# Tools that are no longer made ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795 "2011-02-01T17:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/61 "2011-02-02T17:10:11Z")
We have a couple [curve tracers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_curve_tracer) in our lab. One is a Tektronix 371A. The other is a Tektronix 576. (Though the 576 is an older unit, I prefer it over the 371A.) Well guess what? Regular 'ol curve tracers are no longer made. If you want to perform IV characterization on components, you have to get something called a “Semiconductor Parameter/Device Analyzer.” Which (I think) performs the traditional function of curve tracing, plus a bunch of other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/62 "2011-02-02T17:14:27Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > …And the [baby cage.](http://www.google.com/patents?id=tdhTAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false) :eek: A cage for suspending children outside of a highrise window… what could possibly go wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/63 "2011-02-02T17:41:57Z")
Well, provided that it is installed by someone who isn’t a complete idiot, not much. It isn’t like we have Hulk babies going around prying steel bars apart. I suppose they could get pooped on by birds… ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/64 "2011-02-02T18:36:35Z")
OK, how about the [old bumper jacks](http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://images.canadianlisted.com/nlarge/bumper-jack_4840981.jpg&imgrefurl=http://winnipeg.canadianlisted.com/car-parts/bumper-jack_462365.html&usg=__A8VYV9iT0cRfVOiRpOngcmWpWF4=&h=500&w=666&sz=159&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=DLupIboVfCxioM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=179&ei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbumper%2Bjack%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1148%26bih%3D684%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=75&dur=5094&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=158&ty=119&oei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0)? The can’t make these suicide machines anymore, can they? I can’t count how many times I had one tilt, move or fall. I remember reading stories of people being killed or maimed often. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/65 "2011-02-02T18:55:27Z")
Ah, bumper jacks- the last physical science text we had had an illustration of one in it. The students (9th grade) had no clue of what it was. When I used a scissors jack to show one way screws can be used, half of them had never seen that kind. I can understand the kids not knowing what a bumper jack is- they are about extinct. I credit the unfamiliarity to scissors jacks to much better tires than when I was in the 9th grade. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/66 "2011-02-02T19:06:36Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You know, upon reading the NPR article again, I realized that it is talking about TECHNOLOGY that has gone away, not tools. > > So, I would suggest the hydrogen airship. And the [baby cage.](http://www.google.com/patents?id=tdhTAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false) That is freakin awesome! Thanks for the laugh of the day! **Ravenman +1** ---
**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 2, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/67 "2011-02-02T19:46:25Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > OK, how about the [old bumper jacks](http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://images.canadianlisted.com/nlarge/bumper-jack_4840981.jpg&imgrefurl=http://winnipeg.canadianlisted.com/car-parts/bumper-jack_462365.html&usg=__A8VYV9iT0cRfVOiRpOngcmWpWF4=&h=500&w=666&sz=159&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=DLupIboVfCxioM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=179&ei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbumper%2Bjack%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1148%26bih%3D684%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=75&dur=5094&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=158&ty=119&oei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0)? > The can’t make these suicide machines anymore, can they? I’m going to bet that they’re still common in India. India just seems like the kind of place where old and/or dangerous technology goes to die. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/68 "2011-02-02T20:04:02Z")
Given the cars they’re still driving in Cuba, I’m guessing bumper jacks are still in use there. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/69 "2011-02-02T20:46:08Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > OK, how about the [old bumper jacks](http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://images.canadianlisted.com/nlarge/bumper-jack_4840981.jpg&imgrefurl=http://winnipeg.canadianlisted.com/car-parts/bumper-jack_462365.html&usg=__A8VYV9iT0cRfVOiRpOngcmWpWF4=&h=500&w=666&sz=159&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=DLupIboVfCxioM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=179&ei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbumper%2Bjack%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1148%26bih%3D684%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=75&dur=5094&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=158&ty=119&oei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0)? > The can’t make these suicide machines anymore, can they? I can’t count how many times I had one tilt, move or fall. I remember reading stories of people being killed or maimed often. The hi-lift jack is essentially the same thing and remains a staple of rural life (I bought a new one for my truck a couple years back). If you’ve got a high-riding truck, they work far better than the chinsy bottle jacks that come with most trucks, especially if you’re on rough terrain. See here: [Hi-Lift Jacks - Hi-Lift Jack Co.](http://www.hi-lift.com/hi-lift-jacks/index.html) If you used them right, bumper jacks were just fine for cars too-- I suspect the reason why they’re gone is just that cars don’t have suitable bumpers any more. ---
**Author:** ![Jaguars](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaguars/32/5879_2.png) [@Jaguars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaguars)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/70 "2011-02-02T21:16:07Z")
Only a few that I can think of: [The Heliograph](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliograph) which was a signalling device using an aimed mirror to send morse code messages. and the steering oar (I don’t count canoe paddles cause they are mainly for propulsion) The in-car record player? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/71 "2011-02-02T21:31:10Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > B batteries were high voltage to be the plate supply for electron tubes. here’s one: [http://i.abimg.net/images/answers/314029/965752/467pxB\_battery\_Eveready\_762S.jpg?1296606488a](http://i.abimg.net/images/answers/314029/965752/467pxB_battery_Eveready_762S.jpg?1296606488a) ---
**Author:** ![Deereman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Deereman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deereman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/72 "2011-02-03T10:20:50Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > OK, how about the [old bumper jacks](http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://images.canadianlisted.com/nlarge/bumper-jack_4840981.jpg&imgrefurl=http://winnipeg.canadianlisted.com/car-parts/bumper-jack_462365.html&usg=__A8VYV9iT0cRfVOiRpOngcmWpWF4=&h=500&w=666&sz=159&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=DLupIboVfCxioM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=179&ei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbumper%2Bjack%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1148%26bih%3D684%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=75&dur=5094&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=158&ty=119&oei=MaNJTaOsNsH_lgfnqt31Dw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0)? > The can’t make these suicide machines anymore, can they? I can’t count how many times I had one tilt, move or fall. I remember reading stories of people being killed or maimed often. Heh, no these are definitely still around! My dad bought a new one a year or two ago. It was crappy, but it was new. Usually called a “farm jack”. Useful for lots of things, even though they ARE dangerous, like you said. In fact, here’s one listed at TSC for $50 [http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailer-jacks/farm-jack-48-in--0115902](http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailer-jacks/farm-jack-48-in--0115902) ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/73 "2011-02-03T11:07:43Z")
What about [pill rollers](http://www.google.com.au/images?q=pill+roller&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=notKTZ25C5GavgPxiMnXDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=8&ved=0CFgQsAQwBw&biw=1280&bih=685)? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/74 "2011-02-03T15:02:36Z")
> [@Deereman](#): > > Heh, no these are definitely still around! My dad bought a new one a year or two ago. It was crappy, but it was new. > > Usually called a “farm jack”. Useful for lots of things, even though they ARE dangerous, like you said. > > In fact, here’s one listed at TSC for $50 > [http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailer-jacks/farm-jack-48-in--0115902](http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailer-jacks/farm-jack-48-in--0115902) Yes, they were handy for some jobs, especially pulling fence posts out. You could jack up your car and change a flat, etc. way faster than with these crappy scissor jacks, but I wouldn’t trust them with my life. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/75 "2011-02-19T05:00:00Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > You need to imagine a little harder! In India, for example, there are still large numbers of shade-tree _dhobiwalas_ or laundry workers who clean clothes in the river and iron them outdoors, where there’s no access to electricity. > > I’ve seen some _dhobis_ using the externally heated flatirons, but most seem to use the slightly fancier self-heating charcoal irons where there’s a reservoir of burning charcoal in the iron itself. You can order them [online](http://basantappliances.com/laundry_special_iron.html), even. Ah, the joys of using two-decades-old technology to purchase millennium-old technology! Thank you, thank you, thank you! My ignorance is royally conquered. And the exquisite, delicious irony of seeing them sold on the internet is worth the price of being wrong. Oh and **Jaguar!** - you mentioned steering oars. Sorry, still used, even if you exclude gondalas in Venice because of the propulsion component. Surf lifesaving boats still use them - they are called “[sweep oars](http://www.sls.com.au/members/surf-sports/disciplines/surf-boats)” in the jargon. ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/76 "2011-02-19T05:22:12Z")
I have something called a dynamite bit. It is for drilling a hole into a tree stump the diameter of a stick of dynamite. (manually) You drill the hole, put in however many sticks of dynamite you think you need to blow the tree stump out of the ground, and ahem, boom! Well anyhow, I have never used it, although my dad did. (It is quite a bit of work to drill a hole that size into a tree stump) These days, trees are sawn down, and if the stump needs to come out, they use a grinder to take it down below grade, or use a track hoe or bulldozer to dig it out. (BTW, you have to use special dynamite. You want a relatively slower bang to heave the stump out of the ground, rather than a quick one, which will just blow out dirt and a few chunks) Does anyone still dynamite tree stumps these days? Probably not a PC way of getting rid of an inconvenient tree. I can’t imagine dynamite bits are still made these days . . . ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/77 "2011-02-19T05:35:01Z")
Left handed monkey wrench ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/78 "2011-02-19T05:50:37Z")
This super cool 4 in one mechanized pencil/pen I had when I was 16 ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/79 "2011-02-19T06:07:50Z")
> [@Heyoka13](#): > > I have something called a dynamite bit. > > It is for drilling a hole into a tree stump the diameter of a stick of dynamite. (manually) > > You drill the hole, put in however many sticks of dynamite you think you need to blow the tree stump out of the ground, and ahem, boom! > Well anyhow, I have never used it, although my dad did. (It is quite a bit of work to drill a hole that size into a tree stump) These days, trees are sawn down, and if the stump needs to come out, they use a grinder to take it down below grade, or use a track hoe or bulldozer to dig it out. > > (BTW, you have to use special dynamite. You want a relatively slower bang to heave the stump out of the ground, rather than a quick one, which will just blow out dirt and a few chunks) > > Does anyone still dynamite tree stumps these days? Probably not a PC way of getting rid of an inconvenient tree. I can’t imagine dynamite bits are still made these days . . . Dynamite is hard to come by these days. ---
**Author:** ![Wogglebug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@Wogglebug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wogglebug)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795/80 "2011-02-19T14:30:39Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#): > > According to the Wikipedia, this isn’t true ([Saturn V - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V)): > > A popular urban myth has the blueprints for the Saturn V either lost or purposely destroyed. The blueprints and other plans still exist on microfilm at the Marshall Space Flight Center. When I was at NASA, I had occasion to look for documentation supporting a theory that I had heard that Nixon and Agnew – who cordially disliked the space program – intentionally misled NASA into believing they would have new funds for a new spacecraft (the Shuttle), if only they completely closed down the Saturn V production process. Unfortunately, NASA tends to be somewhat heedless about keeping a historical record of decision-making. “Somewhat” here meaning that some things are very well documented, while other significant project events are never recorded, not efficiently stored, or trashed. (Understand that I personally have pulled entire boxes of unique project history and project data out of the dumpster. When even a major project closes down, sometimes no one cares about finding the shelf space.) Add to this a strange (to my mind) indifference current projects sometimes have to previous work. I was once faced with developing a project where even the goals were extremely amorphous. It was, however, urgent, because the larger project had already been funded. Desperate, I turned to records of similar Soviet projects, and to earlier NASA projects of a somewhat similar nature. While my ideas were often well-recieved, managers and engineers were so uninterested in how _other_ people had solved the problems, no one even bothered to criticize. It’s the not-invented-here syndrome, but with a twist. Even though I was friends with the head librarian at the center, I was unable to find anything significant relating to the closure of the Saturn program. Any real explanation at all. I don’t think there’s any question that once the political winds turned against the Saturn V projects, the motivation for keeping the process history and the pragmatics of manufacture were neglected, or sometimes quite intentionally (though perhaps not maliciously) destroyed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-that-are-no-longer-made/569795.md?page=5)