On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:27:16 +0000, Christopher Tidy
wrote:

wrote:
On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:14:21 -0400, "Ed Huntress"
wrote:


"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message
...

Hi folks,

I apologise if the title is a bit of a mouthful. But I've been thinking
about this issue for some time, and would like to seek the opinion of
people here. You frequently hear people complain about the quality of
modern products and say things like "They don't make them like they used
to". But it has occurred to me that maybe older products look good today
because only the good products have stood the test of time, and the poor
products have been thrown away years ago. What do people think? Were
products better in general back in the fifties, say, or were there a
mixture of good and bad? I'd be interested to hear people's opinions, as
I'm not old enough to remember myself.

Best wishes,

Chris

No problem. Some people here are so old that we can't remember, either. g

It's a mixed bag. Cars are much better, and fishing reels are, too. But
wooden matches have gone to hell. Toasters today are complete crap compared
to the old ones.

What I think you'll find is that the quality of goods has risen or fallen to
match the consumers' expectations and desires, with a strong influence
coming from the fact that people don't really *want* things to last that
long anymore.

Now I'll get out of the way as the blizzard of messages sweeps into this
thread...

--
Ed Huntress




Speaking of toasters and related gadgets, I have an old, at least 50
years old, Toastmaster toaster. I have repaired it but the repairs
were minor and the toaster has seen lots of use. The reason I still
have it is because it toasts evenly, repeatedly, and the toast
descends and ascends automatically. A motor does the work and makes a
pleasing sound to boot. And my Kitchen Aid standing mixer was built in
1936. Built by Hobart. I use it to make bread. Today is available a
Kitchen Aid mixer that looks to be basically the same unit. A 3 speed
gearbox jjust like mine. And it's only 1800 frog pelts.
ERS

That toaster sounds very cool!

Best wishes,

Chris

It is. Way cool.
Eric