It ain't gonna work...

[paulg]

I've encountered some items that, when found at a sale, are almost guaranteed NOT to work or stop working very quickly. These are items that I know I will HAVE to repair as the chances of it working out-of-box are almost nil.
Don't we all wish our sale buys work perfectly out-of-box? Here is my starting list of units that I've had repeated experiences of them not aging well. (Capehart 78 changer is the exception)

A) Just about any film projector. Belts rot and idlers crumble. I've junked numerous slimline Kodak Super-8 units from the 1970s and finally gave up on fixing those units altogether. Reveres seem to fare better.
B) Early phonographs with pot-metal parts. Windups and Capehart changers seem worse than most.
C) 8-trak players. (I can't stand them but I'll fix them for friends. )
D) The FM on older AM/FM units. FM tends to conk out first in my experience so I always check this.
E) RCA vintage radios. Insulation on chassis wiring crumbles.
F) Neon appliance lamps. Good for a while but not too long.

Your experiences? I'm short on appliances but am scanning my brain for some...
And if you wish to add stuff that ALWAYS works, add it in. Sunbeam electric fry pans always work for me. Can't say that for the NOS Westinghouse that went up in smoke though...

 

[cfz2882]

mine:

-reel to reel tape players
-vcrs older than ~20 yrs
deteriated belts and tires the usual cause for both machines.
- 8-track cartridges often need repair-foam pressure pad gets soft or crumbles.

 

[turquoisedude]

Any tube phonograph or radio is almost timed to go 'kapow' within a week of me bringing one home, I swear...

Mixers and vacuums fare better, fortunately!

 

[rustyspaatz]

I'm just amazed that YOU find ANY of the items you have listed.

Vacuums most always work but only after changing a bag, removing a clog, or fixing a very simple to fix, broken wire connection.