# What is the oldest electrical product still being manufactured? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2012, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254 "2012-11-27T09:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/61 "2012-11-29T06:07:03Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Can’t resist adding an anecdote about this, even though it’s a bit off-topic in this thread: > I worked in IT in the 1980’s. One of the computer technicians told of an experiment he had done, just for grins: Connected up several PC-size computers into a local network via chains of paper clips. > > Yeah, It’s actually _amazing_ what you can make work. RS-232, common ground, keep it under 2400 baud, and I can see that working just fine. Your geek gets a 🆒 from me for that one… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/62 "2012-11-29T06:53:28Z")
10 Mb/s Ethernet would go down wet string, I have done some appalling things involving leads with alligator clips and 10Base5. It would not surprise me that a line of paper-clips would work. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/63 "2012-11-29T07:13:50Z")
Have you _actually tried_ the wet string? ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/64 "2012-11-29T07:57:48Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Have you _actually tried_ the wet string? 😃 No sadly. I doubt it really would work, too high a resistance. Maybe salty wet string… It would be a fun experiment, I doubt I have anything left that would boot that supports 10Base5. I had a couple of 5-2 adaptors, but I scavenged them for the boxes and power supplies. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/65 "2012-11-29T23:45:05Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Have you _actually tried_ the wet string? My users let it dry out. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Terry\_Kennedy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Terry\_Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/66 "2012-11-30T01:40:03Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Electric motors were invented in the 1880’s and the original design hasn’t changed very much. Up until just a few years ago, many subway (technically, “electric railway”) cars used motors and control system designs that date back to the introduction of subway cars. The materials might be different (modern plastics vs. Bakelite, aluminum wiring instead of copper, etc.) but the principles were exactly the same. In fact, if you could travel back in time and collect a train operator / engineer, they would be right at home with nearly present-day equipment. And their tools (brake “handle”, various keys) would likely still work as well. This is an example of the “installed base problem” - there’s so much equipment out there using the older types that changing over would be prohibitively expensive. There have been recent changes to improve efficiency, like AC motors instead of DC, regenerative braking, etc. but the power supplied to the cars is still 600-750 Volts DC and each car converts it to AC. The non-moving parts of transit systems tend to get upgraded technology, since it is possible to change a small part of the system at a time. So things like signals are being upgraded from 25Hz AC to modern power, with fiber optic communication links instead of bulky cables, and LEDs instead of incandescent lamps with obsolete base types. ---
**Author:** ![UncleFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254/67 "2012-12-01T00:59:10Z")
> [@Indian](#): > > Electrical batteries? Lead Acid Battery - 1859 Edison Lamp - 1878 (Others claim earlier invention, but his basic design is the one still around) The Dry Cell (Common Zinc-Carbon) Battery was 1886 Excellent Book - “The Battery” by Henry Schlesinger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-electrical-product-still-being-manufactured/642254.md?page=3)