# "They don't make 'em like they used to" what \*older\* items do you prefer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878 "2010-02-13T17:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/41 "2010-02-14T07:40:05Z")
Something as mundane as staplers. I’ve a who-knows-how-old ‘Rapid 8 Deluxe’ stapler, an all-metal machine that’s just as indestructible, solid and accurate (huh?) as it looks like. Loading the thing feels like arming a high-end pocket gun. Can’t stand the flimsy, plastic-y current stapler models at all. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/42 "2010-02-14T08:37:48Z")
To add: Having cars made out of metal again would be AWESOME. I hate cars that weigh less than I do. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/43 "2010-02-14T13:09:12Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Not to mention how they’ve been shrinking. I can barely get the ends to meet anymore. Oh yeah. I have belts from years ago that just kept shrinking little by little. Now I’ve run out of holes. This never used to happen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/44 "2010-02-14T13:41:15Z")
Old hand cranked pencil sharpeners. Those things were built like tanks and the good ones would probably last thousands of years. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/45 "2010-02-14T14:54:42Z")
Women ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/46 "2010-02-14T15:24:03Z")
Landline phones, specifically the receiver cradles. Phones used to be solid, clunky, virtually unkillable devices, and you just needed to drop the receiver in about the right place for it to be received into a generously sized receptacle and the circuit being reliably disconnected. Nowadays the mating of receiver to telephone body seems to be something of an afterthought in designing a landline phone, so you have to take care and have good fine motor skills to really hang up the phone as opposed to slightly misplacing the receiver so the line remains occupied. My mother, in the last years of her life, often inadvertently left the phone off the hook. Curiously enough, even some phones for seniors (the ones with big buttons) have receivers/receptacles that need to be aligned just so in order to really hang up. ---
**Author:** ![NoOrdinaryRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eada6e/32.png) [@NoOrdinaryRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoOrdinaryRabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/47 "2010-02-14T15:43:14Z")
Sewing machines, at least the home-user ones. My ancient Singer could handle heavy-duty work without breaking a sweat. The three new machines I’ve bought since are made of evil plastic parts that break under any sort of tension whatsoever(and still cost $50 to fix every time). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/48 "2010-02-14T15:45:41Z")
Guitars - acoustic and electric - and amps. There’s a whole lotta caveats there - we are in a New Golden Age, where some makers are producing examples that are excellent, but there is no substitute for the equally-well-built original from decades ago that has also been played-in. I pull acoustic guitars off the rack all the time to check out, but was recently was at a small shop randomly trying Martins. I pulled one kinda-beat-up-but-not-abnormally-so guitar off the rack, hit a chord and just stopped. What the _hell_ was that? The tone was “the Earth moved and Jesus wept” and the responsiveness of the guitar had at least 2 or 3 extra gears I have _never_ experienced in a guitar, and I have played ones priced at thousands and thousands of dollars. I asked the shop owner what I was playing and he just smiled and said “pre-War Martin - 1940.” I was humbled. They have a magic rep, but I had never experienced one. It was instant and obvious. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/49 "2010-02-14T16:08:25Z")
Yeah, phones. My mom is elderly and needs a regular cordless phone, attached to an answering machine. She goes through two a year, they just don’t work very well. There are lots of other things too long to list, but I find it’s true, you get what you pay for. Older items are so often more well made. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/50 "2010-02-14T16:11:29Z")
I test-drove a 2005 (? I think) Honda Accord once, and it was obviously a cheaply made, tin can piece of crap compared to our 1988 Honda Accord. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/51 "2010-02-14T16:20:08Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > To be fair, they still make and sell plenty of cast-iron cookware. When I posted, I misread the asterisks around ‘older’ as double-quotes; so I thought that the OP didn’t necessarily mean things that aren’t made anymore, but just older technology. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/52 "2010-02-14T16:29:54Z")
Strongly disagree with the new car hate. It’s survivor bias at work. Much love for the IBM Model M keyboard (I’ve got a cache that should last the rest of my life, and beyond, as well as an unusual AT&T buckling spring keyboard), and Western Electric telephones (I’m not a collector, but I’ve got a bunch that can be passed on to my great grandchildren and beyond). Older computer printers (the early HP Laserjets) were built like tanks, quite reliable, and designed to last for years. Replacement toner is also inexpensive. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/53 "2010-02-14T18:22:42Z")
Scottish-made Harris tweed jackets-I have a few from the 1970’s-and they will last forever. Older Craftsman tools-the new ones are crap (made in China). Also-American-made furniture-I still have a dining set made ca. 1930-it is better than anything made today (solid mahogany)-the new stuff is crap veneer. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/54 "2010-02-14T18:38:57Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > ::: snip :::: > > Plus, in the vein of this thread, the .45LC is at least a 140 year old cartridge, heck, it originally was a _black powder_ cartridge when it was introduced, and it’s still a useful cartridge today Tangent: I shoot 45 LC in my Thompson Contender and .410 of course. How hot can I go in that weapon? I love that thing, knock a truck over with it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/55 "2010-02-14T20:57:02Z")
> [@Booker57](#): > > Vise grip plyers. From Peterson Mfg. The new ones are made in China. 'Nuff said. > [@Serenata67](#): > > I love older furniture. Like you said, not necessarily antiques, but sold old furniture. My parents have a beautiful dining table that was handed down from my mom’s parents. It was build around 1940, when my grandparents got married and it’s still beautiful and solid as ever. I’d love to get that when my parents go. It would be great. > [@Toxylon](#): > > Something as mundane as staplers. I’ve a who-knows-how-old ‘Rapid 8 Deluxe’ stapler, an all-metal machine that’s just as indestructible, solid and accurate (huh?) as it looks like. Loading the thing feels like arming a high-end pocket gun. Can’t stand the flimsy, plastic-y current stapler models at all. > [@billfish678](#): > > Old hand cranked pencil sharpeners. > > Those things were built like tanks and the good ones would probably last thousands of years. Agreed to all of these. This is the kind of stuff I look for at garage sales - old tools and old kitchen equipment (I rarely see old pencil sharpeners, but I’d pick one up if I did). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/56 "2010-02-14T21:17:02Z")
> [@NoOrdinaryRabbit](#): > > Sewing machines, at least the home-user ones. My ancient Singer could handle heavy-duty work without breaking a sweat. The three new machines I’ve bought since are made of evil plastic parts that break under any sort of tension whatsoever(and still cost $50 to fix every time). Yeah, newer machines have way too many components that are made of plastic. While these are cheaper to make, and the machines are much lighter in weight, I think that the increased fragility far outweighs the savings in money and weight. By the time one has had the cheaper machine repaired and repaired and repaired, it would have been cheaper to just buy a machine that’s well made from mostly metal components. And the more expensive machine will generally be easier to operate and clean and fix at home, too. I was talking to my husband about tools and what he wanted for his birthday, and he DOES NOT want Craftsman any more, unless I find some older tools at a garage sale or something. I’ve used screwdrivers made of cheap, soft metal, so I know what he’s talking about. It’s very aggravating to attempt to replace the screw in your eyeglasses when the damn screwdriver blade keeps distorting! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/57 "2010-02-14T22:25:35Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Strongly disagree with the new car hate. It’s survivor bias at work. No question that any new car is VASTLY safer than any older car. Cleaner, and likely more durable/reliable, requires less on-going maintenance, and probably more comfortable as well. But it regularly surprises me at the satisfaction I regularly get from performing any needed maintenance on my old car. And if something goes wrong, there is at least a chance I can diagnose and fix it, instead of having to hook it up to a computer. Damned better looking too (tho I can imagine some folk claiming that is a matter of opinion!) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/58 "2010-02-14T22:34:30Z")
Kitchen appliances. Washers & dryers. Cars. Lawnmowers. Clocks. Electric mixers (not KitchenAid) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/59 "2010-02-15T03:33:12Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Older Craftsman tools-the new ones are crap (made in China). > > Also-American-made furniture-I still have a dining set made ca. 1930-it is better than anything made today (solid mahogany)-the new stuff is crap veneer. 1. I can’t think of any Craftsman hand tools that are made in China. Sears has a couple of low-end house brands of Chinese-made tools (Companion and Evolv), but they’re aimed at female buyers. Companion and Evolv tools are NOT Craftsman tools. Almost all the Craftsman hand tools are made in the US, I believe. I’ve seen Canadian-made Craftsman tools at Sears stores across the border. One of my best friends works in the trades. His only problem with Craftsman is that markings are now laser-etched, making them more difficult to see. He uses mostly Snap-On and Mac, but says Craftsman isn’t terrible; their market has always been the prosumer. 1. Again, survivor bias at work. Not every dining room set from the 1930s made it to the present; a lot was crap. Not everything in the 1930s was made of mahogany. I have an art deco bedside table made by a local manufacturer in the 1930s; it has a veneer top. Also, only the cheapest dining room sets available today have veneer surfaces. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878/60 "2010-02-15T04:10:38Z")
Corningware. The old stuff you could put on the stovetop, oven, and microwave. The new stuff can’t be used stovetop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-dont-make-em-like-they-used-to-what-older-items-do-you-prefer/528878.md?page=4)