# turn by turn GPS in the 1920's?

**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic
**Created:** [September 22, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309 "2008-09-22T14:40:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309/1 "2008-09-22T14:40:19Z")

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> **[1920s SatNav Out-Performs iPhone](https://www.wired.com/2008/08/1920s-satnav-ou/)**
>
> Anybody disappointed by the iPhone’s lack of turn-by-turn navigation should take a humbling look into the past. The Plus Fours Routefinder, released in 1920, took on the work of many of today’s devices, but in a rather handsome analog form. Instead...

heh, no shit

edit, fixed

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### Author: ![micah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/micah/32/7257_2.png) [@micah](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/micah)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309/2 "2008-09-22T14:43:15Z")

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you gotta scroll down a bit but i got u BRO

![http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/1403361-tm.jpg](http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/1403361-tm.jpg)

1920s SatNav Out-Performs iPhone  
By Charlie Sorrel EmailAugust 18, 2008 | 8:14:25 AMCategories: Automotive, GPS

1403361.jpgAnybody disappointed by the iPhone’s lack of turn-by-turn navigation should take a humbling look into the past. The Plus Fours Routefinder, released in 1920, took on the work of many of today’s devices, but in a rather handsome analog form.

Instead of querying satellites to triangulate your position, the Routefinder came with a collection of paper rolls which would be wound as you drove, slowly revealing, you guessed it, turn-by-turn directions. And with the rather awkward one-and-a-half handed operation (it’s wrist mounted), the Routefinder took care of another modern day essential: the ability of cellphones to disastrously distract you from the road ahead.

This last might not have been the killer it is today, though. The same lack of cars which led to the poor sales and eventual demise of the Routefinder probably meant that a car crash was all but impossible.

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### Author: ![ILCisDEAD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@ILCisDEAD](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILCisDEAD)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309/3 "2008-09-22T14:51:50Z")

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hahah that kicks asss I want one

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### Author: ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309/4 "2008-09-22T14:56:45Z")

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That is so cool…

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### Author: ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turn-by-turn-gps-in-the-1920s/55309/5 "2008-09-22T17:18:32Z")

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I’m always amazed at how creative some people were back in the days before modern technology came into play.