Duane Beckett
Be warned, this list deliberately excludes vinyl records, Star Wars figures, and old Apple computers. Most people already know those items are highly collectible, so I’ve focused this list on the quieter 1970s collectibles. The stuff that sat in kitchens, dens, bedrooms, and school lockers, and somehow became collectible over the last decade.
Rotary Dial Telephones
Rotary dial telephones were once a common feature in houses across America, and the moment cell phones hit, they quickly became trash thrown into landfills. However, many of us will remember family members draping a long cord from room to room. Talk about a health and safety hazard.
Wired reported that the Western Electric 500, introduced in 1949, became the classic image of the American phone, and it later came in extra colors before touch-tone service made rotary dialing feel dated.
I still think the colors are the hook. Avocado green, harvest gold, red, cream. They look like 1970s decor in one chunky plastic package. Amazingly, Cheapism reported that some 1970s rotary phones now list for more than $100 online, depending on color and condition, making them a fun piece of the 1970s collectibles world.
8-Track Players
Cheapism reported that 8-track players can fetch nearly $1,000 on Etsy when the right unit is clean, working, and from a desirable brand. That’s wild for something many families once tossed aside for newer tech.
The 8-track was tied hard to 1970s driving culture, home stereos, and those big woodgrain audio setups that looked like furniture. Pitchfork added that Detroit automakers started adding cassette players to some new cars in late 1970, while the auto market had first been dominated by 8-tracks. By the end of the decade, cassettes had the momentum. That makes surviving 8-track players feel like a real time capsule, adding to their collectibility.
Lava Lamps
Nothing says 1970s mood quite like a lava lamp glowing in a dark room. Smithsonian put the invention back to Edward Craven Walker and described how it became tied to countercultural and psychedelic style in the late 1960s.
By the 1970s, lava lamps fit perfectly with shag carpet, bold colors, and relaxed living rooms. Click Americana reports that lava lamps were among the everyday 1970s collectibles that still trigger nostalgia today.
Collectors want older examples because the bases, colors, and glass shapes feel different from modern versions. Vintage 1970s lava lamps usually run around $100 to $200 on eBay. They’re groovy, but not cheap.
Sunbeam Mixmaster Kitchen Mixers
Sunbeam Mixmasters were kitchen workhorses, not fancy collectibles. That’s part of the charm. They were used for cakes, cookies, mashed potatoes, and whatever else ended up in a family recipe box.
Cheapism reported that both handheld and tabletop Sunbeam Mixmasters from the era are still easy to find, often selling for under $50. That lower price makes them a smart entry point for collectors who like useful vintage pieces, not just display items.
Look out for chrome details, old speed dials, glass bowls, and pastel or warm-toned finishes, as they make them more collectible. A clean one still looks great on a counter. Better yet, it may even still work.
Osterizer Blenders
Glass jars, chrome trim, and sturdy motors give old Osterizer blenders a following with vintage kitchen fans. They weren’t rare luxury items. They were practical appliances used for milkshakes, sauces, mixed drinks, and all the “modern” kitchen ideas that filled 1970s ads.
Coverage from Cheapism shows 1970s Osterizer blenders usually sell in the $30 to $50 range on eBay, though older and more unusual models can draw extra attention. Click Americana also found that 1970s homes leaned into colorful appliances and convenience items, which helps explain why these countertop pieces still feel so tied to the decade.
Vintage Lunchboxes (Metal & Plastic)
I’ve had my fair share of vintage lunchboxes, specifically targeting Saturday morning cartoons I was a fan of back in the 80s. The same is true for 70s lunchboxes; people love them because of childhood memories.
A dented metal box with a cartoon, TV show, or character on the front can have surprising value. It’s the same collector brain that sees an old Star Wars item and immediately checks the packaging’s corners.
Kinda Frugal found that 1970s metal lunchboxes often featured characters such as Davy Crockett, Nancy Drew, The Munsters, and Star Wars, with some selling for more than $150 depending on condition and design. Cheapism reported that an early 1970s Smokey Bear lunchbox can go for more than $1,100 on eBay.
Always remember that condition matters for 1970s collectibles, and when it comes to lunchboxes, only pay the big money if everything’s included (like the thermos).