I’ve bitched before about the million different user names and passwords I must maintain for all the on-line sites I use. Even if you count only my frequently accessed sites, it’s at least 20 different accounts.

Up to now, I’ve used a page or two out of a spiral notebook. It did the job, but it was impossible to keep it in order. More of a list than something easy to access. And so, I’d have to keep scanning down the list, looking for an entry.

I’ve tried software based stuff, like KeePass, and they are okay. However, they are only available from my computer, and if the computer goes bye-bye, so does my password store. (I’m thinking hard drive failure, not theft.)

Anyhow, while looking around my local second hand store I had one of those “Why didn’t I think of this before?” moments. I present a bit of mid-20th century technology that’s the perfect password storage device. The telephone / address book.

This one is small (about 2″ x 6″) and has tabs for each letter, like a good address book should. It’s got a hard cover and plenty of pages, idea for my overflowing list of accounts. A simple solution to an ever growing problem.

You can also have some fun with this, and look for an antique or retro device. You can usually find them for dirt cheap, as people have gone to auto-dialers on their phones. Here’s a really tank-like one we picked up a couple of months ago. You spin the knob on the right and the letters whiz by in-frame. It’s a neat piece of history, about 70 years old, and still works like new.

I love how they put a long red diagonal strip on the paper, so when it’s spinning you can see where you are at (it “moves” left and right under the letters above). It’s the perfect “steam punk” password management system.