Ergh

[averygoodun42]

I didn't realize that it was possible to scorch things in our microwave. Other microwaves? Sure. But not in our failing, 1986 little wimp machine. Oops.

It really is failing, the poor thing. It's taking more and more force to open the door (the button has slipped, somehow), it's taking longer and longer to defrost things and, well... Yeah. Of course, the fact that it's over twenty-years-old has nothing to do with it.

That reminds me that the stereo, of the same year, is also starting to fail. *laughs* No, that's not true. The remaining components are starting to fail. We are already tunerless, as that got fried (it probably would have lasted a bit longer had we not tried to fix it during one of it's problem episodes) a couple years ago. Now the CD player is having more and more problems playing the CDs without skipping. The tape player seems to be pretty much eternal, however.


But this makes me curious. What is the oldest piece of working electronica that you use on a regular basis? Do you cherish it or are you looking forward to replacing it?

Comments

[junewilliams7.livejournal.com]

my Hewlett-Packard HP-15C calculator, over 25 years old and still uses its original batteries. it's also still smarter than I am. I don't think it will ever be replaced.

we also have a pair of speakers that are 25+ years old and still wonderful. the company that made them is no longer in business, so we're hoping these last forever.

I think CD players and other entertainment system components are being designed to not last, because the industry wants to keep selling - which means they have to make things that will break, but not break sooner than their competitors' products . sort of like the auto industry - you won't buy a new car if your old car still works.

hmm, I sound cynical now.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

We have a c. 1972 Maranz radio tuner that's older than both of us. We bought it on eBay because you get way better performance with analog. It's a big, clunky machine that only does one thing, but for stereophiles like Mr. 42, separate components of that sort are good for street cred. :D

[averygoodun.livejournal.com]

I can't remember how old my parents' tuner was before it finally bit the bullet. I loved watching it, though, how the needle would spike with every station. :-)

[averygoodun.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm positive that in the last ten to fifteen years they started deliberately designing things (esp. electronics, but not confined to them) to break down after only a few years. It's really, really obnoxious. Instead of designing things so that they'd be more appealing because of features or whatnot... But that is part of this disposable lifestyle we've created.

Oops. I'll just get off my little soapbox now. Sorry bout that. ;-)

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

No - it's true. Try getting a washing machine repaired these days. My mum's old hotpoint was about 25 years old when it finally bit the dust, after various minor repairs over its last ten years. You can't expect a washing machine to last more than 8 yrs now, apparently. And then all that metal and plastic and so on just goes to the local dump and is gone. What a waste.

I was brought up to repair what could be repaired, and so was Mr Dicky (admittedly, this has led to him spending a month messing about with the laptop to install and up-to-date Linux on a machine which does not have an up-to-date processor and the result is fucking appalling - but can I tell him?), so we do tend to try our best to keep things going. I sometimes wonder if I am the only person I know who has a mending bag, and who can be bothered to repair a dress which cost ten euros on a market. Everything is so throw-away now, and it's disheartening. We bought a dishwasher last year and were told it had an expected life of eight to ten years with regular use. My thought was "Is that all?" It's a mid-range. Cheap ones go for five years, and then if you double what we spent then you can expect fifteen, and it might even be worth repairing (I kid you not - it's what the salesman said) if it goes wrong. The others you just chuck away.

In answer to your question, I have a stereo including an LP player which still works, though it's creaky. I'm hoping it will survive long enough for us to transfer the LPs to MP3. We're currently working through the massive student tape collection... The 19 yr old tape player/CD player is still going strong.

[averygoodun.livejournal.com]

You can get things repaired, but they do advise you to think about the age:cost ratio. If it's more than 5 years old and the repair will be over something like $100, they say just buy a new one. 8 years is all you're supposed ot expect (and this on things that cost hundreds of dollars! And I thought the expression was that money does NOT grow on trees!). Bah!

When I went shopping for my couch, I deliberately looked for an old one. The one I got isn't really old enough, it's only about 30 years old, and they stopped making really good quality furniture (mid-price range) about 40 years ago. Covers and cushions can be replaced, but the springs and frame? They should last forever, but nowadays, you can only expect them to last for 10 years or so. Ridiculous!

That reminds me. I need to look for a replacement needle for our LP player. *sigh* It might be worth it to just buy one of the LP-disc recording machines, though, instead.

[muggle-prof.livejournal.com]

Anectodal evidence sure supports that. In our old house, we had an ancient dishwasher that worked just fine. When we moved into the new neighborhood, with new houses and brand new appliances -- several neighbors had to replace dishwashers after just THREE YEARS!

[averygoodun.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Of course, sometimes it's just that people don't realize that things can actually be fixed.