations but the larger, more sustainable for the masses businesses have all but disappeared.

Could the pen industry face the same issues? Whether here in the US or globally, there are not many pen, ink or paper manufacturers left and certainly not many large scale producers keeping these crafts alive. What is being produced is the budget-conscious, race-to-the-bottom (in costs and quality) products, at least in terms of notebooks and pens. Ink has been blessed with a sort of craft-beer resurgence.

Even if vinyl records and knitting are not your thing, are you seeing other businesses that may be waning? Are they worth saving? The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter is an interesting book that looks are the resurgence of many analog interests. I wrote a review about it if you’re not familiar with the book.

This week, Bullet Journal wrote a post about how analog supports creativity and Parka Blogs reviewed a book about the Offline Journal about a more connected, creative life. And Nero’s Notes Blog continues their series on Analog vs. Digital. See? Kismet strikes again.

2 comments / Add your comment below

Diane Tompkins says:

February 19, 2020 at 1:45 pm

Analog ways seem to open more doors to new possibilities. I’m just an old girl with a questing eye.

Mark says:

February 19, 2020 at 2:08 pm

Another post full of good stuff to read. The syo ro link to mountain of ink is broken tho. Just an FYI.