It's exactly the same with washing machines and tumble dryers. My parents bought both back when I was still living with them (some time ago) and they still run like a dream now, yet I have gone through a couple of washing machines and tumble dryers in the past 13 years, and because they don't fit in the time of warranty when they break down, or the part broken is too much to replace, you're better off buying another appliance. Built to last? What utter tosh!

Joe, sorry this happened to you. What a bummer. I feel your pain! I usually complain about this on a weekly basis. 😆 We have two super old, upright freezers that run like champs. We even have my old stereo receiver (Technics) from when I was 18-years-old, and it works like new at 25-years-old.

We bought two new (same model) Samsung tablets for our younger kids, and they died a year later within a week of each other. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? New appliances seem to be manufactured with an expiration date these days. Great topic!

I know exactly what you mean - they do not make things the way they used to that's a FACT. It's a 'throw-away' society. Manufacturers have found a way to make more money. Technology that gets 'upgarded' every five minutes is nothing but a money-grab.
BTW: If you pay extra for an extended warranty you're wasting your money!😫

Jo wrote: "It's exactly the same with washing machines and tumble dryers. My parents bought both back when I was still living with them (some time ago) and they still run like a dream now, yet I have gone thr..."

You are so right Jo. 'Competitive' today means 'We cut back on quality and employee benefits to keep the price down for the benefit of the shareholders.'
I used to replace the belt drive on my mom's old dryer. I did this several times over the years. We now have to buy new dryers. There is this small local business that sells old appliances. I may go check it out sometime.
Isn't this 'throw away' mentality a waste of natural resources and pollution?

Mischenko wrote: "Joe, sorry this happened to you. What a bummer. I feel your pain! I usually complain about this on a weekly basis. 😆 We have two super old, upright freezers that run like champs. We even have my ol..."

Thanks for sharing, Mischenko. Our TV is at least 20 years old, and I dread the day I have to buy a flat screen. A relative has gone through about three so far.
When a virus hit the company I worked at it took out our computers worldwide, except for two real old ones that we used to run instruments!
And don't even get me started on today's cars!

Morgan (not accepting new friends request at the m wrote: "I know exactly what you mean - they do not make things the way they used to that's a FACT. It's a 'throw-away' society. Manufacturers have found a way to make more money. Technology that gets 'upga..."
You are right on all accounts. All this pollution is sad, really.

Joe wrote: "Mischenko wrote: "Joe, sorry this happened to you. What a bummer. I feel your pain! I usually complain about this on a weekly basis. 😆 We have two super old, upright freezers that run like champs. ..."

Exactly! Quality is a thing of the past. I meant to say ‘expiration’ date. Enjoy the rest of your week, Joe.

My parents have an old chest freezer that ran well for forty years. It finally gave in so they had to replace it and are crossing fingers that the new one will last about ten years.

Zain wrote: "My parents have an old chest freezer that ran well for forty years. It finally gave in so they had to replace it and are crossing fingers that the new one will last about ten years."

I am sorry I laughed at your statement, but it is so true! And what happens to all this garbage they build today? It goes in a land fill!

Unfortunately, that’s what happened.

I remember my grandmother bought one of the first microwaves. It had dials and looked like a cabinet television. There was no clock, or any electronic gadgets attached. Lasted 25 years.

These days you get a whole bunch of electronics you don't use, and device that lasts 5 years if you're lucky.

I know which one I'd rather have.

Still have our 1983 Sears Kenmore microwave. Use it every day.

Glen wrote: "I remember my grandmother bought one of the first microwaves. It had dials and looked like a cabinet television. There was no clock, or any electronic gadgets attached. Lasted 25 years.

These days..."

You cracked me up Glen, and hit the nail on the head. "a whole bunch of electronics you don't use." In the lab we had these old magnetic stir plates and pH meters. They were old and had knobs the size of walnuts, but worked great! They had money to spend so they said they were unsafe for some imaginary reason and the new ones we got were expensive pieces of crap!

Jay wrote: "Still have our 1983 Sears Kenmore microwave. Use it every day."

You should put it on ebay!

Joe wrote: "Jay wrote: "Still have our 1983 Sears Kenmore microwave. Use it every day."

You should put it on ebay!"

My wife would just like to get rid of it period. I on the other hand, keep things till they are of no use. It works like new.

I'd keep it.

Glen wrote: "I'd keep it."

u bet

I too keep things till they are no longer of any use. We would still have our land line if I had my way. We have a dial phone close to 70 years old that the grandkids played with. It would still work if we hooked it up. How long does an iphone last?

did you ever check to see if your dead applicance got some reliability ratings in Consumer Reports?

That used to be a fascinating magazine, though i never totally trusted all the film and appliance reviews

they would always list the great stuff and the crappy stuff, and everything that always won was the cheap and blurry, excellent value product.

Super reliable, Super expensive?
never a winner ever
but at least you got to know some weird things 'existed'

like wow the Japanese or Germans build one too?

heck my philosophy of life is to drive the Buick Riviera with the IBM Selectric in the trunk down to the used book store

one thing everyone needs to peek at, are these specialty places that restore and fix up ancient applicances, fridges, stoves, washing machines from the 60s and 70s

Liquidlasagna wrote: "one thing everyone needs to peek at, are these specialty places that restore and fix up ancient applicances, fridges, stoves, washing machines from the 60s and 70s"

You are right! I think there is one over in the next town. I remember my Dad buying those vacuum tubes, or whatever they are, to fix our old black & white TV. I know of a relative who has gone through about 3 flatscreens in the last couple of years.

I suspect to restore &/or fix up older appliances could cost more than buying a new one. And finding parts could be a problem.

I don't know, Morgan. I will have to check it out. But chances are that restored one will outlast a brand new one. We replaced our freezer and the delivery guy said they now only last about 5 years at the most.

Joe wrote: "I don't know, Morgan. I will have to check it out. But chances are that restored one will outlast a brand new one. We replaced our freezer and the delivery guy said they now only last about 5 years..."

The delivery guy was 100% correct. I've been told the same thing. I had to replace my washing machine only because the parts needed were no longer available.😣

Joe what you need to see are the people that restore the old color 1953 RCA Television Sets

where they chop off the electron guns and restore everything, and cement it back together, and i think like 30 sets are still running

in the old days the best ones were Sony and Curtis Mathes
and Nixon Era Panasonics as well

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earlytelevision
.org/crt_rebuilding_at_museum.html

The last remaining picture tube rebuilder in the United States, Hawkeye, closed its doors in 2010. RACS, the last rebuilder in Europe, ceased operation in 2013.

Now that they are gone, there is no place to get tubes for vintage TV sets rebuilt. More importantly, the techniques for rebuilding these tubes will be lost forever.

undertaken a project to attempt to rebuild tubes for collectors. Our hope is to eventually be able to rebuild black and white, color, and prewar tubes for collectors at reasonable prices.

There is another alternative for rebuilding, though. Nick Williams, who lives in Maryland, has purchased all the equipment needed to rebuild tubes. His plan is to start doing this after he retires from the Navy in 2020.

"Another issue has been the availability of replacement parts for tubes; complete electron gun assemblies or cathodes to rebuild old ones, and piece parts such as getters and glass stems to mount the gun on for installation in a tube."

"Fortunately a supplier has been located in Russia, and they are very willing to work with us in the states to get old tubes going again. I remain in contact with them, hoping to come to a suitable business arrangement."

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Youtube

1952 RCA Model 17T151 17" TV Repair and Restoration (Part 1 of 27)

[yes a 27 part series]

tube
/watch?v=TsIIyRFLJgw

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Youtube

2020 Ball Drop on the 1954 RCA CT-100 Color TV (Finished!)

/watch?v=94pTxgfSrKw

You can buy the first RCA color set from 1954
$4500

15-inch screen
$1000 new in 1954
in today's money $7,850

curtis-mathes
.com/curtis-mathes-history

discover.hubpages
.com/technology/Curtis-Mathes-Color-Televisions-and-Stereo-COnsoles

In 1957, Curtis Mathes & Associates purchased a major interest in the Olive-Myers-Spalti Manufacturing Co. The new firm, called Curtis Mathes Manufacturing Company, combined its decades of furniture building and electronics experience, first to enter the hi-fi business and, in 1959, the television industry.

.....

In 1967 Curtis Mathes build most of its own components, cabinets, speakers, transformers, coils, chassis, flybacks, circuit boards, vacuum tubes, and the the CM Module, a total color Television.