Author Topic: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...  (Read 1481 times)

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Offline Victor3

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What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« on: December 22, 2010, 09:38:09 PM »
...that would be considered obsolete (and are not used regularly) by most people today? Things that have been largely replaced by new technology, but are still useful to you or your family in day-to-day life. I can think of a few at my house:

1. 50 year old dial phone.

2. Flint & fluid lighters

3. 60 year old Singer sewing machine

4. 50 year old Frigidaire (2nd fridge in the garage)

5. 70 year old hand-crank ice crusher

6. Non-electric hand drills

 Just curious what other folks use... For some reason, I like using 'old tech' stuff if it's still somewhat practical.
"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."

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Offline Brett

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2010, 12:26:40 AM »
Shaving mug and brush.  I get a nice hot lather plus its "greener" than the canned stuff.
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Offline PowPow

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2010, 12:42:23 AM »
Can opener
Rake
Lee Classic Loader

I like hand-cranked windows in cars, but you can't get them any more.
The difference between people who do stuff and people who don't do stuff is that the people who do stuff do stuff.

Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2010, 01:30:24 AM »
Jon-E warmer (a lighter fluid powered hand warmer)

Offline lakota

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2010, 01:54:09 AM »
hand crank can opener. I think the electric can opener was a solution to a problem that didnt exist.

Jon-E warmer (a lighter fluid powered hand warmer)

I had one of those and I loved it.  I misplaced it and I havent been able to find a replacement.
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Offline Bigeasy

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2010, 02:26:43 AM »
The old fashioned porcelain flush toilet, along with a good gun magazine... ::)

Larry
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2010, 02:30:51 AM »
Shaving mug and brush.  I get a nice hot lather plus its "greener" than the canned stuff.

Second that , do you use cold water on the blade ? I heard that was the correct way to get a close shave and it works .
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Offline ironglow

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2010, 03:04:21 AM »
Can opener
Rake
Lee Classic Loader

I like hand-cranked windows in cars, but you can't get them any more.


  Pow Pow;
   Sorry, I don't get your last statement..I bought a new car in 2007 with hand crank windows and I am sure they are still available.  I don't wany any extra gee-gaws on my cars than I have need of, so I only order the base model..5 speed, no elec windows, doors, or any excess electronics & "luxury" packages   Just more to GO WRONG as I see it !  I do see the trend toward more needlessly complex vehicles..who would have guesse that some folks couldn't dhift to 4WD by using a lever instead of an electronic device ?  :D  (another thing which can fail)

  Old style tools I use;
    2 handle post hole digger
   an "armstrong" wood splitter
   a fence stretcher from about 1890
   a bar to punch post holes
  virtually all the tools in my blacksmith shop
   My H&R/NEF rifles...
        ....for starters, many of the old things have not been improved upon


  
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline MGMorden

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2010, 03:28:36 AM »
Dang.  As a techie at heart, this is a tough one (I'm working on getting the house setup now so that I can turn lights on and off and adjust the thermostat remotely from my phone :)).  I've got some old Herters reloading dies that I think are from the 60s that I still use.  That's about as old and outdated as I can muster. 

Offline magooch

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2010, 03:40:40 AM »
There's just the wife and I, so I like washing dishes in the kitchen sinks.  I've even managed to retrain my wife to do dishes the old way.  The dishwasher is still there, but it hasn't been used since I did a complete remodel of the kitchen.

I too like manual windows on my vehicle.  When I ordered my new truck, I had to special order to get manual roller windows.  I haven't broken my wife on that one, though.  Her rig has electric everything.
Swingem

Offline PowPow

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2010, 03:46:14 AM »
...bought a new car in 2007 with hand crank windows and I am sure they are still available...

You're right. I guess my problem is more of "packaged options" than obsolecense. Gotta have A/C; can't seem to get it without power windows.
I don't need a digital clock on everything, and I don't need a moon roof. The only way that moon roof can fail is in the open position.

Magooch - My wife is into "features", also.
The difference between people who do stuff and people who don't do stuff is that the people who do stuff do stuff.

Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2010, 03:54:25 AM »
After thinking more about this I feel like a cave man. Most of what we do at home involves relatively old fashioned things, like playing music and reading instead of using a TV, for example. Cooking our own food from scratch, including breads. We do like our computers, though, and fully appreciate the wonders of modern life, like a furnace and electricity.

Come to think of it, there's one other thing: My friend generously gave me an electronic powder scale for reloading a couple of years ago. Although it works fine, I still prefer and use the old RCBS balance scale. Quick. Accurate. No quirks whatsoever. Easy setup and take-down. Truly a fine instrument. (I do prefer digital calipers though, interestingly for the same reasons I like the balance scale.)

Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2010, 03:56:00 AM »
We did use a dial phone until maybe 5 years ago when the phone company stopped supporting them, so now we have to use a beep beep  beep phone instead of a whirrr click whirr click phone.

Offline MGMorden

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2010, 03:59:36 AM »
We did use a dial phone until maybe 5 years ago when the phone company stopped supporting them, so now we have to use a beep beep  beep phone instead of a whirrr click whirr click phone.

I'm not sure if our phone company supports rotaries anymore or not.  I know my grandmother used to have one until she replaced it with a touch tone when I was around 10 or so.

That said, I'm debating dropping my land-line altogether.  Can't remember the last time I used it.  If someone wants to get ahold of me, they call my cell.  Far more likely to actually get an answer :).

Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2010, 04:03:41 AM »
Us too, MGMorden. We'll keep it until my daughter leaves the house in a year and a half, then we're done with it. Cell only after that.

Offline ironglow

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #15 on: December 23, 2010, 05:21:10 AM »
Last year I decided I may get a new 4 wheel drive vehicle.  The last two I had were a Suzuki Samurai and a Jeep cj basic.  Each had a 4 cyl manual transmission, with a regular lever operated transfer case with lock-out hubs to eliminate drag and boost mileage.
      I thought I would get another "basic" unit...HAH !  Try to get one ! ::)
          Many had AWD (why do I need that for 90% of the spring, summer and fall ?)  Jeep no longer furnishes a 4 cyl engine...while the Samurai is no longer produced.
  I don't need/want carpets in a hunting/utility vehicle..don't want/need any more than 4 cylinders and sure don't need an electric gizmo to shift into 4WD. :P I know of several cases where that electric switch corroded, quit and cost the owner an unnecessary expensive repair..for what reason ? ???
  One company now brags about having "double seals" around the doors, so splash can't get in.  Why should that bother...unless there are some useless, plush carpets in that off-road vehicle. Shucks, the jeeps I drove in the Army often didn't have doors and if I splashed a couple gallons in on the floor, I just turned the little floor plate and let the water run out !  Can't see slush-pump transmission, electric windows, plush carpets, electrical combination door locks, electrically adjusted seats and a host of other things on a passenger car..say nothing about a hunting vehicle.  
    BASIC IS BEAUTIFUL ! (IMO) ;)    :D
  
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline subdjoe

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #16 on: December 23, 2010, 05:37:24 AM »
Straight razor.  Black iron cookware.  Old tin plated food grinder.  Oil lamps (not every day, although I really should keep one with a floating wick going in front of the icons).  Axe, maul, flinter.
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Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #17 on: December 23, 2010, 05:40:36 AM »
How could I forget!?! The 12" cast iron skillet. Weighs a lot, but we use it for so many things we just clean it, oil it, and put it back on the stove. If you like to cook and don't have one of these, do yourself a favor and buy one. You will not regret it. Cheap too, as good cookware goes. Maybe $25 at the most.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #18 on: December 23, 2010, 05:44:44 AM »
The past is a nice place to visit, but I would not want to live there.

My electric razor still has a cord and so does my mouse.

Cheese
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #19 on: December 23, 2010, 05:48:46 AM »
Cheesehead:

When you replace your computer, make sure the new one supports a bluetooth mouse. Truly a great improvement. We replaced ours 2 years ago and use bluetooth mouse and printer. Laptop instead of desktop. Only one chord, and that's the charger. Excellent! If I were buying today, I'd want WiFi capability for the printer because so many devices can print to one now.

Offline MGMorden

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #20 on: December 23, 2010, 06:03:03 AM »
Cheesehead:

When you replace your computer, make sure the new one supports a bluetooth mouse. Truly a great improvement. We replaced ours 2 years ago and use bluetooth mouse and printer. Laptop instead of desktop. Only one chord, and that's the charger. Excellent! If I were buying today, I'd want WiFi capability for the printer because so many devices can print to one now.

Ugh.  I'm as big of a techie as they, come, but I'm a staunch believer in using wireless only where it's truly needed.  Wireless mice are not as sentitive as a good corded laser mouse (and yes, there is a difference between a laser mouse and a standard optical mouse :)).  Wi-Fi internet connections are certainly less reliable than wired connections (not to mention slower).  Don't get me wrong, for the most part, they're "good enough", but still nowhere near wired reliability.

As such, though I have a wireless router, all of my desktops (currently 4 machines) use wired connections.  My file server uses a wired connection.  Printer too.  My AppleTV in the living room has a wired connection that I had to go into the attic stringing CAT6 to get, even though it has built-in Wifi.    All of my desktops use wired mice and keyboards.

The only wireless I use is on my phone, and on my laptop.  The laptop needs to move around a lot so I use the wireless from the router on it, and I do use a bluetooth mouse on it as well.  Other than that though, I view wireless as a fallback, rather than a preferred, solution.  If your home is old and you can't afford to wire it right, then by all means connect all your machines via wifi.  If it's new construction though, or you really want the best experience possible, you're get better reliability and speed out of installing good old fashioned wires.  For a desktop that spends 99% of it's life parked in the same spot, I just can't fathom doing anything else.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #21 on: December 23, 2010, 07:15:45 AM »
Yes, my computer and all assosiated hardware use wired connections, old school but secure. I have a Palm Pre smart phone and an Ipod Touch that work very well on the neighbors WiFi, since they are not smart enough to secure it.

Cheese
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline ironglow

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #22 on: December 23, 2010, 08:54:36 AM »
You guys keep talking about the tradfitional stuff you still use...and I keep saying ..oh yeah, me too !  The iron cookware, old reloader kit, hand driven can opener, sink washed dishes. My son & I share a garage/barn, we have a compressor and air tools ands he still chides me for using an old, 4-way wheel wrench.. :D
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline Tommyt

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #23 on: December 23, 2010, 08:59:38 AM »
The old fashioned porcelain flush toilet, along with a good gun magazine... ::)

Larry

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Offline crustylicious

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #24 on: December 23, 2010, 10:37:24 AM »
I've gone high tech! ;D ;D

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so sure of themselves, and the wiser people so full of doubts." Bertrand Russell
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Offline Stillkickin

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #25 on: December 23, 2010, 01:10:40 PM »
An oldtimer, older than me, gave me a scythe that I still use every summer.  I thanked him and was curious why he would just give a tool away so asked him.  His reply, "That danged thing is just too much like work."  It definitely is a good workout.  Between it and my splitting maul, they're good for at least a few blisters and pulled muscles every year.

Offline rdmallory

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #26 on: December 23, 2010, 02:34:38 PM »



I still use one of these.


Doug

Offline Brett

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #27 on: December 23, 2010, 03:58:55 PM »
Shaving mug and brush.  I get a nice hot lather plus its "greener" than the canned stuff.

Second that , do you use cold water on the blade ? I heard that was the correct way to get a close shave and it works .
Cast Iron frying pan

Yep, cold water on the razor.  Bout the only time I use the ol' cast iron frying pan anymore is for baking corn bread.  It's been replaced by multi-layered stainless cookware for daily cooking.   
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #28 on: December 23, 2010, 04:38:20 PM »



I still use one of these.


Doug

OK, I give.
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Offline Pat/Rick

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Re: What household items do you still enjoy using regularly...
« Reply #29 on: December 23, 2010, 05:55:25 PM »
rdm, what is it?? If I had to guess I would think something to crack black walnuts with  ???

Yep, mug and brush for shaving, hand crank apple peeler, i do have tin plated food grinders,and hand drills, they are part of my HTF backups. Of course cast iron cookware, mauls wedges, bow saws and stuff like that. Though replicas, do muzzle loaders count?  ;)