things made to last "forever"

[space-time]

of course nothing lasts forever, but some things are (WERE) built so well that they last almost forever. Two examples come to mind

Apple LaserWriter 16/600, I believe this is the one that it's build like a tank. About 3 years ago I found one on local CL, ad said new, didn't believe it but went to pick it up anyway. $15. Indeed, it was new, page count was in low teens, and it had a problem starting up. I tried to fool around, got it to print a few time, but never had time to fully finish fixing it. When I moved two year ago I had to get rid of it. Maybe I should have kept it and try to fix it.

Well water pump. Not sure what brand, but some relatives of mine have well and the pump is 40-50 years old. When they took it out a few year ago (they were doing some maintenance on the well), they wanted to replace it, but the repairman said that pump was made in UK, and was built so well that was likely to last another 40 years. There is no other pump built today that will last that long. So they cleaned it and put it back in, and as far as I know, still works.

I am sure you have similar stories. Share. Too bad these days everything is made to be almost disposable. Mostly everything.

[hal]

Home appliances pre 1970.

Washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge, water heater, vacuum...

Pretty much everything lasted twenty plus years with only minor repairs if any back then

[GGD]

I still use some hand tools that I bought in the 1970s.

[sekker]

I have a true 'Maytag' story.

We were second owners of a small house built by GIs returning from WWII. It came with a Maytag washer and dryer from at least 40 years ago.

We put a load of clothes into the dryer and went away for Thanksgiving. When we came back to the house, the dryer was STILL RUNNING! The timer had failed in an 'on' state.

Once we recovered from the risk of having returned to a burned-down house, I was completely amazed at what the Maytag dryer survived and still ran. No way any modern appliance would last like that.

[MacArtist]

Remember when they had tv repair shops?

[davec]

I am old enough that I recall my parents and grandparents owning "durable goods" (washers, dryers, refrigerators) which were actually durable! The first automatic washer my folks owned lasted for over 25 years. A refrigerator that my grandparents owned lasted for over 40 years and was still running when they gave it away. Also, those items were built to be repairable and could be fixed when something did need to be repaired.

Dave

[haikuman]

MacArtist wrote:
Remember when they had tv repair shops?

Ha~!~ I remember my dad always going and buying tubes at the store.
Almost every store (supermarket) in those days had tube stations.

Good memories MacArtist ~!~

[Dennis S]

hal wrote:
Home appliances pre 1970.

Washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge, water heater, vacuum...

Pretty much everything lasted twenty plus years with only minor repairs if any back then

My friend's dad died a couple of years ago at over 100. He was the best house contractor in town and built a great house around 1967. I helped clear it out to sell it and it had all of the original kitchen appliances. I'm sure he bought the best available at the time.

[ka jowct]

Traditional fruit cake.

[lazydays]

I have two amplifiers from the 70's. One was rebuilt in the 90's but the other is pristine. Stereo receiver out in the garage is from the 70's as well. I have two tube radio's, who knows how old they are, and they both work fine other than deterioration to the speakers. Actually they sound fine to me but they probably sounded better new. I have an FM tuner from the 70's that was rebuilt in the 90's and is working well. I have an AM/FM tuner from the 70's that is still working well. Btw, all of these items are in almost daily use except the tube equipment.