Questioning My Fantasies:

[brettsomers]

as always, Launderess knows what she speaks.

people today wouldnt want to keep an appliance for 20 years. theyd be afraid someone might think it was old, or that the neighbors might think they couldnt afford a new one.

advertising culture has brainwashed people into feeling unsuccessful if they dont have the newest.

look at the automobile industry. many cars will easily last up to 150,000 miles, like Toyota. just think about the number of people who wouldnt be caught DEAD driving a car over three or five years old... many would sooner stop bathing than drive a "old" car.

 

[launderess]

It kills me when one sees perfectly or at least reasonably good appliances such as Hobart built KA dishwashers or a TOL Maytag washer being chucked to the curb because someone wants "new". Little do they know that the appliance they've so callously thrown away will probably out last AND out perform much of what is out there today.

Only saving grace for the idea of bringing back "vintage" appliances would be if someone with deep pockets did a small thing like Staber. Still much of the labour and know how and indeed suppliers of parts have either died off or moved onto other things. This is what people don't understand when they don't pay attention to a nation's manufacturering base declining. It is not just the fact that a Maytag or Hoover plant closes, but think of the suppliers who loose customers and have to go belly up as well. Metal workers, parts, even small guys like the local copy machine repair guy looses when a big plant closes down. The results trickle down and destroy a community.

 

[alr2903]

Sometimes too the "over 50-60 crowd of adults" with deeper pockets, just want a replacement Similar to what they are Familiar with,and often they are the least expensive on the sales floor, Televisions are a good example. Im embarrassed to tell you my Mom had to show me how to turn on the oven in her new kenmore stove. alr2903

 

[lasvegasrox]

how about appliances that are made of recycled materials and more energy efficent and quieter.maby they could turn in there old appliances to be made into new appliances and get a discount for doing so.I think thats much better than using alot of energy melting cast iron,and make simpler controls with no complicated settings. i have always wonderd why not use microwaves too heat water faster than aneything on the market.i know what u r thinking microwaves huh now i half to wash all my metal Utensils....if the ge trivection oven can cook with metal inside why cant dishwashers?

 

[gizmo]

Microwaves are slower to heat water than a regular element of the same power consumption.
An 800 watt microwave oven consumes about 1400 watts of electricity, but has equivalent water heating ability as an 800 watt element - that's how they get the rating. When heating foods they are more efficient but water - no, they are a dead loss.