20 Pictures Showing Vintage Products That Were Built To Last
I’m a millennial who recently bought a new fridge. In 6 months it already broke. All I can think about is my grandparents who literally had one washer and dryer for longer than I’ve been alive. Things aren’t built to last like they used to. If you have something still kickin’, hold onto it for dear life.
They survived decades, multiple moves, and generations of use. Meanwhile, my fridge couldn’t make it half a year.
1. “Anyone here like vintage refrigerators?”
“Here’s my 1955 GE fridge in ultra rare, very coveted ‘Cadet Blue’ (I’ve been told it was only made 1-2 years at most in this color)
I scored this bad boy for free on marketplace and was lucky that all it needed was a thorough cleaning. The fridge runs like a top stays nice and cold in my man cave / workshop! By the way, saved it from being painted pink for a ‘she-shed’ feel like that’s just good karma.
The lazy Susan shelves are obviously the coolest feature on the fridge spinning a full 360°… people always get a kick out of it when I tell them ‘the good stuff is in the back!’ and give the shelf a spin to reveal even more of a variety of beverages.”
2. “My mom was given this as a wedding gift in the early 80s and it’s still the only mixer she owns”
3. “This absolute beast of a blender (mid 1960s Osterizer) at my grandmas house. Still does its work without complaint after 60 years”
4. “My Grandmother’s oven, circa 1966. Many holiday meals were cooked with love here, right up until the day she passed. Aside from one shattered glass door that was replaced, everything still works!”
From the PO: “Many holiday meals were cooked with love here, right up until the day [my grandma] passed. Aside from one shattered glass door that was replaced, everything still works!”
5. “1935 wedgewood with everything included”
“My grandfather got this off a friend in 1945 for 100$, the pepper shaker on top has been missing for 60 years but was found at an antique show completing the set. And it’s blue!”
6. “It’s from the ‘70s and still works perfectly”
“The current one isn’t actually a music box design. I think it’s electronic and requires batteries. The vintage design is actually a large wind-up music box. The records actually have bumps on them to play the music.”
7. “50 year old IH Cub Cadet still plowing snow”
8. “Vintage food timer my Great Great Grandmother owned is still working perfectly and is still accurate”
9. “1950’s Elcon fan. Perfect working condition.”
10. “50+ year old Coleman stove still works”
“My dad bought this when I was eight years old and we used it on many road trips. I had to replace the tank pump. The old leather seal had worn out. Once that was done it fired right up. I took this shot right after it was lit. It soon settled into a nice blue flame.”
11. “In the 1960’s, my grandad gave my dad and uncle $50 to buy something for my grandmother for their anniversary, and they bought a Midcentury Montgomery Ward bedroom suite. My grandparents have had this set for 50+ years, taking it from Oakland to their farm in Arkansas.”
12. “From the 1930’s still used constantly!”
“Pop-top bottle and jar opener. One of many items that my parents acquired in 1973 when they bought their first house, and all its contents, including an1971 Ford Maverick Coupe for $9000.”
13. “I restore and collect vintage & modern gas lanterns. This one is from Sept 1960.”
14. “Gillette razor from the 1950s. Plating is coming off but still does its job almost 70 years later. Also $0.15 a blade”
15. “New in the box, 25 bucks. 70’s era.”
“Hope it lasts 50 more years as I begin to (gently) use it. Has the manual and all the unfilled out warranty stuff.
Not a light scratch or fingerprint on the chrome (aside from the ones I’ve put on it already, haha)”
16. “Vintage office tools are often inexpensive and practically indestructible. This perforator dates to around 1910 and works flawlessly every time. Fortunately for me, the clever 4 hole standard devised by Andreas Tengwall in 1890 later became the Swedish standard, and I use it every day.”
17. “Vintage Farmhouse (cast iron) sink is around 100 years old and still looks great – just got refinished last week!”
18. “Picked up this vintage Bernina 731 today… at least 50 years old and still purrs like a kitten!”
19. “The chandelier at our cottage has this vintage light bulb from the early 1900s. It still works!”
20. “Just inherited this pan from my late grandfather. He was 93; this pan is at least 115 years old.”
