Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

sss555s

vivatifosi wrote: »

I I've got a 20 year old Panasonic vacuum cleaner. It still works like a dream, never breaks down. Ok so its a bagged version and there are now more powerful models on the market but its still strong enough to suck up the carpet that isn't fixed down, so what more could I want?

Made me think when I read Dave's post: what ancient appliances have we all got that we don't plan to trade up from until they finally expire?

For me it's a vacuum cleaner too.

I don't want to change it till that sucker gives up! :A


If you buy quality products then they will mostly last well.

sss555s

carolt wrote: »

All of them, surely? After all, this is mse. Surely we're not the types to rush out and buy the latest model when the old one works perfectly well?

I don't agree with all.

I seem to change my TV and PC before they expire or i'd be typing this on my beige 486DX :money:

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

I wonder that about lots of things Dave. I've got a 20 year old Panasonic vacuum cleaner. It still works like a dream, never breaks down. Ok so its a bagged version and there are now more powerful models on the market but its still strong enough to suck up the carpet that isn't fixed down, so what more could I want?

Made me think when I read Dave's post: what ancient appliances have we all got that we don't plan to trade up from until they finally expire?

The Landrover, the iron: things we'll keep till they die. In Italy I had a 1960s cooker. It was cool and all, but honestly I think I'd have preferred a new one. we're going to start keeping our eyes open for a cooker and a washing machine soon. I might get second hand or I might get from the sales. In the long term our kitchen will move: I migh well want new appliances then I think, but if I find something now that we can afford that I'll want we'll grab that and keep it.

I hate the hover, I just can't get the technique right. We have a petrol mower which I find hard to start the first time, but once its going I find easier. But the button has disintegrated and its not going to come on. This has prompted just this sort of discussion at home. My dad wants t replace it, so I asked if I could have their mower and then I'd get the button fixed. My dad said he'd buy me a mower if I wanted, and I shrugged and said he could get the button fixed. Daddy doesn't get the make do and mend thing, not since he could afford to replace. anyway, I took the mower in to the sales/repair lace and they said while the mower was great and the button replaceable, it would cost about a minimal amount more to buy a siny new mower. To me that's wasteful, I want the button fixed. dad also likes new tvs. I tend to get attached to things and not want to replace them, I don't really see the need unless they are vastly superceded.

sss555s

As said in another thread. It's probably a man woman thing.


Women buy new shoes before they wear out and men buy new TV's before they wear out

carolt

Same thought occured to me. Technology doesn't interest me at all. But my OH loves swapping 1 piece of technology for another - he enjoys reading all the bumph and planning the purchase; I find it a tedious waste of time and ideally would just like everything to last forever so I don't need to replace ANY of it.

Wheezy_2

Hold on to those hoovers...

Got a pair of 25+ year old Celestion Ditton speakers. OH wants to get rid of them because they look 'dirty'...sure, there are some coffee rings (and other rings ) on top, but the sound is just too good to replace them

Davesnave

I have the 20 year old Panasonic hoover too, and I'm always going on about the car, which has had one little rubber pipe replaced, beyond the usual consumables, in almost 50k miles.

We still print all our labels using a 1999 computer, 'cos the program doesn't know about USB and costs £500 to replace. But if we are into really old tech, then I have my 1964 tape recorder with original recordings of our band rehearsals and lots of live stuff from 'Ready Steady Go!' It still works.:cool:

Until recently, we also had a wind-up gramophone, complete with copy of 'Come into the Garden, Maude,' but I decided to send that to the auction rather than bring it here. It made only £45, but I have to admit, it wasn't the nicest piece of furniture.

John_Pierpoint

lostinrates wrote: »

The button has disintegrated and its not going to come on. This has prompted just this sort of discussion at home. My dad wants to replace it, so I asked if I could have their mower and then I'd get the button fixed. My dad said he'd buy me a mower if I wanted, and I shrugged and said he could get the button fixed. Daddy doesn't get the make do and mend thing, not since he could afford to replace. anyway, I took the mower in to the sales/repair place and they said while the mower was great and the button replaceable, it would cost about a minimal amount more to buy a siny new mower. To me that's wasteful, I want the button fixed. dad also likes new tvs. I tend to get attached to things and not want to replace them, I don't really see the need unless they are vastly superceded.

I remember having this discussion with my dad; With a stay-at-home mum, we were not part of the 1960 "never had it so good" scene and money always seemed to be short and a stress topic.

Then the fridge went on the blink and dad went out and bought a new one (30 quid if I remember). As a 14 year old I worked out that shorting out the thermostat turned it back on. I got on my bike with the old thermostat and after a visit to the "big" town, 6 miles away. I came back with a 10/6 thermostat (53p) and sold the old fridge to my uncle for a tenner. (The only drawback was that the new thermostat turned the other way from the old one making coldest warmest when fitted to the dial plate :rotfl:)

Make do and mend has two drawbacks.
Getting the spares.
Paying the labour charge.

If you live near a city back street area it is still possible to find one of those little shops full of bits and pieces (Though the elf and safety jobsworths mean it may well be illegal to repair your own:mad:)

SingleSue

I'm one of those who will hang onto things until they finally die.

My microwave is one I bought second hand from a friend over 12 years ago for a tenner, I had the chance to replace it with my birthday money this year (had seen a great one for £34 brand new) but because the old one still works, just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I haven't had a great deal of luck with vacuum cleaners to be honest after my Dyson went to the great vacuum cleaner heaven (I love my Dyson cleaners, especially the roller ball version which was a great help with my back) but seem to be having a bit more luck with my cheapie £34 one I purchased from Lidl late last year. My mum still uses her Panasonic one and that is ages old and still going well.

My bedroom telly is my old portable which is nearly 16 years old, my kitchen portable telly is even older and my brother has my old portable TV/video combi which a neighbour gave me about 5 years ago (she was going to bin it and then decided to ask me if one of my boys wanted it).

My stereo is about 8 years old but with the use it has, is still like new (was used a lot until hubby left, I got it in the divorce settlement as the kids liked to play music but then it has hardly been used, perhaps 5 times since the divorce).

My electric tin opener (I can't use a normal one because of my hands) is one my mum had and then gave to me...goodness knows how old it is but it is another item I have had a chance to replace but decided not to as it still works...ish.

My cooker is a rented one, couldn't afford to replace my old one when it went (and none available on freecycle at the time), the old one, one of those big range style ones, was second hand and purchased 12 years ago for £275. As the rented cooker is too small to cope with the demands, I also use a table top oven which we purchased for camping in 2002 (it was second hand then - got it from cash converters).

Fridge and washing machine were purchased at the same time in 2003. With the fridge, I broke my usual rule and replaced before it had died...my brother still uses my old fridge freezer which is now around 15 years old.

Tumble dryer is 14 years old and for the last 6 years, has had a paintmate holding the door closed (supplemented by an old broken hoover when doing towels).

Think the newest thing is the front room telly, it is around 4 years old..the old one (which really wasn't very old - purchased at the same time as the fridge and washing machine), had to be replaced under insurance due to a very large hole in the top (never put shelves above tellys........) We still have the old telly, which the two older boys have in their room with a bit of cardboard taped over the hole to prevent dust getting in.

fc123

carolt wrote: »

True - prefer it actually - far less messy to clear up kids and get them dressed if you don't have sand sticking to every surface.

I did wonder if your shop was still there, fc - wasn't sure if you'd closed it or not. Passed some lovely shops, incl fudge shop to die for! Yummmm.

Did you go into The Lanes or North Laine...or both. Nth Laine lead up to the station. The Lanes (some still call them south lanes) are just off the seafront.
There are 2 fudge shops , one in each area.

My shop was in a small street that is now all big brand clothingchains and coffee shops on one side...and there were none at all when we opened.

When the T/O dropped post N Rock it was all a bit !!!!!!?
However, within a few months we worked out that the biggest fall in T/O was the relocation of loads of council workers and other office workers in the area moving to cheaper office deals outside town. As we were more of and everyday type place for locals that just happened to be interesting to visitors, we felt it more.


I then prepped and researched a 'shabby chic' type interiors shop and it was all set to go.....reclaimed textiles, made in Brighton type sounvenirs (linen teatowels etc) and OH was going to buy Edwardian wardrobes for £1 and re-make them into trunks etc. It was a really good concept (though I say so myself ) and would have tapped into the tourist spend a lot more but then an opp presented itself in summer 08 with the clothes (specifically those I design) and we went with it.

We closed her in March 09 as the rent review ( wanted a rise of 50%) was a set up.....bearing in mind my 3 chain neighbours had had their rents reduced by 40% after being rent free for nearly a year. Had they dropped our rent to the same level, then we would have stayed but I wouldn't then be doing what we are doing now which is all very positive and interesting.

As it stood at the point we left, we would have been paying double the rent of the chains who hijacked the area during the boom....because the area had character...created by the independents. Used to be about 12 of us in that location a decade ago. We were the last indie ladieswear left standing when we shut.

It cost us massive ££ in lost profit the last year and 26k for the surrender....so a very expensive final year.

There are enough small places owning their own freeholds in the area to keep the character and many can spin off sales online now.....and I don't feel bitter about it all but just see it as a chain of events that pushed us into unknown territory that we wouldn't have considered doing before.

Oldest appliance? I don't have any but I use an old gas iron as a pattern weight.
I did wear a victorian blouse to a wedding recently....about 1860 I think. The stitching is the most microscopic stitching I have ever seen. I can date it as it came in a batch of clothing from one person I bought many years ago and the rest went into auction. I also kept an Irish lace bolero......which has the original fastening and my ribs would have to be about 26'' round to do it up.

Mowing....not my department...that is the one thing that I insist OH does.:)