Your oldest device or gadget

[jollystomper]

I still have two Technics Turntables, and 2 floor speakers, that I started using in college in 1977 to DJ parties. Today I use the turntables to convert my vinyl record collection to digital. One DS used the speakers until he moved overseas several years ago and left them with us. They still work fine, I just have not put them out as I have a surplus of speakers.

We have a piano we bought used in the early 1990s that was manufactured in the 1940s and recased in the 1960s. DW plays it and keeps it well maintained.

 

[scrabbler1]

An older brother gave me a grey Navy stapler just before he shipped off to Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin, aircraft carrier). Not sure how he came to own it; but I didn't ask questions. This was in 1972. I still have it and use it every day, 48 years later. Not bad for a $900 US military stapler! Too bad it wasn't red.

Speaking of staplers, my parents gave me their spare stapler, a hand-held Swingline model (#669 stamped on it, a model #?), when I was about to begin attending college in 1981. I don't think they had it for too long, maybe a few years. I bought a box of 5,000 (Swingline) staples when I began college a week later for $1.29. I still have the box which has about 3/4 of its staples.

 

[OldGrady]

1964 Honda CA-95. Father bought it new in 1964. As a small kid, I spent many Sunday mornings hanging onto Dad for dear life, as he skillfully maneuvered the county roads of New Hampshire.

 

[CRLLS]

I still have, and occasionally use, my JC Penny Engine Analyzer that I purchased as a young lad around 1971. It think that is the oldest electrical device that I have that I personally bought new. I have many electrical items from the 70's That I put into service when needed. I also have many antique tools, clocks, watches, furniture, do-dads, etc. that I still use that are older but not originally purchased by me.

 

[Boho]

I have a model 51 (1951-1963) Hamilton Beach Drinkmaster that I think of using sometimes. A few years ago I cleaned around the motor and put new feet on it. It has the original plastic cup. A collector says "the original cups were plastic and many broke over the years, which makes them hard to come by." Maybe I'll sell it.

I have an old rusty washboard, gas burner pliers, and a ball peen hammer from my grandparent's days. I still use the hammer to slightly pre-flare grommets before setting them. I place the ball on the grommet and hit the flat side with a modern mallet.

 

[jim584672]

Old Electrolux, date unknown, attachments unknown. Use it to vacuum out the car.

 

[Fermion]

I have a Starrett combination square, extremely high quality, purchased some 30 years ago at what seemed like a lot of money back then.

It is still perfect despite a ton of use and it has watched countless other cheap import tools go into the bin.

That says something about buying quality tools I guess.

 

[O2Bfree]

We still use the Hamilton Beach airpopper I got for Christmas in 1978. We make popcorn at least once a week, often two or three times.

 

[LOL!]

I'm surprised people still have speakers. The cones of the big woofers in mine rotted away a long time ago.

 

[Keim]

FYI:. That can be fixed easily.

 

[Boho]

Even speaker foam was too expensive for me when I was considering fixing my speakers. I threw out my cheap stereo from 1982 a few years ago but kept the records. But every record has at least one skip, I'm guessing from a defect in the arm of the record player, so I'm probably going to throw out the records.

 

[Walt34]

Bang and Olfsen stereo, circa 1978.

I used to have one of those. Lost it in the divorce of 1983.

 

[aja8888]

1964 Honda CA-95. Father bought it new in 1964. As a small kid, I spent many Sunday mornings hanging onto Dad for dear life, as he skillfully maneuvered the county roads of New Hampshire.
View attachment 35319

Beautiful bike and rare. And it looks in great shape!

 

[Montecfo]

How about my HP12C financial calculator, circa 1980 or so?

Used throughout my career. In a staff meeting out SVP of sales took a picture of it. She seemed to not know what it was.

I actually have two of them. One home one office. Now both home.

 

[Montecfo]

I use a slightly newer HP 12 or 15 now at home. I prefer the HP RPN, once you've become familiar with it, the calculation process is easier.

Can't tell you how many times a visitor to my office would pick up my HP12C and attempt to use it to add up some numbers.

They always thought I was kidding when I said, "Are you familiar with how those work?"

 

[JP.mpls]

That is very cool Grady.

1964 Honda CA-95. Father bought it new in 1964. As a small kid, I spent many Sunday mornings hanging onto Dad for dear life, as he skillfully maneuvered the county roads of New Hampshire.
View attachment 35319

 

[Elbata]

I have a dolly with strap that I bought in the 70s to move washers/dryers. Later years was used for moving condenser units.

1998 Honda Accord with 110K miles. Would love to keep it for at least another 10 years. Runs and looks in mint condition.

 

[DrRoy]

Texas Instruments SR-51-II calculator from the early 1970's.
Shopsmith Mark V from the 1950's that was my Grandfather's.

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

Elbata wrote: "1998 Honda Accord with 110K miles. Would love to keep it for at least another 10 years. Runs and looks in mint condition."

When I lived in Maine I bought a new Suburu Forester ($25,000) and proceeded to drive 25,000 miles/year (long highway commute to work plus New England vacation trips). After 10 years the odometer read 253,000 miles and change. I was moving out of the country at that point and so sold it for a nominal amount to a friend who wanted a second car for mainly city use in Portland. I maintained the car scrupulously and after that decade it was still going strong. I am guessing I could have easily got it to 300K or even 350K before it would start to lose its marbles! BTW, with its AWD and good snow tires, the Forester never failed me, rain, ice, or snow, not even once, when many other cars struggled. I miss that old gal.

 

[gayl]

I have a few old things: 1905 phone, 1930s ship to shore phone, then newer things like a 1979 oven. All still work

 

[O2Bfree]

I have my parents waffle iron that they got in 1948. It still works fine however I do worry a little about the old fabric electric cord to plug it in. It's in good shape but ...

That reminds me that I have my gramma's 1950's Sunbeam waffle iron that still gets used occasionally. It's a chrome beauty and built like a tank.

 

[Boose]

My kitchen stove. Used daily.
My guess is mid to late 1940's.

JPView attachment 35316

JP.mpls, that almost matches our enamel-topped kitchen table with chrome legs. Which is probably from the same time period.

 

[Independent]

Klilpsch Forte (I) speakers, 35 years old.

This reminds me that I have a SONY amplifier and speakers in my living room, I use the amplifier every day. It is 44 years old.

It is attached to an HDTV. I run the sound through the old amplifier so I can plug in earphones. On rare occasions, I use the speakers.

 

[FI FELLOW]

The triode signal tubes in my stereo preamp are nearly 100 years old. Sound great!

 

[Epiphone]

A 1954 Seeburg jukebox that I restored from the ground up.

It's the only thing in the house older than me and my wife.