((Reddit))
In this age of built-in obsolescence, it’s more than a pleasant surprise when you get an extra year out of that old laptop, a few additional miles out of those comfortable shoes, or a couple hundred cups of coffee you hadn’t thought you would get from that machine on your kitchen counter.
Over at Reddit, someone posted the picture seen here of a Nintendo 64 game console that looks like it’s been put through the wringer more than a few times — and which has to be at least a decade old — but which the owner says “Still works and still gets played every day. Its a tank.”
That goes us wondering about those unexpectedly durable items you don’t throw away, even if your friends mock you for it.
There can be several reasons for keeping a still-operating relic. Maybe it never stopped working properly and you’ve never had to give any thought to finding a replacement. Or maybe it’s something that only requires a bit of duct tape and elbow grease to keep it in working order. And then there are those things that hold a special place in your heart/mind, but which you’re not willing to consign to “museum piece” status.
We want to hear about all of them — How long you’ve had ‘em, how long you expect to keep ‘em, and what you’ve got to do to maintain them — so tell us your tales in the comments.
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Sonicare toothbrush. 10 years and counting. No battery failure. No cracks in the plastic. Nothing. It just keeps working.
Record player from around 1915. Entirely analog, with the big speaker cone and everything. It’s more of a novelty item than anything, but it still plays records perfectly fine. It was retrofitted in the 40s (1942, I think) with a motor to play 33s and 45s, though; but that’s still seventy years old! It was my great-grandfather’s, who gave it to my grandfather who willed it to me when I expressed interest in it.
My favorite thing to do with it? Play albums like the Tron: Legacy soundtrack on it. It’s almost bizzare, hearing the computer-originating sounds coming from something made before computers existed in any meaningful way.
I also have a desk radio from the late 60s, and one of my friends owns a WWII Jeep that’s only had regular maintenance and been driven as a daily driver the entire time. Has the service records to prove it, too.
My brother and I have an NES, but I’m not sure that counts; those systems were built like total bricks and are still common as dirt to find in fully working condition.
I have an old Panasonic boom box with tape player. The tape player has died; however, the radio still works and I use it at work. It was a high school graduation gift in 1979. (It still has the original antenna!)
Last year I replaced a furnace in my home that hasn’t been made since 1963, no idea how old it actually was, the paper on the inside of the door rotted off. It worked fine, just couldn’t afford to run it anymore.
I have a couple examples of almost every home video game system (Only one Vectrex though) from the Pong era up to NES in the next room, all of which work fine. I also have an example of virtually every item that Commodore computers ever made Pre-Amiga, again all of which work fine. If only I had a bigger house to display these treasures….
Every single portable fan in my house is from the 30′s-50′s which were inherited from my grandparents.
I just gave up my Lady Kenmore washer/gas dryer set in avocado a few years ago. Easily 30+ years old. Replaced them with a front loading Maytag Neptune electric set, which hasn’t ever performed well.
We bought a Gibson upright freezer in 1976. (36 years ago!) It has survived 3 different homes we moved it to and stills runs great. They didn’t know about building in obsolescence back then. Too bad they do now.
My old man has a pair of LL Bean boots that he bought in the early seventies. Every time he has to shovel the driveway, I get updated on how long he’s had those boots. Some of that rubbed off on me, because I am the same way with brown Dr. Martins. They go with everything, easy to clean up to look dressy, and if I get less than 5 to 7 years out of a pair I’m disappointed. My old man also passed down a Rolex watch to me upon college graduation which my mom purchased for him in 1975. Maybe not a shock that a Rolex still works, but it just goes to show sometimes what’s considered the best really is. My old man always says if he had the foresight, he would have bought a rolls Royce for his first car. He figured if it’s like the boots and the Rolex, he’d still be driving it today, would have been hugely economical in the long run.
Commodore Amiga 500 Circa 1987 – How I love Floppy Discs
Microsoft/RCA UltimateTV DVR Circa 2001 – Original HD and Tuners
I got a cute black dress for twentysomething dollars at Merry-Go-Round in 1995. It’s a casual-ish dress that I was able to wear to school, work, and out until maybe about two years ago. It’s finally starting to pill. Sadly, items that have cost me much more than that have only ever lasted a couple of years at best with such frequent use.
I still have a working 10 year old MP3 player (the Nomad Jukebox 3) that inspired Steve Jobs to create the iPod. The music sounds great on it, and the internal hard drive is easy to upgrade to 160 gigs.
my mom passed on to me her hamilton beach electric knife. it’s from 1964 and still works like new 48 yrs. later. they don’t make appliances like they used to.
today parts/gears are made of cheap plastic and don’t last.
Toshiba Satellite bought in 2002 still running. The only hardware issue was the power supply (due to a puppy chewing the cord). I replaced the power supply with a fancy generic brand-it lasted a couple of years before frying. so I spliced the power cord on the original power supply and was back in business. Even the floppy drive works:) I keep it around so I can print with my HP 1215 Photosmart printer with the giant print cartridges (same age as laptop).
Dell Latitude CpxJ from College still working and going strong
Dell E1505 dead within 18 months and out of warranty.
My HP LaserJet3, built like a tank and still working after a couple of thorough cleanings.
Apple Newton… Palm M105 both work when I dig them out of the storage bins…
I guess I should have them in a Museum box or something
1982 Volvo 240 Wagon – drove in 30 years and 1.5 million miles, and sold it to be stripped for many useful parts by a restorer last month after I borke down before it did. Knee surgery meant driving a standard transmission in the city was painful. So, bought a Volvo v70 with an automatic tranny.
Also, a Leatherman tool. Bought it about the same time as the volvo, and still have it. Works great.
Nikon 35mm camera. Used since the 1970s, never needed any repair work at all.
Grand prize winner – 1930s Magic Chef gas stove with the big red knob to set temperature.
Been in daily service longer than I’ve been alive.
You guys just need to learn to take care of your things!
Are you kidding? We still have the original NES and games we bought in 1985 or so, I was in like, second grade. It still functions and my dad plays Dr Mario every single day after work. The secret? Don’t blow in the cartridges, your spit corrodes the metal contacts. We used one of those Nintendo branded cleaning kits for the NES slot and the cartridges.
My mom’s RCA tv, bought in 1987. Wonderful picture and sound. Never had a problem with it. I’m so hesitant to get a flatscreen because our old tube machines work so great, there is no good reason to get rid of them.
I am also amazed at my doc marten oxfords I bought for my first job, Starbucks in 1999. They still look new, and I’ve spilled a lot on them and walked many miles. Never cleaned them particularly well, either.
I also have a crappy looking Mitsubishi Mirage. No bumper, body damage all over the place. I get “we buy junk cars!” fliers on it and I always shout “screw you my car is great!” to nobody in particular. 214k miles and has never broken down. My Nissan pathfinder needs $1500 in work and it has 100k less miles. Both 2001. I can’t see any reason to buy a new car when I have a perfectly reliable one that will never, ever be stolen
My mom gave me her Champion juicer from the early 70′s, only needed the power cord repaired because the rubber was cracking. Works fab! Also the kids have their dad’s original Atari game system. All of the games and the controllers work!
I have a Sony Dreamachine clock radio that’s been in use since 1985, 27 years! I guess that’s when Sony made products that last (don’t ask me about how I feel about Sony products in the last 10 years).
My 32 year old Mercedes Benz that I’ve had since 16 (21 now) with well over 400,000 miles on it. It’s never seen a mechanic while in my hands, done all my own work
That old 240D simply will not die. The A/C still blows ridiculously cold and that 4 speed shifts as smooth as it ever did.. everything still works as designed and that old Silver paint still shines up like new, and I put this car through hell
I wish they made cars like this nowadays