to last i think my 3 antique telephones (i am a collector but kids take up my$$$ now) and my army field phone my bible and my thesaurus and other bibles over 100 years old already. An antique dresser that needs to be restored but i think that will last. Along with my antique baby shoes that are nearly and over 100 years ago before kids cost me $$$, i was able to buy these small delights that i treasure greatly. Also some jewellery should last.
I'm like Nicambhar, I don't really expect electrical stuff to last, I don't think they make it like they used to. I think it's strategy, they manufacture things that will need replacing - and how many times have we looked into having something repaired only to be told it's cheaper to replace it? That makes me mad, I think it is very deliberate and there is very little thought involved apart from that of the dollar.
My iron trunk & old wooden furniture. Not the new cheap furniture we have, only the nice old stuff (see above, lol).
I don't expect whitegoods to last forever these days - there is too much technology (who on earth needs a 'smart' washing machine?) and therefore more areas for failure. Although the first washing machine that I brought was a 4.5kg Simpson back in 1997 and I only replaced it last year because we'd outgrown it - washing clothes for 6 people in a machine that small was just madness. but it is still going strong and still washing clothes just as well as it ever did. MIL has it atm as her machine is broken down. But the original one I replaced it with was stuffed in the first 6wks and just stopped working so it was replaced and that ones been fine but I know I wont get as long out of it as my first one. The fridge we've had for 10 years and I think we will get a while longer out of it provided the shelves stay together LOL. And the other stuff I expect to last is all the crap we got for our wedding that rarely sees the light of day and the Willow Dinner set that I inherrited from my Nan a few years ago. MIL has a Kenwood mixer that I covet and I hope she leaves to us in her will ROFL. Plus my other Nan has loads of antique cabinets that I also love. Oh and I have a lot of 'retro' tupperware too.
One thing to remember too is back in the day of our grandparents people got things fixed when they did break down - you could even get your toaster and other small appliances fixed so nothing truly lasted forever, it was just that it was able to be repaired until it wasn't able to be repaired anymore and these days if you took a toaster to someone to get fixed they would phone the looney bin to come and get you. Plus it doesn't help that some products these days are made almost entirely of plastic components that just aren't designed to last as long. Toys are a great example of that - my DH has a load of tonka toys that he had as a child and everything bar the wheels was metal - these days you'd be lucky to buy a tonka truck with more than 30% metal in it and the one time we did track down someone that sold the original tonka toys they were so expensive we couldn't justify buying them. It also doesn't help that we are a consumer society now and we replace things well before they wear out or break down just because the 'new model' has been released - TV's for example - how many people really needed a new TV in the last 5 years?
Trill, we *really* needed a new tv - prior to that we had an assortment of handmedown portable models that were a) literally used until they no longer worked (minus buttons & with coathanger aerials etc) and b) not compatible with connections for DVD players etc. But we've been married for 17 years and had prior to that *never* been to a shop to buy a big fancy teev LOL. Not planning to replace this one any time soon tho.
I have some good crystal, and some expensive cutlery that I expect to last. I don't have a "good" dinner service but when I do, I will expect that to last. I have some of Nanna's linen and lace, but nothing I have bought has been of sufficient quality to last more than 8 or so years. I expect my wooden furniture to last (and will have it repaired periodically so that it does) since I have bought solid stained wood rather than nasty veneer-stained things. Other than that, the main thing I expect to last is the quilts I have made - used good quality fabric, thread and wadding so that they do.
my mum has some stuff that has lasted 22 years and i have some of these items an old bulky tv a jarrah table hahah the old mixer so manny things only cause we kept them so well loved
i prefer to buy second hand as i know its pre loved and not going to die on me lol
Everything i have bought myself has not lasted, BUT i used to have my mums FIRST fridge (it is still working i just dont have it anymore!) and i also have my nans first electric beaters.... YEP i STILL use them
My mum has recently visited and commented on the good condition that our sofa is still in after four years!! she made a comment like well in another two years you can get a new one!!!! my mum can be waistfull and so my uncle, he buys a fresh loaf everyday and only eats one or two slices!!
One thing that has lasted for us is my wedding band, 240years old, it was my great, great grandmothers, on the womens side of the family. so very special to me i am the only one who has worn it since her, and the only one it fits! lol
I expect that my Le Ceuset saucepan set will last forever and be passed down - even if they discover a new energy efficient way of cooking they will still be used as camp ovens for camping trips.
I would like to think that my piano and harp will both oneday be granny's or even great granny's and my books and sheet music and enormous collection of knitting patterns - I just hope that there is someone followign who will love them as much as I do.
And as fro electircal items - it was only recently (within the last couple of years) that my TV and microwave were replaced. They were both 1977 vintage - I can't imagine that anything I have in that line now will alst even close to that long.
OUR iron will last forever - I hadn't used it since last year before I pulled it out to press some hems last weekend!
Le Creusset pot my mum gave me will be here in 2000 years' time, as will my Tupperware classics (probably not the Illusions bowls!).
My wool duffel coat...even if it stops fitting me, that thing will keep going.
My dog's Kong - indestructible and cost about $40...worth every cent!
My Mac 12 inch iBook - 4 years is already forever in computer talk with the same operating system, original guts and all
I bought a Braun hairdryer about 12 years ago and it used to dry my hair straight quite regularly (a tough call in any brand's language)...still going...
I've been shedding our house of stuff that won't last because we had too much hanging around that was no good...and we don't even have a lot of stuff! Vacuum cleaners have had the worst record for us and I was recently recommended to buy a small commercial unit instead. The Asko washing machine I got from my parents (when it was already about 13 years old) will be turfed soon because as much as it COULD last forever, the cost of repairing what was wrong with it isn't feasible for us to consider on our income, so we got a recon one that can last ages cos parts and labour are far cheaper (it's a Fisher and Paykel, so it's also 'supposed' to last forever!).
Our original Phil and Ted's buggy - made to last for sure.
My dressage and jumping saddles and my bridle (though not really household, huh?)
Latex futon mattress with wool layers - I don't think the business we got it from exists anymore (anyone seen Red Futons relocated from Elwood? Would be most grateful for a lead! He also made beautiful Japanese inspired furniture and I wanted him to make a sofa bed for us!).
As for stuff we haven't bought in the last 10 or so years, all our antique furniture (which is most of what we have), and DP is restoring a set of 8 dining chairs and the table he inherited (at least 90 years old), that we use on a daily basis (bookcase, hallstand, sideboard, wardrobes, chairs, chests of drawers. They don't make furniture like they used to...you're not even supposed to be able to repair modern furniture! Silverware, jewellery (I have inherited stuff and I've only ever bought myself two silver rings - tough as guts they are! - and I don't include 'costume jewellery' as jewellery), barometer, violin, binoculars (two inherited sets) and a set of cowboy spurs my uncle gave me from Honduras (they are on display, but are perfectly functional for riding).
Last edited by Smoke Jaguar; September 25th, 2009 at 11:37 AM.
I'm another whom doesn't expect any whitegoods to last Our $1800 fridge had a 'plastic' small part snap off after only 1year of purchasing (out of warranty date)
And from my experience (to give you an idea i left home 25years ago) 'just to name a few items ' .... that my washing machine's have last 6-8years, dryers 6-8years, stereo's 7-10yeas, lounge-suite's 12-14years, bed mattress's 10-12years, clothes horse 12-14 years, irons 6-10years, kitchen-dining setting's 12-14years, ... and MY ironing-board AND kitchen-mixer have both lasted me a whopping 25years YAYYYYY (and any Bessemer cookware or Tupperware have lasted me almost 25years )
*** China & Crystal i EXPECT to last a lifetime (i have some that were my Nan's and Great-Aunts)
I do have knitted clothing items made by my Nan & Mum for me as a baby & toddler that my DD got to wear in like new condition 40 years later (I had DD at 40) ... These i treasure & have kept aside for my DD when she is an adult to keep herself (I should put the pics i have of DD wearing them in my gallery here if i ever get around to it )
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Our $1800 fridge had a 'plastic' small part snap off after only 1year of purchasing (out of warranty date)
(and any Bessemer cookware or Tupperware have lasted me almost 25years
)
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