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AIBU?

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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?

OP posts:
Scribblydoo · 30/09/2024 05:31

I have my MIL's Kenwood Chef. It is too heavy for her to lift and the button to open it requires quite a bit of finger strength. She got it when she married so it's about 55 years old. I could probably mix concrete in it.

Snozzlemaid · 30/09/2024 05:24

I've got my parent's tumble dryer they purchased about 35 years ago.
Dries a load in about 40 minutes, so when I hear of new ones taking hours and hours I just stick with this one.

Catsmere · 30/09/2024 04:08

Probably a spoon that my mother bought early in her married days, so sometime in the 1950s. I use it solely for serving my cat her Osmolax (liquid laxative) these days - she likes the stuff enough to drink it straight from the spoon.

The other thing would be a fork from the same cutlery set, the rest of which had disappeared before I was born. I don't use it for food, though (my cutlery and cutlery are the new sets Mum bought in the 1970s) but as a back scratcher. The tines are just blunt enough for it to be perfect.

RosesAndHellebores · 30/09/2024 03:28

Grandparents' canteen of cutlery, circa, 1934! Similarly grannie's enamel pie dishes.

Oh and a set of saucepans that were a wedding present in 1991.

Ladyof2024 · 30/09/2024 03:18

Pascha · 30/09/2024 00:29

My hairdryer is a Christmas gift from 1992. Still works fine after 32 years.

My hair dryer was a birthday gift in 1986.

WhatToDooooooooo · 30/09/2024 02:30

Tin opener. I have yet to find one made in the last 20 years that I can actually get to open a tin. I'm currently using my late grandmother's, circa 1970 or earlier, and it works a treat.

blackheartsgirl · 30/09/2024 02:24

I have a couple of saucepans that were my nans and they’re about sixty years old now, I think they’re stainless steel or aluminium and still going strong

bridgetreilly · 30/09/2024 02:10

30yo food processor is, I think, older than undated washing machine for grandparents, but that is certainly over 25 years.

sarsaparillatree · 30/09/2024 01:49

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 30/09/2024 01:38

No idea how old this is but it was my grandma’s. She died about 18 years ago. It’s as sturdy as hell. That handle ❤️ It’ll see me out I reckon.

LOL, I have an identical one.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 30/09/2024 01:38

No idea how old this is but it was my grandma’s. She died about 18 years ago. It’s as sturdy as hell. That handle ❤️ It’ll see me out I reckon.

AIBU to ask what’s the oldest appliance / utensil you still use regularly?
MonsteraMama · 30/09/2024 01:30

I have a metal rotary cheese grater that still works perfectly - I've tried to replace it with newer ones, but the flimsy plastic ones just don't cut it. I'm not sure how old it is but it was a gift from my great granny's kitchen and I believe she got it in France in the 40's or 50's. Sturdiest thing in my kitchen.

Willowkins · 30/09/2024 01:24

I have the vegetable knife we bought on our honeymoon - 27 years ago. Sadly the knife outlived my DH.

sarsaparillatree · 30/09/2024 01:21

I occasionally use a pair of wine glasses that were part of a set given to my grandparents for their wedding in 1891.
In everyday use is my tea caddy which they bought as a souvenir of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924. The exhibition hall became the first Wembley Stadium

minmooch · 30/09/2024 01:21

I have a Kenwood mixer bought 36 years ago that I use weekly. Lost some parts but I never used those bits.

I have a kitchen knife that I bought for £1.50 from a market stall 35 years ago. It's still my favourite knife, weight of it, feel of it, despite buying many kitchen knives over the years, expensive ones too. I use it daily and sharpen it maybe once a year.

GoosieLucie · 30/09/2024 01:16

We're still using the Viners stainless steel cutlery that we received as a wedding present 46 years ago.

Also still using the Pyrex mixing bowls and earthenware casserole dishes that I bought when we were first married and a couple of tea towels that were wedding presents.

RickiRaccoon · 30/09/2024 01:14

Our house still has the original 1962 hot water cylinder. I have a 35yo plastic comb. I had to throw out a 29yo clock-radio last year

CoolStoryBra · 30/09/2024 01:14

When my Nana died, she didn’t leave much. She was very minimalist in life. I inherited her dessert dishes, they were bought circa 1930 and they are used at least weekly, with fond memories of Nana and her stewed apple and custard.

OhcantthInkofaname · 30/09/2024 01:12

Do sets of silver and china count? Mine are 80+.

In the US Tupperware filed for bankruptcy last week. I have a Tupperware "Velveeta" container that's not been manufactured for 50 years. Mine is in my frig.

Growlybear83 · 30/09/2024 01:11

I still use my grandma's sugar shaker which was a wedding present in 1908, and a cake stand from about the same time. I've got a lot of things thst my parents had when they married just after the war, including a collection of crystal, their canteen of cutlery, sow silver cocktail glasses, and a couple of clocks. I still use my electric frying pan that we were given as a wedding present in 1980, and I've got the dinner service my mother in law bought for us then. I've also recently found the recipe scrap book that I started in 1976 which is full of things thst I thought were really exotic at the time, but included the recipe for goulash that I still use regularly.

Linnet · 30/09/2024 01:08

I have a hand held mixer which I think may have been a wedding present to my parents almost 50 years ago.

ChaToilLeam · 30/09/2024 01:06

I have enamel dishes from my granny, at least 60 years old!

Anisty · 30/09/2024 01:02

A measuring spoon from the 40s or 50s

nOasistickets · 30/09/2024 00:42

My mums vegetable peeler - it’s about 50 years old. Never come across a better one.

MrsAvocet · 30/09/2024 00:41

I've got a tablespoon that belonged to my Mum, bought in the early 50s. My sister has it's matching pair and we both use them pretty much daily.
I have a beautiful art deco tea service that my MIL gave me - it was her parents' and must be over 100 years old now. I only get it out on very special occasions though so it probably doesn't count as "regular" but I do use it.

Notasunnydayhere · 30/09/2024 00:38

I still use my grandmother's sewing basket, it was made by first nation people in Canada in the mid/late 1920s. It's in almost perfect condition despite being almost 100 years old.