# What "obsolete" services and/or products are still available today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307 "2014-09-03T00:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/181 "2014-09-09T21:28:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There are plenty of seamstresses in the US, though it’s mostly a word-of-mouth cottage industry, and seldom a primary job. Most of their work consists of alterations, not making new garments. > > Unless you meant like the Guild of Seamstresses, in which case, we have those, too. My wife just had her wedding dress made from scratch by a seamstress, last year. They’re definitely out there. I would dispute the inclusion of pinball machines on this list. Video games hasn’t rendered them obsolete; they’re just an alternate form of entertainment that easily coexists; like TV didn’t render movies obsolete. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/182 "2014-09-09T22:56:30Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I would dispute the inclusion of pinball machines on this list. Video games hasn’t rendered them obsolete; they’re just an alternate form of entertainment that easily coexists; like TV didn’t render movies obsolete. If TV had reduced the number of major movie studios from dozens to one, I might see the comparison. Most of the pinball machines being played today were produced 20 years ago, or more. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/183 "2014-09-09T23:00:59Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > My wife just had her wedding dress made from scratch by a seamstress, last year. They’re definitely out there. There are a bunch of them around here although they tend to be older and/or foreign. Massachusetts used to have a thriving textile industry up until the fairly recent past that employed lots of professional seamstresses. Most of those jobs have moved on but many of the women that did them are still around and will pick up jobs like making custom wedding dresses or other special items if you pay them enough. There are also a few tailors around that can make custom men’s suits from scratch. They are a little expensive but not prohibitively so and the quality and fitting cannot be beat. The main drawback is that you have to go in for multiple fittings as your suit is being made and most men don’t want to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/184 "2014-09-09T23:02:37Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > My brain is having a hard time computing the idea of purchasing $2000 dress shoes and being “wise with your money.” A high-end $2k pair of dress shoes can last 20 or more years if properly maintained and cared for. So… over the 20 year life of the shoes it works out to being equivalent to spending $100 per year on the purchase of shoes. People for whom dress appearance is an important part of their job - lawyers, CEO’s, politicians - might view such footwear as an investment and part of their work “uniform”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/185 "2014-09-09T23:15:19Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > A high-end $2k pair of dress shoes can last 20 or more years if properly maintained and cared for. So… over the 20 year life of the shoes it works out to being equivalent to spending $100 per year on the purchase of shoes. > > People for whom dress appearance is an important part of their job - lawyers, CEO’s, politicians - might view such footwear as an investment and part of their work “uniform”. You dont need to spend that much. Aldens, mephisto, etc, run $300 or so, and last for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/186 "2014-09-09T23:43:40Z")
The large electricity generator plants still uses steam power. They don’t use piston engines, instead they use turbines, but still they boil water and use the result to drive the generator. Many people would say steam power is obsolete to most people, and not obsolete in others. (The source of heat ignored in this respect… You can boil water with solar power.) ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/187 "2014-09-10T01:03:50Z")
We’ve had the digital vs. analog watch discussion. How about battery powered vs. mechanical watches and the folks who repair them. I have two vintage Bulova mechanical watches that I like to wear when I dress in business or semi formal wear and have to take them to a town about1 1.5 hours away to have them repaired when needed. Even the local jewellers send vintage timepieces there. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Matt_Mason)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/188 "2014-09-10T01:56:18Z")
> **[Gomaco Trolley Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomaco_Trolley_Company)** > > The Gomaco Trolley Company is a manufacturer of vintage-style streetcars (alternatively called trolleys in the US, or trams in much of the world), located in Ida Grove, Iowa, United States. The company has supplied replica-vintage streetcars to several transit systems in the US, and has also restored and rebuilt authentic vintage streetcars for some systems. > Established in 1982, Gomaco Trolley Company is a division of Gomaco Corporation, a major builder of equipment used in concrete paving. Fo... Still makes honest to goodness trolleycars (as opposed to light rail vehicles)… -MMM- ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/189 "2014-09-10T04:08:05Z")
^I object to the word _still_. Gomaco didn’t start building replica streetcars until they heard about an agency (the National Park Service, as I recall, for Lowell NHS) looking for someone to, essentially, build a theatrical prop. For enough money, I’m sure you could find a company that would build you a clipper ship, too. ---
**Author:** ![nizzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@nizzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nizzle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/190 "2014-09-10T14:51:30Z")
We have these people come around to your house and tell you about Jehova, outdated service if you ask me ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/191 "2014-09-10T16:10:17Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@nizzle](#): > > We have these people come around to your house and tell you about Jehova, outdated service if you ask me Let’s not derail the conversation with remarks like this, please. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/192 "2014-09-10T17:36:46Z")
Only on the dope would you find people that thing the analog clock/watch is obsolete…:facepalm: ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/193 "2014-09-10T18:50:04Z")
Reading this thread amazes me. In the last year I have used the following services mentioned here Shoe Repair…several times Chimney Sweep Barber Blacksmith………………….my cousin’s part time job/hobby Tailor Butcher Shop Shoe Shine man (not sure of the term to use here) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/194 "2014-09-10T19:58:47Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Only on the dope would you find people that thing the analog clock/watch is obsolete…:facepalm: Not even here, at least seriously. You need to know his posting history. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/195 "2014-09-10T20:41:17Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If TV had reduced the number of major movie studios from dozens to one, I might see the comparison. Most of the pinball machines being played today were produced 20 years ago, or more. But that’s because almost every arcade went belly up more than a decade ago. Ergo, there are thousands of lightly used pinball machines out there up for grabs. Why buy new when you don’t have to? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/196 "2014-09-10T20:45:58Z")
Doesn’t that rather suggest that the game arcade is itself an obsolete service? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/197 "2014-09-10T20:49:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Doesn’t that rather suggest that the game arcade is itself an obsolete service? Bingo. Aside from a few holdouts like Dave & Buster’s, arcade games and pinball machines are only still standing at bowling alleys, movie theaters, and burger joints. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/198 "2014-09-10T21:11:19Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Bingo. Aside from a few holdouts like Dave & Buster’s, arcade games and pinball machines are only still standing at bowling alleys, movie theaters, and burger joints. So, then not\* obsolete\*, but _obsolescent_. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/199 "2014-09-10T21:34:08Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > But that’s because almost every arcade went belly up more than a decade ago. Ergo, there are thousands of lightly used pinball machines out there up for grabs. Why buy new when you don’t have to? I knew that I had seen a [LOTR-themed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag55t6iVbEc) pinball machine (movies released 2000-2002), so therefore they aren’t all moldering relics. You just have to go to a bowling alley to find one. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307/200 "2014-09-10T21:56:30Z")
Many of us no longer use punched card readers–or even floppy disks. But I expect both are still available today. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-obsolete-services-and-or-products-are-still-available-today/697307.md?page=11)