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Original poster

AIBU to ask what’s the oldest appliance / utensil you still use regularly?

159 replies

AlmondsAreGreat · 30/09/2024 00:27

Another thread got me thinking - what’s the oldest appliance or utensil you use regularly? Something that has truly outlived its life expectancy but is still going strong? I mean things you actually use for their tended purpose.

I have a hot water bottle inherited from my Gran who died 27 years ago, although judging by the thread I should probably give it up!

I also have a gravy boat that I still use that was my Great Grandmothers, and must be at least 90 years old. I also have her rolling pin, and still use it.

The boiler in our last house was newly installed in 1973 and still going strong when we moved in 2013.

Any others?

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moggerhanger · 30/09/2024 23:02

Gripstand large mixing bowl (1920s) from my great aunt
Rolling pin (1930s) from my grandmother
1942 pattern Air Ministry ratchet screwdriver from my grandfather (last used on a dishwasher)
Loads of china and glassware from 1880s onwards
Various salt-glaze preserve pots (the big sort that you can put utensils in)

Our family never chucks anything away!

But pride of place has to be my Braun Silk Epil from 1992. Though to be fair, it's not had heavy use cos I'm a lazy hobbit

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/09/2024 23:01

A large metal spoon that was issued to my soldier grandfather in the 1914-18 war.

TurquoiseDress · 30/09/2024 23:01

I excitedly spent some of my student loan on a Vidal Sassoon hairdryer around 1999/2000 and I'm still using it to this day!

olympicsrock · 30/09/2024 22:54

My kenwood mixer is the 1950s model. It’s doing well on my kitchen worktop.

AIBU to ask what’s the oldest appliance / utensil you still use regularly?
whiteroseredrose · 30/09/2024 22:48

I have a hand mixer from my stepfather's first marriage. Probably about 55 years old.

Makingchocolatecake · 30/09/2024 22:43

I have a 20 year old pink pig egg timer

SuperDupe · 30/09/2024 21:47

I bought my ironing board when I left home at 18 and it's still going strong. I'm 57 this year

Redcrayons · 30/09/2024 21:41

my pans are all 25 years old, bought when I got my first house.

wedding crockery is 22 years old, and outlasted my marriage.
I’ve got a Miele hoover I bought just after my DS was born that refuses to die. DS is in his third year at Uni.

on the downside, I’ve never managed to keep a hairdryer alive. I think I used them normally, but they start melting after a couple of years.

MissMarplesNiece · 30/09/2024 21:40

A saucepan that my mum was given as a wedding present in 1956 that I use weekly. A set of coloured wine glasses, also a wedding present to my mum & dad, that come out at Christmas.

I have a red plastic spatula that was a free gift on the front of Women's Weekly magazine 40 years ago, and which has been one of the most useful kitchen tools.

mitogoshigg · 30/09/2024 21:26

Not exactly an utensil, but my table mats are 60 years old, inherited from my grandmother, my linen napkins and some tablecloths are 90+

MouseofCommons · 30/09/2024 21:25

Bread knife, rolling pin and tin opener. Mums wedding presents around 53yrs ago.

redbluegreenyellowbrown · 30/09/2024 21:24

My Great Grandmother was a proffessional cook.

I have her mixing bowl which is well over 100 years old now. I keep it in bubble wrap on the bottom shelf of the cupboard but it comes out every year to make mince meat and Christmas pudding.

My Grandmother is 93 and has some very old things in her kitchen, many of which belonged to the same greatgrandmother above, and also my other great grandmother on her side, which are still in regular use.
She also has many wedding presents which will now be 72 years old.

DanielRicciardosSmile · 30/09/2024 21:18

A potato peeler that belonged to my grandma. She died in 1988 so it's at least 36 years old, and probably quite a bit older.

themoreoftheredthelessoftheblack · 30/09/2024 20:48

I have a 38 year old bread knife, it's as sharp as the day it was bought, and has never been sharpened!

AsFunAsEnglishWeather · 30/09/2024 20:45

A Richardson steel chpooing knife I bought to go to uni in 1991 - still sharpens well and goes through the dishwasher regularly. Also a Miele hoover that was bought for me when my eldest was born 22 years ago. Works perfectly and has never needed to be fixed.

Crazycatladyy · 30/09/2024 20:42

I've got a plastic colander that must be 35 years old.
My microwave is 20 years old and I have a hairdryer which also must be getting on for 35 years.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 30/09/2024 20:35

I have a measuring jug that my mother used to mix formula milk for me when I was a baby over fifty years ago.
the measurement markings on the side are still clear as day

DoraSpenlow · 30/09/2024 20:29

I am still using a rolling pin that belonged to MIL's grandmother who was born in 1850.

Only last year my hand held electric whisk have up the ghost. I had been using it for 51 years.

Elphame · 30/09/2024 20:28

A planc that was a wedding present to my grandmother. I still use it for my Welsh Cakes and think of her whenever I do.

Toetouchingtitties · 30/09/2024 20:25

I’m still trying to convince my 80+ year old mother to stop using her 1970s Flatley clothes drier… it’s an awful fire risk, but she won’t listen.

T4phage · 30/09/2024 20:19

My kettle is from the 1960s.

SunCreamQueenie · 30/09/2024 20:17

I've got a food processor from 2000, make smoothies in that all the time, a stick blender from 1998, and some dinner plates that my Nana bought in the 1960s that are used at least once a week because I like them!!

JohnTheRevelator · 30/09/2024 20:07

I'm still using a couple of wine glasses that were a wedding present 41 years ago. My late DM bought a fridge in 1955 and it kept going until 1997. She also had a Hoover washing machine that lasted 35 years.

Aydel · 30/09/2024 19:43

@Parker231 look up the film “The Plates on Oma’s Wall” on YouTube.

We have a Kenwood Chef from the 1970s. And an iron with a fabric covered lead.

KendraTheVampyrSlayer · 30/09/2024 18:33

I have a bread knife I still use that my dad gave me when I left home (29 years ago). It was originally my nan's, she bought it in 1975! Still works very well.