01-18-2012, 02:41 PM
My mother still uses a Singer sewing machine she bought in 1956. Then again, I'm still using my mother in law's Pfaff sewing machine she bought in 1974. Well built machinery just.. lasts.
I'll vote for those original 'compressor on top' GE refrigerators... my grandparents had one they bought in , what, 1932 ? Hopefully the guy that bought the house in 1996 didn't just scrap it. It will probably outlast three generations.
Also well made wooden furniture. We've got a 1802 wall mirror that belonged to Emma Willard (an ancestor who founded one of the first schools for girls in the US).
With the advent of modern engineering design analytic tools, the 'rules of thumb' we used to use have changed, and now products are engineered damn close to the lower limits. As a result they wear out and break down faster. All in the name of 'cost savings'. Of course the ugly 'planned obsolescence' design concept from the 1970's rears it's ugly head too.
Once you turn those Cost Accountants lose on the decision process, the joy of craftsmanship is gone.
I'll vote for those original 'compressor on top' GE refrigerators... my grandparents had one they bought in , what, 1932 ? Hopefully the guy that bought the house in 1996 didn't just scrap it. It will probably outlast three generations.
Also well made wooden furniture. We've got a 1802 wall mirror that belonged to Emma Willard (an ancestor who founded one of the first schools for girls in the US).
With the advent of modern engineering design analytic tools, the 'rules of thumb' we used to use have changed, and now products are engineered damn close to the lower limits. As a result they wear out and break down faster. All in the name of 'cost savings'. Of course the ugly 'planned obsolescence' design concept from the 1970's rears it's ugly head too.
Once you turn those Cost Accountants lose on the decision process, the joy of craftsmanship is gone.