Long-life Appliances

[GinJeanie]

This isn't the most exciting thread but hey. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds the concept of planned obsolescence quite depressing in the face of world-wide environmental issues.
It's a mere fluke but we have a washing machine entering it's 18th year. Apparently that's quite elderly. DH has replaced a few parts but it's going strong... what's your most elderly appliance? Ps washing machine is a basic Bosch with no digital display or fancy extras.

Vorwerk vacuum cleaner - going into its fifth or sixth decade - you can still get parts for it but they stopped servicing this model in the 80ties. It followed DH when he moved out.
Washing machine is about 20 now, dito the dishwasher, but it is on it's last legs. Handmixer - DH nicked it from his DM when he moved out more than 30 years ago.
It's toasters and kettles that don't last in this household.
And I really need an new oven - ours is 20 years old, does no longer work properly and uses too much energy.

I agree that things should stand the test of time. I am really quite annoyed that my 5 year old Maytag fridge freezer is obsolete according to Hotpoint (who appear to have purchased and ruined) this brand

I honestly think this must be a UK thing.
My kitchen is 22 years old, all appliances, so hob, oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher still work and that is after moving the entire kitchen from its original location in a flat to a house.
I am on my second washing machine and dryer, although the first lasted nearly 20 years, but clearly suffered in the move above. The second set are already 8 years old and completely fine.
My car is 17 years old, I have had it for 15 years, never had any problems with it.
I will whisper this very quietly, but all items above are of German manufacture and were bought in Germany.

Fairy you do make an excellent point. A lot of the appliances which have been giving good service would have been made in Germany, or France or Italy. Nowadays so many companies have their goods made more cheaply abroad.

We bought a second hand Mercedes in 2002, and very sadly had to scrap it last year. I don't think we'll ever have such a reliable car again!

Oh I still have an old style Magimix food processor too. Indestructible.

Our integrated dishwasher came with the house and lasted two years. The integrated microwave lasted three.

The Kenwood Chef belonged to my mother in law and has been respirated, but must be over 55 years old.

The five year old washing machine is beginning to sound noisy. Given that it’s reckoned five years is the lifespan, I’m expecting it to give up soon.

My dishwasher, inherited from my mother - think it is well over 20 years old.

My magimix - bought as a wedding present 30 years ago.

My mother's grill. I can't remember a time when it wasn't around. I think it must be 55 plus years. Folds flat. Is a brilliant bit of kit and is used all the time.

Our high level grill New World gas cooker was 22 when we just got rid of it, still working but oven was taking longer to cook stuff. The new Stoves mini range which we bought to replace it does not look as if it will last as long, it looks lovely but I fear it is a case of style over substance, we already had a knob replaced under guarantee

I've just comeback from my MIL where I used an electric bread slicer from the sixties (The mechanical one her DM used from the early fifties onwards is now used by us and will probably be thrown out with us when we die.)

Does anyone of you remember the time when the cables of irons became stronger and heavier than the iron itself? I had one that was pulled off the table by it's own cord.