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Although I am very tired of fixing and particularly finding parts for our old equipment, I guess I agree with you. One of our real workhorse tractors was made in Germany in 1947 just after WWII. Our small Model G Allis-Chalmers is also a 1947 model. I really doubt that some of the equipment we are buying today will still be serving its purpose 60 years from now. Way too many plastic parts on products today. Good old cast iron serves us well if hubby isn’t too hard on it.

>>>Our small Model G Allis-Chalmers is also a 1947 model.<<<

I can not figure out why nobody makes any piece of equipment as appropriate as that tractor is for small acreage. I know, 1 bottom plow, etc. etc. but for cultivating and many other tasks, it is hard to beat... Plus it just looks neat...

I really doubt that some of the equipment we are buying today will still be serving its purpose 60 years from now.

No doubt. It is all made to break so people will have to rebuy it. There's no pride of workmanship any more. I guess that's what happens when you have mass production. But even those can be of good quality if designed that way.

I can think of 3 quick examples of things getting cheaper.

1) Socks! Just like granny's walmart cookies, the socks I buy (same brand, same model each time) have gotten progressively thinner over the years. Price is the same, but the socks last about half as long as they did 5 years ago. And it's a name brand.

2) Our washer. Got a Kenmore to replace the 20+ year old Kenmore that finally gave out. The new one just feels cheaper and is mainly plastic. It certainly won't last the 20 years the old one did.

3) sleeper-sofas. We have one built in the 60's that we found - someone was going to take it to the dump and we were looking for a small sleeper anyway. That thing is amazing - a good cleaning, and new mattress, and it's as good a new. All the mechanisms still work perfectly and the thick, dense fabric is still in good shape (even if it is avocado green!). Conversely, we got a brand new set of sofas that have the recliners in each end. Took less than a year for the first one to break. The fabric is starting to fray on the corners of the chair and one of the couches.

I bet those things won't last more than 5 years. Same with my washer. All of us with new items are going to be in trouble when TSHTF. The old stuff will be the only thing that will last...