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We love to fix things. And we figured we're not alone. It's a habit of the inquisitive mind — see how something works, learn its quirks, and figure out why it's busted and what to do about it. Sometimes you need a little help, though, and an instruction manual can go a long way.
Yeah, yeah, manuals are all PDFs now. But there's nothing like an old, preferably grease-stained instruction book. You can break the spine, lay it flat on your workbench, and get to work. No scrolling, no greasy touch-screen. Yeah, we still like paper.
So we collected 10 old, classic, and even rare instruction manuals from the good fixers in the Wired office. We got cars, electronics, games, and Legos — so many Legos — and picked our favorites.
But we know you've got more. So one-up us and send us photos of your favorite old instruction books, whether they're from long-lost or long-discarded tools, toys, gadgets, gizmos, products, or appliances. Maybe it's a classic camera. Maybe it's a sweet car. Remember when computers came with manuals? We'll publish the best in a follow-up gallery.
IC-M80 VHF Marine Radiotelephone
ICOM recommends you take its IC-M80 to a dealer or authorized service center if you have any problems. But what fun is that when they also include a full schematic diagram? There's not a lot of explanation, though, so you better have a good grasp on circuits. And if you want to use it after you fix it, an operator’s license.Photos: Ariel Zambelich/Wired 
