I have two words for you: planned obsolescence.
Yes, but have you ever tried to haul one of those steel monsters up and down the stairs? It is not easy. I have an old Kirby and my late MIL's Electrolux -- both vacuum incredible well, but they are heavy and not very manueverable.
This was a really neat story of appreciation for not only something well made, but something that was handed-down. Thanks for posting.
I have some old tube radios from the 40s. All of them were US made and most still work. A couple even have evidence of repair work done long ago. How many people would get a small table radio repaired these days?
American quality went out the window when American companies realized 1) that their products could be made more cheaply in China, and 2) that it would be better for the bottom line if their products were only made to last a few years before wearing out and forcing their consumers to buy new replacement products.
I would like to borrow the Super Dynamic and give David Oreck a thorough beating with it before he appears on my TV or radio again.
The thing was ridiculously overpriced and actually had less suction power than the old Dirt Devil it was to replace.
The instructions that came with the Dyson were like something I've never seen. It was all drawings with circles and arrows with no text.
I think Dyson is a big con game with such chutzpah that it takes one's breath away.
How much did it cost in 1950?
In my mother’s kitchen is a pop-up toaster she bought new in 1951.
It also ‘runs like a top’.
I suspect there are thousands of 50-60 year old appliances all over the US that still work fine.