Old Bicycles have spoiled me with Craftsmanship unheard of today!

[bricycle]

This is true with all items. I will never forget the day I purchased my first house over 20 years ago, as a house warming present my dad gave me his old lawnmower, and purchased a new one for himself. (The one he gave me lasted longer than his next two).

When I moved into my second 1940's era house it came equiped with two garage door openers. Shortly after moving in one went out and I replaced it with a new one. The new one has already broke and has been replaced, the other original one that came with the house is still working. When I took the new broken one apart to see what was wrong, I was shocked to see stripped out plastic gears.

Products made today are only designed to outlast there warranty period. Products made back then were made to last longer than you.

I garbage picked parts to make one in the 1970's (3.5 hp briggs)... I kept it into the 1980's and sold her about 1988 for $50.00 (still started first pull) and I bought a brand new (returned, due to too fast for a 70 yr old fella) High end 2 smoke 4 h.p. Lawn Boy (gallon tank, zerk fitting on all 4 wheels, self propelled, brush guard/cow catcher) retail $549.00 I got for $349.00. I used that for 7 years and sat the old girl at the curb, cause I could NOT do maintenance on her (blade WOULD NOT come off to service the exhaust (clean out carbon). I then bought a used circa 1990 Craftsman 6.5 hp. push mower $150.00, which still starts first pull every spring.

 

[ricobike]

I hear ya. Ever done this to a coaster brake driver? I hadn't until a few weeks ago. This was off of a china made coaster brake. They don't make them like they used to.

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

my favorite "they don't make them like they used to" is electric fans for the house. I have two antique fans I have had for 30 years or so, they both work great. I saw one in an old catalog, it was from 1934. the other is probably close in age. one of them stopped working and I took my air hose and blew the dust out of the insides and it hasn't missed a beat since. in recent years I have bought two "Vornado" fans that work great until they don't. these are like 70 bucks! the last couple fans I got were the 15.00 ones at WalMart. they lasted just as long as the expensive ones, but I expected them to not last more than two years.

 

[bricycle]

old fridges last forever...lousy on electricity, but they work!

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

I think bicycles are the exception to this rule. there is not a bike made say pre 1970 that could take the abuse I used to give my 1996 $700.00 mountain bike. I ride like an old man now, it will be were long after I am gone

 

[Boris]

The good news is, that you can still buy a good ol' fashioned made in the USA adjustable-with-a-twist brass hose nozzle. I'd assume these are made a little bit cheaper than they used to be, but at least they ain't plastic!

 

[Barto]

The good news is, that you can still buy a good ol' fashioned made in the USA adjustable-with-a-twist brass hose nozzle. I'd assume these are made a little bit cheaper than they used to be, but at least they ain't plastic!
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Love these and always pick them up at tag sales when I see them

 

[SJ_BIKER]

Precisely why when im at garage sales/estate sales i head straight for the tool area to shop for old quality USA made tool sets and loose ones ....because i know they have made it through some couple generations and they will last a few after me....and on a good day they can be had at great prices.

 

[MarkKBike]

My first foreign car 1979 (Mitsubishi made Colt) tranny lasted until a week after my warranty ran out (but 500 less than my mileage allowance), luckily they covered it.

I also kind of had one of those, but often forget about it. (it was never officially mine, and belonged to my dad).

It was my first car I was allowed to drive, and it did not last very long. A dog ran across the street and i swerved to miss it and ended up totaling the car against a concrete wall on the side of the road. If I was a more experienced driver, the accident probably could have been avoided. The cops did not believe me, but luckily another driver stopped behind me and verified the story.

In a weird twist of fate, that driver ended up being my first college roommate despite living a few towns over.

After that accident, I had to wait another year or so, and eventually picked up a dart swinger. This started a life long passion with cars from that era. I have always had a vintage car since that first one.

In another weird twist of fate, my second college roommate now lives three blocks from a cabin my family purchased about a hour south of where I grew up about 20 years later. It's sometimes weird how small this world could be. The neighbor to that cabin, is also related to my moms brothers first wife.

 

[ricobike]

old fridges last forever...lousy on electricity, but they work!

You ain't lyin. I have a freezer that's over 60 years old and still works perfectly. It really sucks up the watts though. I know this because when I have a power outage, it can be the only thing attached to my 2300 watt generator when it's running or the generator will die .