Since one of the goals of living a sustainable life should be to get those things we buy to last longer, I thought it would be fun to list something we own that we've had many years that is still working. It can be electronics, an appliance, etc.
I'll start :) I have a Sony Walkman Mega Bass player. It is 20 years old. I use it to listen to the radio at night. I have an MP3 player, but this is only radio I have that gets AM. I works fine. I broke the belt clip off of it two months ago though.
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The oldest item you own and use
Started by FamilyTreeClimber, Jun 17 2012 11:27 PM
46 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 18 June 2012 - 03:18 AM
My house for starters-original section was built in 1920. Additions put on in the 70's.
My tv is ancient but works fine.
My car is a 98 Nissan but gets 32 mpg and runs great.
Do my over 100 year old trees count?
I've got two left that survived the drought, and I "use" their shade. 
My tv is ancient but works fine.
My car is a 98 Nissan but gets 32 mpg and runs great.
Do my over 100 year old trees count?
I've got two left that survived the drought, and I "use" their shade.
#3
Posted 18 June 2012 - 05:36 AM
I do not replaced things easily not until it cannot be used anymore.
Just like clothes that I used for outdoor once become old, will be used as indoor clothes and then if really worn out already. I will use it to wipe out dirt before disposing it. My cabinet is more or less 40 years old, my electric fan is almost 10 years old and still working.
Just like clothes that I used for outdoor once become old, will be used as indoor clothes and then if really worn out already. I will use it to wipe out dirt before disposing it. My cabinet is more or less 40 years old, my electric fan is almost 10 years old and still working.
#4
Posted 18 June 2012 - 06:48 AM
The oldest thing I own and still use is my grandmother's sewing machine. It is the type of sewing machine that folds down inside a table. It looks like an antique machine. From what I can find out about it, it was the first sewing machine with a light and reversable stitching.I am not sure exactly how old this machine is but it still works perfectly.
#5
Posted 18 June 2012 - 06:50 AM
I have a Sharps portable music centre that is now 23 years old, and it still works perfectly. It's a CD, radio and casette player, and the tone is excellent. We went to a barbecue at our neighbour's a couple of weeks back, and we took it along to save them having to take their music centre up to the solarium. It looked and sounded so good that nobody could believe it was so old.
My brother came to stay for a night last week, and he brought his Army sleeping bag with him. That's at least 35 years old, as it wasn't new when he was issued with it, and it's still in pretty good condition. It keeps him much warmer than his modern sleeping bag, and it's more comfortable.
My brother came to stay for a night last week, and he brought his Army sleeping bag with him. That's at least 35 years old, as it wasn't new when he was issued with it, and it's still in pretty good condition. It keeps him much warmer than his modern sleeping bag, and it's more comfortable.
#6
Posted 18 June 2012 - 09:32 AM
It's great to see these items lasting so long! It seems that the stuff we buy today isn't built very well. You are lucky to get a couple of years from a toaster or microwave.
I have an old Aiwa stereo that I forgot to mention. It has a 3 CD disc changer and 2 cassette desk. I still have the receipt for it. (I have no idea why!) I bought it in 1996.
I'm the type that keeps clothes until they fall apart. I have a jean jacket that I bought in the late 1980s and that I still wear. It has that softness jean material gets when it has been worn for a long time. I like that feel.
I have an old Aiwa stereo that I forgot to mention. It has a 3 CD disc changer and 2 cassette desk. I still have the receipt for it. (I have no idea why!) I bought it in 1996.
I'm the type that keeps clothes until they fall apart. I have a jean jacket that I bought in the late 1980s and that I still wear. It has that softness jean material gets when it has been worn for a long time. I like that feel.
#7
Posted 18 June 2012 - 12:40 PM
My wifes grandmothers rolling pin, easily over 100, it's works great and is in perfect shape despite being wood. A bath wrap the girlfriend before my wife gave me over 45 years ago, I'm amazed cloth can last that long. My baseball mitt, given to me over 50 years ago. My wife's mothers silver set, again over 50 years old, our china, over 40 years old.
We also use clothes until there is barely anything left, holes and all. I wear shoes until the soles are flapping.
My wife once threatened to divorce me if I didn't throw one pair out, they were that ratty.
We also use clothes until there is barely anything left, holes and all. I wear shoes until the soles are flapping.
My wife once threatened to divorce me if I didn't throw one pair out, they were that ratty.
#8
Posted 18 June 2012 - 04:21 PM
Oh wow! You guys are good at keeping things well even though they have aged many years!
Let me see, I think that oldest item I have with me is my MP3 player which is about 7 - 8 years :D
However, back home in KL, my father kept my late mother's Chinaware and other belongings that I'm sure must have been over 40 - 50 years, as most of them are passed down from one generation to the next.
Let me see, I think that oldest item I have with me is my MP3 player which is about 7 - 8 years :D
However, back home in KL, my father kept my late mother's Chinaware and other belongings that I'm sure must have been over 40 - 50 years, as most of them are passed down from one generation to the next.
#9
Posted 18 June 2012 - 11:22 PM
I think Phil wins. :D That's amazing to keep anything for 100 years, working or not.
All this reminds me of my old neighbor. He was 88 years old. He came to California from South Dakota in the early 1950s. Before he left he bought an expensive storm coat--the finest item he owned. It was utterly and completely useless in this part of California.
He still had that coat when he moved in with his daughter two years ago. He never wore it, but used it to keep his favorite bonsai plant warm when we had frost warnings.
All this reminds me of my old neighbor. He was 88 years old. He came to California from South Dakota in the early 1950s. Before he left he bought an expensive storm coat--the finest item he owned. It was utterly and completely useless in this part of California.
He still had that coat when he moved in with his daughter two years ago. He never wore it, but used it to keep his favorite bonsai plant warm when we had frost warnings.
#11
Posted 19 June 2012 - 08:06 PM
I have a clarinet that originally belonged to my grandmother. I'm the third generation clarinetist in the family. I don't know exactly how old it is, but I think my grandmother got between 1913 and 1915. So, it's between 97 and 99.
#15
Posted 23 June 2012 - 09:15 AM
Cobwebs in my brain perhaps! It's funny how the brain slows down. I find I'm just as intelligent, it just takes longer to figure things out. My area is full of CA transplants like me, all retired or semiretired. We call it oldsheimers. 
It's funny how the brain slows down. I find I'm just as intelligent, it just takes longer to figure things out. My area is full of CA transplants like me, all retired or semiretired. We call it oldsheimers.
#16
Posted 23 June 2012 - 10:18 AM
Phil, on 23 June 2012 - 09:15 AM, said:
Cobwebs in my brain perhaps! It's funny how the brain slows down. I find I'm just as intelligent, it just takes longer to figure things out. My area is full of CA transplants like me, all retired or semiretired. We call it oldsheimers.
It's funny how the brain slows down. I find I'm just as intelligent, it just takes longer to figure things out. My area is full of CA transplants like me, all retired or semiretired. We call it oldsheimers. What were we talking about?
#17
Posted 23 June 2012 - 01:09 PM
I was waiting for someone to mention their spouse :D
I found another old item. I'm surprised that I didn't think of it as I use it every day. It's a paper stand that sits on a desk. I bought it back in 1980 when I was taking typing in high school. I thought it was so cool to have my own paper stand to go with my very own typewriter. The typewriter was retired a long time ago, but I've still got the stand.
I use it everyday at lunch and dinner. It's perfect for holding my Nook while I am eating. It saved me from wasting money on a new stand.
I found another old item. I'm surprised that I didn't think of it as I use it every day. It's a paper stand that sits on a desk. I bought it back in 1980 when I was taking typing in high school. I thought it was so cool to have my own paper stand to go with my very own typewriter. The typewriter was retired a long time ago, but I've still got the stand.
I use it everyday at lunch and dinner. It's perfect for holding my Nook while I am eating. It saved me from wasting money on a new stand.
#19
Posted 23 June 2012 - 03:13 PM
Oh yea that reminds me, I'm looking at a book stand I made in shop over half a century ago. Man shop was fun!
Also when I graduated from college I bought a HeathKit TV with deluxe wood console. The TV is long gone but I converted the console to storage by adding some shelves. My wife uses it for linen storage in the bedroom. It's about 45 years old.
Also when I graduated from college I bought a HeathKit TV with deluxe wood console. The TV is long gone but I converted the console to storage by adding some shelves. My wife uses it for linen storage in the bedroom. It's about 45 years old.
#20
Posted 25 June 2012 - 04:08 PM
A lot of the things in my home were bought or scavenged second hand. My caravan gas fridge and my wood stove are from the 60's. The Toyota Ute/pickup is 1982. The limo/Subaru is 1986.
Now the newest thing is a National Broadband satellite dish and modern supplied for free in May by our generous Federal Government. Thanks Julia Gillard.
But our State public health system is a mess and has gone bust. We will have a very fast internet but a very slow public health system.
Now the newest thing is a National Broadband satellite dish and modern supplied for free in May by our generous Federal Government. Thanks Julia Gillard.
But our State public health system is a mess and has gone bust. We will have a very fast internet but a very slow public health system.
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