Buyer beware! A century-old adage that still remains very much true today. In our highly commercialized world, there are so many cheaply produced products wrapped in attractive packaging that likely cause owners nothing but trouble. Whether we’re talking about planned obsolescence, poor-quality manufacturing, companies taking shortcuts while thinking beyond profits, or consumers falling victim to misleading bargains, it’s frustrating to see products break down in mere seconds.
But what if you find such a high-quality product that you never need to buy that item again? Ever? For the rest of your life?! Here’s where the 'Buy It For Life' (BIFL) subreddit comes in. With over 1.3 million members, it's dedicated to "practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last". Think of a toaster from the 1920s. Or a refrigerator that celebrated its 99th birthday this month!
Below, we hand-picked some of the most interesting and surprising photos of things that stood the test of time and continue to serve people for years to come. So continue scrolling through to enjoy this inspiring collection, be sure to upvote your favorite pics, and let us know if you own any long-lasting items you only bought once in the comments below.
Psst! When you’re finished with this list, more of the same goods can be found in Bored Panda’s previous posts on the same feature here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
This post may include affiliate links.
1949 Caloric Ultra-Matic Gas Range. Got It For $20 And It’s Used Daily. Everything Works!
Our Son's Nanny Just Received Her Master's Degree, And We Wanted To Get Her Something Special. My Wife Found This 1980's Coach Briefcase, And I Did A Full Restoration
My Family Heirloom Restoration Complete
"Durable, Quality, Practical": this is the tagline that the 'Buy It For Life' subreddit greets its members with. As the person who founded this online community, user Petrarch1603, detailed in their mission statement, the group initially started off as a spin-off of the 'Shut Up And Take My Money' sub.
"I noticed that sometimes there are high-quality useful products there that I'm interested in buying," they explained. "Unfortunately, I also noticed a lot of gimmicks [and] cheaply made products there too. Nevertheless, this is a great reddit and I would like this reddit to be a companion to SUTMM."
However, since BIFL was founded in 2011, it has become more than twice the size of its predecessor. The forum "is intended to fill a niche for only high-quality and durable products," the user added. And a brief scroll through this proves the members certainly deliver.
108 Years Old And 54 Years Old Boots - Just In Case You Think Boots Can't Last You A Lifetime
My Girlfriend’s Grandma Gave Us This Kitchenaid From The Mid 80’s. It’s In Almost Perfect Condition Except For A Few Scuffs That Give It Some Character. It Still Has The Manual, All Original Attachments, And It Works Flawlessly
122 Year Old Pocket Watch My Grandfather Gifted Me, Still Works Like A Charm With Original Internals
Previously, one of the moderators who takes care of the sub was kind enough to share what commonly shared products they see on the forum. "The most popular items I see based on what's posted are: Stanley Thermos, Darn Tough Socks, Kitchen Aid mixers, Red Wing boots, and pots and pans, particularly cast iron," they told Bored Panda.
We were also curious to learn what factors allow these items to persevere for as long as they do. "I'm not an expert by any means but I think there are a few factors," they said.
"Most products are built to be as cheap as possible .... and poorly assembled (maybe partly due to planned obsolescence but mostly just due to the fact that people in general like spending less). The products that you see lasting longer are often made of higher-quality material and care when built. But they're also priced accordingly."
The First Tractor My Great Great Grandfather Bought To Replace His Horses. 1927 Mccormick Deering 10-20 Still Running Strong
My 54 Yr Old Stove Made To Look Like An Antique. Still Can Make A Mean Baked Mac N Cheese With Her
61 Years Ago My Parents Received This Waffle Maker As A Wedding Present In 1961. Still Makes Great Waffles
Unfortunately, a lot of today’s products are built with planned obsolescence in mind. This phenomenon refers to various strategies that make a product seem undesirable, useless, and unwanted. According to Andrea Soke, co-founder of Durability Matters, there are four types of planned obsolescence that companies use to make a profit: contrived durability (when parts break down intentionally), software updates, perceived obsolescence (when a customer is convinced they need an updated product), and prevention of repair.
"Companies can use all of the above or a combination of all four. The ultimate goal is to make you buy products again and again," Soke wrote. And thankfully, she also provided a few examples of how to watch out for the products that are going to fall victim. "Before you buy a product, think about two things: do you need it? And, is it going to last? Just because you are purchasing an expensive product, it does not mean that you are getting one that is going to last."
Still Works. Sunday Spins, A Continued Tradition With Our Kids On The Same Stereo I Had Growing Up
This Desk Lamp (Emeralite Banker’s Lamp) Is 100+ Years Old, And Is Solid As A Rock. So Cool Looking
A Customer Of Mine Came In For Help With Her Voicemail…
Last year around this time I posted an old Motorola Razr one of my customers was finally upgrading from, purchased November 2006. I was advised that those Razrs weren’t BIFL and in fact broke quite often, and that the only true BIFL phones were the old Nokias. Came across one today and figured I’d share.
That's why we always went to a PUB. Much faster to type.
Load More Replies...I worked for a cellphone company after highschool. We sold tons of different Nokia phones. The stories I heard from customers about where their phones had been would give you nightmares. 90% of the time wiping off the sim card and replacing the battery would bring these things back to life. Forget cockroaches surviving a nuclear war. Nokia phones will still be working after all the people are dead and gone.
I found my 5110 in a box a few months ago. Had not been used in well over a decade. Pressed the power button and it came to life. Had 1 bar of battery left so I played snake till it ran out
To be honest I miss my old Nokias 3210 and 3310. Charge it once a week, so small compared with smartphones and no matter how many time I lost it on the ground it never broke. Can we go back in time please?
Those buttons are pretty worn out, must be charged at least twice in lifetime.
The 6300 in my pocket already is my third, well after they were discontinued. They have ONE flaw that killed the two I had before: When booting, they need extra memory. If memory is full of pics and sms, it won't start entirely, but get stuck somewhere and remain so until battery is dead. Which, in that state, still takes about 2 days.Hardware? You cannot possible destroy these...
Guys, is it just me or the that old faded nokia still has all the battery bars?
I have the same one, don't use if though, phone company won't support it. Nokia WAS the best.
I had this Nokia. I had to give it up because none of the local carrier's service would support it anymore.
I dropped mine into a bowling machine a week after it was run over by a bus. What finally, actually broke it? Falling asleep on the couch and dropping it 2”
Still have one of those; probably an older version. And have several other old cells too!
I wonder if these phones still work now that 2G/3G tech is gone. Were they before the advent of that?
My 1st ever phone.. dropped it down a toilet, from 2nd floor window and left it in my pocket when i got new fone and 1 week later still had battery power 👍
I still have one of these sitting in a drawer somehwere that works - I kept it to play snake on.
"Look for future-proof products that are not going to be affected by software updates, and check if the product is one in a long line of slightly updated ones," Soke added. "There are some great companies and durable products out there; you just need to do a little research to find the honest ones." And BIFL is the perfect outlet for that.
My Wife Purchased These Doc Martens In 1993 And Hadn’t Worn Them In Over 20 Years. I Restore Leather As A Hobby, And It Still Blows Me Away What Quality Leather Can Come Back From
In Response To The "Vintage" 2009 Bottle Opener, Because I Have Underwear Older Than That, Here's Mine From A Brewery That Closed In 1959
Happy Birthday To Our Refrigerator That Turned 99 Years Old This Month! She’s Still Going Strong
Companies are in business to make money, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But as it turns out, people have an appetite for long-life guarantees. A 2016 study published by The European Economic and Social Committee analyzed whether displaying a product's lifespan would influence a consumer's decision to purchase. In other words, would we choose the same item if we know about its lifetime?
My 53 Year Old Work Truck. The Man I Got It From Bought It Brand New In 1969 And Drove 1 Truck His Entire Career Until He Retired
In the US if a vehicle is over 25 years old, emissions are not required.
I Was Told You Guys Would Want To See This! My Mom’s Great Grandma’s Cherry Pitter From 1867. I’ll Be Using This On My Own Cherries Next Season!
Brass Drafting Instruments And Brass Pacific Arc Lead Holder
The experiment surveyed nearly 3,000 participants from five European countries by designing a fake shopping website (like Amazon or ASOS), where people were directed to a questionnaire about various socio-economic and psycho-social indicators.
"The results showed that if shoppers had information on product lifespan, they would choose to buy longer-lasting items: on average, a product’s sales increased by 56% if its lifetime was longer than competing products'," the researchers wrote. "Of the products tested, purchases of suitcases (+128%) and printers (+70%) were influenced the most by displaying the lifetime."
The Chandelier At Our Cottage Has This Vintage Light Bulb From The Early 1900s. It Still Works!
White Mountain Model 692. Been Making Ice Cream For Birthday Parties And July 4th’s For Decades
I Inherited This Toaster From The 1920s Around 10 Years Ago And It Has Worked Great Every Single Day
Not to mention that buying longer-lasting and more durable products may cost more but will save you a lot of money in the long run. And it’s definitely better for the environment. For example, one study from the University of Arizona found that people who consume less are likely happier than those who engage in other pro-environmental consumer behaviors, like buying "green" and environmentally friendly products.
My New Visionware - 30 Years Old And The Cheapest Way To Completely Avoid Teflon/Chemicals I Could Find
My Mom’s Joint Roller From 1969
Twenty Six Years Old, 326,000 Miles And Still Going Strong. I Love This Thing
The study looked at two pro-environmental behaviors: reduced consumption and "green buying". "If you are able to buy environmentally friendly products, you can still live your materialist values," researcher Sabrina Helm said. "You're acquiring new things, and that fits into our mainstream consumption pattern in our consumer culture, whereas reduced consumption is more novel and probably more important from a sustainability perspective."
On the flip side, "Reduced consumption has effects on increased well-being and decreased psychological distress, but we don't see that with green consumption." According to Helm, having less and buying less can actually make us more satisfied.
Though I’d Share This Here. This Dryer Came With My House, And It Still Works Amazing. (See Description)
I’ve never had a problem with it not drying fully on a standard 20 minute cycle, never had a problem with lint clogging (cleaning the filter and ducts as recommended of course), and I love the simplicity. About a year ago, it wasn’t drying and when I opened it, there was a schematic, and on the schematic was a written note that a repair was made in 1980! The issue was a broken belt, which I was able to replace very easily. I would estimate this to be from the 70’s and it still functions as if it was new!
1970's Montgomery Ward Powr Kraft Drill. Before And After. Still Works Great
My Journaling Setup Is Complete! The Desk Lamp Was Made In Japan By A Company Named Sinar. My Late Grandfather Used It When He Was Painting. The Writing Bureau Is Walnut Veneer And Is At Least 70 Years Old
"If you have a lot of stuff, you have a lot on your mind," she said. "Maybe you have a lot of debt because you bought all that stuff, and now you have to manage all that stuff. It requires maintenance and being organized. It's not like you buy it and you're done with it. There's a lot of burdens of ownership, and if you relieve yourself of that burden of ownership, most people report feeling a lot better and freer," Helm concluded.
Little Tykes Climber & Slide. My Grandfather Bought This For Me In 1985. It’s Entertained Countless Cousins And Nieces And Nephews. Now My Daughter Plays On It. Poolside Since 1995
Mom Said "They Liked The Le Creuset Your Aunt Gave You? Show Your Internet Friends Mine!". Well, Internet Friends, There You Go
1950 Frigidaire (By General Motors)
if you ever have to throw it out, take a hammer & smash completely the locking mechanism... if a little kid hides in one in the junkyard playing hide & seek, he will asphyxiate unless someone lets him out in time otherwise. There is not a release mechanism that operates from inside. BE WARNED!
Rescued Oil Can (Before And After) Manufactured Around The 1930's — It Currently Sits On My Work Bench And Is Used Regularly. Should Last Another 90 Years
My Ti-84 Plus Turns 15 This Month; It's Lasted From 7th Grade Through My Doctorate!
I still use my calculator for work, then one I used for my GCSEs - over 33 years ago!!
The Richard Milous Nixon Watergate Commemorative Iced Tea Cooler Made By Gott In 1974. Of Course It's Lasted, It's Space Age Plastic! It's Holding Lipton Iced Tea Now! It Just Doesn't Quit! It'll Probably Give Us All Cancer!
My Dad Has Used This Escort Digital Alarm Clock Since The 1980's. I Needed A New Clock In My Bedroom So He Let Me Have It. I Love How It Looks And It Feels Much Better Quality Than Most Cheap Digital Clocks You Can Get Today
My Grandma Has The Same Blender Since The 1970s, Still Works Perfectly. Not Repaired Even Once
I Teach 5th And 6th Grade Math. I Inherited My Grandmother's Pencil Sharpener From My Aunt About Five Years Ago And This Beast Has Been Tirelessly Working In My Classroom For Three Years. I Have No Idea How Old It Is, But It's Certainly Older Than All The Students And Some Of The Teachers
Roper Automatic Dishwasher. Installed 1978. Works Great And Is Quieter Than Most Of The New Dishwashers
Microsoft USB Intellimouse, Still Working After 22 Years
Here Are My Orka Silicone Oven Mitts That Have Lasted 15 Years. They Look Like New, And Whenever They Are Dirty I Just Throw Them In The Dishwasher
Chicco Stroller. This Beast Is Over 10 Years Old And Been Through 4 Kids, Traveled Around The World To 5 Countries, Uncountable Mall And Theme Parks, Tossed In The Back Of Trunks Like A Hostage, And Treated Like A Jungle Gym More Times Than... Well A Jungle Gym
Just 10 years old? You might want to check your definition of “vintage” 😀
Aunt Called To Give Me A "Simple Gift"... I'd Never Guess That Would Be A Le Creuset!
Eames Chair. Expensive? F**k Yes. Will It Last A Lifetime? Also Yes
My friend just gifted me hers...it has a round wooden base for the chair and ottoman, cream colored leather. She bought hers in the early 70's. Gorgeous, aren't they?
Great Grandpa’s Pencil Sharpener
My Grandparents Bought This Chrome Beauty 52 Years Ago And Now I Plan On Using It For The Next 52
The Rubbermaid 1-Gallon Pitcher: Holding A Lifetime Of Tang, Lemonade, And Ice Tea
Regal Ware Inc. Cake Pan From The 1930s. My Great Grandmother’s. Still Transfers Cakes Safely And Securely To This Day
I have one like this that I bought at an Antique Shop for $20. Mine is shiny and in perfect condition. I use it all the time, and every time I bring it to a gathering, I get so many compliments.
100+ Year Old Hose Nozzle From My Great Great Grandfather. I Change The Gaskets Every 5-10 Years And It Still Works Perfectly
My Grandma's Pepper Grinder. It's 70 Years Old And Works Flawlessly
Henckels Kitchen Knives. I Hone Them Daily And Sharpen Them Once A Year. I Have Cooked Literally Thousands Of Meals With These Since I Got Them In 1999
I have 10 Zwilling knives ranging from small to large - almost all of them are now more than 25 years old. Use them every day.
Anchor Hocking Fire King Mcdonalds Mug From The 70s
Craftsman Tool Chest Inherited From My Dad In 2006. It’s Probably 40-50 Years Old
Fiskars Scissors: The Pair On The Left Have My Oldest Son's Initials On Them, Because I Bought Them For Kindergarten When He Was 5. He Will Be 40 This Year. The Ones On The Right Were Bought For Crocheting Holiday Gifts In 1990
My Grandfather Got This Knife By His Job, He Gave It To My Father When He Started His First Job. My Father Gave It To Me When I Got My First Job. Sent A Message To The Company Who Made It I Got An Really Interesting Answer Which Made My Day. It's In Use Every Single Day It's From 1960
This Is Eternal, Still Working
The First Microwave Produced For Home Use. The Amana Radarange
Made And Canned Tomato Sauce Yesterday With My Mother's 50 Year Old Squeezo Strainer
My Dad Bought This Razor In 1960. I Shave With It Every Day
My Father's Original Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool I Carry Everyday. Circa 1988(?)
Got exactly that model. Bought it in 1999. It carries a 25 year warranty but I suspect I won't be needing it.
Bought In 1997 For £20, This Has Been Cutting My Hair For 25 Years. Not Even Had To Sharpen It. That's Saved Me Around £3,000 And Over 300 Hours Of Travelling And Waiting For A Barber. There's A Reason Wahl Is So Often Recommended In Here
Wade & Butcher Straight Razor Circa 1890
My Mom's 40 Year Old Canvas Shopping Bags. Well Made Canvas Is Practically Indestructible
I have a pair of Converse that I wore from Christmas in grade 9 all through high school and still sometimes wear them and they are still holding on.
I Know Some Might Consider This New When Compared To Other Appliances On This Sub, But I’m Still Proud Of My 1985 Quasar Microwave!
Another Testament To The Quality Of Herman Miller Chairs. I Got This One At An Office Liquidation, Only To Find Out It Was Manufactured In 1999. Still In Great Shape With No Issues
I have my "executive" chair that I got from a well-known Swedish warehouse in 1992. Sitting on it as I type this.
Ballarini Carbon Steel Pan, Cooks The Same As It Did 15 Years Ago
The Fritz Hansen 3107 Chair, Mine Are From 1982!
1990 Jeep Xj, I’ve Had It 20 Years - Careful Maintenance And My Daughter Will Take Over For Her Kids
Husband sells Jeeps. As well as Chrysler,RAM, and Dodges. But I absolutely LOVE Jeeps 😍 all newer models but they are still amazing lol
My Coworker Says This Lunchbox Was His Grandpa's From Before He Was Born. So Probably From The 60s Or 70s?
Drove 7 Hours Roundtrip For Speed Queen Tr5 And Dc5 Set For $650
In 1967 My Great Uncle Bought A 1965 Snapper 308x, I've Been Mowing My Lawn With It For 12 Years Now
I have one of these! The blade thingy no longer works, but it still runs, so we hitched a little trailer cart to the back. Works great for when the goats are feeling cheeky and don't want to come in from the pasture. They love riding in the cart, and will race to be the first one in when they see their "ride" coming. It has officially become the goat wagon 😁🐐🚜❤️
1981 Coleman Lol Oscar, Been In The Family Since Brand New
The Slow Cooker My Grandpa Used My Entire Life (And Who Knows How Long Before It)
Early 1960s Bridgeport Box Terrier Crate Hammer, Originally Used In My Family's Deli, Later My Mom's Favorite Hammer, And Now The Best Heirloom She Left Me
1987 Panasonic Quintrix TV - Still Works Perfectly After Almost 35 Years Of Regular Use
... try to gather a powermeter and look and be shocked - a tube TV sucks about 5...10 Watt for Standby (keeping the tubes hot), loses lifetime every time it is truly switched off, and at a regular volume, my slightly newer and smaller Siemens TV (1998 or so) consumed 40 W. TVs aren't what's to be used forever, I think, due to wasting energy.
Coffee Machine From Wmf, German Build In 1991. My Aunt And Uncle Owed A Restaurant And Hotel And Retired 10y/Ago But This Wall Mounted Baddy Is Still Going Strong
I'm Using This Ipod Since 2009
That's a good point. I still have mine in reach but it stopped working years ago. I used it one day and put it down and then went to use it again and it was no longer working.
Got This Queen Sized Pendleton Blanket For $114 At The Mill In Pendleton, Oregon. It Is A Factory Second. It Brings A Strange Amount Of Joy Despite Just Being A Blanket
Picked Up A Maytag Commercial Grade Dryer For $600 At Lowes Open Box With Manufacturer Warranty. Msrp 1200! No WiFi And Annoying Buzzer That Lets You Know When It’s Done Working?? I’ll Take It!
Jack Donaghy Would Be Proud: Ge Microwave Still Pulling Its Weight. Bought 25 Years Ago And Used Daily Without Issue
We had a microwave from the early eighties. We only got rid of it because of an issue with the bulb in it. It wasn't easy to replace and the bulbs weren't easy to get hold of. So in the end we took it to the dump and bought a new microwave. That new microwave was awful. The plate never stayed on the bracket inside, it was always wobbly and it was so small. Nothing felt hot enough. Honestly if you have old technology and it still works DO NOT REPLACE IT.
Sleeping On These Sheets Since The 80s
Pulled This Oreck Xl Off The Curb. Replaced Belts And Power Cord, Works Beautifully (2005)
My Dad Got This Bike For Smoking So Many Cigarettes 25 Years Ago. Hasn’t Smoked In 24 Years. He Was About To Throw It Away Last Weekend. Got A Tune Up, Rides Perfect!
My Dad Plugged This In Over 50 Years Ago. Still Works
I Have Had This Super Thick Leather Nautica Belt For More Than 25 Years. I Have Probably Worn It Around Half Of The Total Days In That Time. It Shows Absolutely No Sign Of Failing
I bought a Benetton leather belt in a second hand store 24 yrs ago. Still using and no sign of heavy use. Almost like brand new.
Krups Rotary 500 Food Processor Bought In ~1982, Wedding/New Home Present My Parents Received And Passed On. Still Use It Several Times A Week. It's Older Than I Am
This Smoker That My Fil Has Used For Over 60 Years For His Bees
I’ve Had This Amazon Kindle Paperwhite For 10 Years Now – No Issues, Still Supported & Works Well
This Mouse Pad Has Been Around For Almost 30 Years. I Use It Every Day And Is Still Holding Up!
A Black & Decker Toaster My Mother Bought Over 34 Years Ago For Her First Apartment. Used Daily And Still Works Like A Charm
My Late Grandfather’s Air Wrench. Still Works After Decades
1950s David Bradley Chainsaw. Still Works
My Dad's 2003 Hewescraft Alaskan Sea Runner. It Has An Aluminum Welded Hull With A Lifetime Warranty
I have an aluminum 12 shallow V fishing boat from 1963 and the Johnson motor is from 1965. I still bang it around the river going after cat fish.
These Cutco Knives My Parents Bought From My Babysitter 25 Years Ago
Your babysitter carried knives? That's probably why they bought them.
Four Years In, I Think They’ve Actually Gotten Better?
Pentel Twisterase 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil - Made In Japan. 4+ Years Of Engineering School And Still As Good As The Day I Bought It
This is one of my favorite brands. I have mechanical pencils from the 80´s and they work just fine.
I Haven’t Always Owned It But After 30 Years Of Use It’s Still Running Perfectly. My 1991 Ibm Model M
2010 Dickies Work Socks - Still Like New And Worn Every Week!
Pretty Sure This Little Igloo Cooler Is Older Than I Am. Picked It Up At A Thrift Shop And Have Used It Almost Every Day For Years. It’s Been Full Of Caught Fish, Drinks, Food, Etc. Holds Up Great And You Can Still Buy Them New - Which If I’m Right Is The Point Of This Sub (Can For Scale/Drinking)
After 29 Years, Roughly 13 Moves (A Number Of Them Cross-Country), A New Plug, Multiple Drops, And A Broken Base, My Dad’s Rowena Iron Ironed Its Last Shirt Today
Rowenta irons are still the best, but if you buy one, make sure it's built in Germany, NOT the US or China.
This Is A Bit Of A Different Bifl, But Shout-Out To Shun. This Knife Has Seen Probably Close To, Or Over 6000 Hours Of Work And It Still Holds An Edge Like Nothing I've Seen Before. They'll Also Sharpen It For Free Forever As Long As You Pay Shipping
As long as they are the hand forged Shun knives and not the stamped ones.
Crappy Dirt Devil Has Way Over Delivered
I used the same Dirt Devil for years, even after the moron my daughter married vacuumed up wet dog food with it. Learn how to take 'em apart & put 'em back together and you can always fix it!
I Know It’s Not The Same Company Still Making Them At The Level Of Their Former Glory, But It’s Still A Beast Nonetheless
18 Years Going Strong And Smooth As Glass
Happy 10th Birthday Kobo!
I've got an old Kobo aura and they are honestly one of the best e-readers. Mines still going strong and has a battery life that still astounds me.
Wenger Swiss Watch... Cheap Watch, But Leasted Flawless For More Then 25 Years..almost 10 Battery Replacements
Wenger makes watches? I have a few bankets from them, and they're good, too, made of some recycled plastic fleece or so ... but none of them is flawless anymore, due to smoking, there are a few holes in every blanket I have...... Yeah, I know. My Watch, also from CH, is a Fortis Flieger Automatik, who returned to me after being lost two times, and is 27 by now and will likely not leave me before I leave the living.
My Kun Shoulder Rest. Almost 10 Years With This Fella Saving My Neck :)
If you meet enough professional violinists, a lot of them will have a mark on their neck from the violin pressing against the skin! An interesting fact I eventually picked up on.
Kirby Tradition Cb3 - 1960s?
I had one in the 80s & those things are a beast, super heavy. I prefer my light weight dyson.
8 Years, 2 Months, 19 Days Later. Thanks Olukai!
Here’s My Senator Ink Pen That I’ve Been Using For Close To Ten Years
I’d Like To Nominate Wigwam Socks As Bifl, I’ve Been Cycling Through Two Pair Over The Past Year And They’ve Out Lived Three Pairs Of Leather Work Shoes With No Signs Of Wear. And I Average Walking 10 Miles A Week At Work
I was issued 45 pairs of Wigwam socks by my employer. I didn't think i would love socks, but i do.
Chrome Industries Barrage - Had It For 8 Years And I Take It Everywhere. I Keep Wanting To Buy A New One But There Is Just No Reason To
My North Face Denali Jacket From 2000 Was Built To Last
I have a pull over one that has been worn daily during the winter for almost 20 years now. It's still in great shape.
This Gps Has Been In My Family For 10+ Years. It’s Still Supported By Garmin With Map Updates
A Snippet Of My Pendleton Collection. Ages Range From 5-30+ Years Old And Years Owned Range From 2 Months To 5 Years. Most Are Made In The USA And Have No Holes Or Rips, Despite Years Of Regular Wear
Apt Corporation Holman Preamp + Amplifier 1, Designed In 1978 By Tomlison Holman (Thx Founder And Inventor Of 5.1 Surround). Giving This System A New Lease On Life Is Such A Privilege To Me
This Wallet My Dad Just Replaced - Which He’s Used Since 1993
11 Years And Still Going Strong - Logitech Wave K350 Wireless Keyboard
9 Year Old Iron Rangers From Redwing
10 Year Old Bonavita Coffee Maker Used Multiple Times A Day. I'd Guess Over 5,000 Uses
Mechanix Mpact Work Gloves. Just Nailed Up My Second Pair In The Garage. I've Lived Here 17 Years
Fossil Purse Used Daily For ~8 Years
I've had watches from this company. Looks like the bags last better than the watches do. Mine all broke beyond repair within five years.
This George Foreman Has Been A Part Of My Family Longer Than I Have
My Lv Wallet From 1987 (Retired It In 2018)
Scored This 2 Year Old Herman Miller Loni Desk Chair For My Wife With Warranty Still Intact
Feetures Running Stocks Used 3x Weekly For 5 Years And Still Going Strong vs. New Pair
I bet you have a lot of interesting stories, life advice, and wisdom to share. :^)
Load More Replies...I miss products being built to be the best and to last, now we just get c**p that is planned obsolescence.
I have my mother's Singer sewing machine from 1938. It's beautiful and still works great!
I have a can of sewing machine oil that my mother purchased back in the '60s (for 35 cents in a metal can) that we use on everything. Squeaky cabinets? One drop and they'll never squeak again.
I have a couch that is older than me (I'm 53). The structure is still great, but the fabric was going so I had it reupholstered. Was it expensive? Heck yeah! But the upholsterers told me that I will never find a couch that sturdy and in such good condition. I also still wear my grandmother's long jersey (sweater? jumper? cardigan?) that is definitely older than I am (it must be at least 60 years old if not more). There is a little fraying on the inside binding, but otherwise you'd never know! I also have my own long jersey that my aunt knitted for me in about 1988 that still looks new.
My grandpa had a couch and chairs set that came from his mother. Not sure how old, but he would have had it from the late 60s at least. He reupholstered sometime after that and now my mum had them and they still look great, so well worth the cost to reupholster. My mum loves the couch, because it is built lower to the ground and not as deep as most modern ones. She is very short, and likes being able to both touch the ground and use the backrest :)
Load More Replies...I have a cutting tool, a kind of hatchet, from my italian Grandfather.... he bought it in the 1950s, four generations have worked with it until now
I still have my Dad's Browning P35, 9mm pistol that he bought in London in 1940, on his way into Europe and North Africa. The grips rotted away in the heat and rain, but I carved new ones and it still shoots about as well as ever.
I want to share my 180 year old German Hunt Cabinet made from Walnut wood from the Black Forest hand carved
Why are like half of these items only a few years old? That doesn't feel like a bifl situation.
Well, BIFL is a little subjective. I read it as something really sturdy, dead people can't come on and post their old items. The average life is just under 80 years, so should we only allow things eighty years old?
Load More Replies...My parents are still using the dishwasher they bought circa 1975 and it works great.
In 1983 I bought an Oster Mini Food Processor so I could make my own baby food. It is 2022 and that thing still works like a charm.
That's amazing! I recently bought a spice/coffee grinder and it stopped working after two uses!
Load More Replies...I have a cheapo plastic rain jacket from Woolworth ... purchased in 1999 or 2000... It fits wonderfully (slightly oversized, not as tight as clothes tend to be nowadays) and has several large pockets (!) with zippers (!!) which haven't broken in all those years (!!!). And I even got complemented wearing it by a youngster (!!!!). Perfect ☺
My grandmother's grandmother clock (like a grandfather clock, but made to sit on a mantle) was given to her as a gift from her next-door neighbor when my grandparents got married. The neighbor had gotten it from *her* mother, when the neighbor had gotten married, who had gotten it from *her* mother when *she'd* gotten married. It was one of the things that my grandmother brought with her when she immigrated to the U.S., in 1920+/-. It needed the be wound once a week, and at some point, the mechanism needed to be cleaned and repaired. It has since been again cleaned and repaired by my cousin's daughter's husband, and it sits on their mantle. Said cousin's daughter also uses my grandmother's treadle sewing machine, from the early 1920s, similarly cleaned, oiled and repaired by her husband. Those are truly antiques. Soon, my father's wooden-handled pipe wrench, gifted to him in the 1930s, but I think made in the 1920s, will become one. Like Adam, I'm older than a lot of the stuff here.
My parents have a toaster from 1948 that still works great. The plug had to be replaced just under two years ago because it has been consistently used since it was made, but it still makes great toast. Also, I have a dresser and vanity set from sometime in the 1920's that's about as old as my grandparents would be if they were alive today. They're a bit scuffed but I think some Old English in the right shade will spruce them right up.
I used to work in an antique store and was told the general rule of thumb is 20 years for vintage and 50 years for antique
Until recently I was sewing almost daily on the sewing machine my Mum got for her 21st birthday in 1968. I bought a new machine to let the old one rest, but it's been rewired and polished and working good as new still!
My 1982 Ford Granada station wagon. I drive it everyday and have since 2006. CLARKSEPT-...e0ea25.jpg
When my 2nd fancy dryer broke I asked my father in law to help me find the oldest Sears dryer he could, I've been the proud owner of a 1976 lady Kenmore for 7 years now and she never disappoints!
So, my dad asked me if I wanted the (original) art nouveau buffet and top and clock my grandmother was given by her aunt as a wedding present. I was in town (1000km away) a few days in January and remembered it well, so I said "Sure!". "I'll bring it when I visit.", which was planned for March. In FEBRUARY the storage place burned down -- and with it the buffet, top, the table, the chairs... everything. The clock somehow survived the fire. Untouched, but a ton of smoke and water damage. He washed it a few times to get the soot out, and it was still working, but it looked very ropey. He came to visit a few days ago (September) and brought the clock with him. I've cleaned it again, carefully wiped the surfaces, treated it with the furniture oil (at least 30 year old oil!) a few times... voila. It now has pride of place on my mantlepiece. IMG_202309...cc6f3c.jpg
Oh, I should probably mention that the shepherd's hook hanging above it is also at least 50 years old, and he brought that on his visit last year in October. I also have my Granddad's Saddler's Clams -- both at LEAST 70 years old, possibly older. One is a "regular" one you put between your knees, which he brought with him a few days ago, the other last October is a "Clam chair" you sit on. And I have a bunch of my Granddad's saddler round knives, and other saddlery tools -- used by my Granddad, as well as my Dad, and ME, when I was about 10 years old, and taught how to stitch a bridle back together... (I'm 58 now) AND... I also have my Dad's Grandmother's wall clock. No clue how old it is... but I'm a bit "clocked" out now lol
Load More Replies...here is my vintage thing, it closed before I could post anything..... IMG_202211...be3833.jpg
I have an old milk bottle that had been laying in the grass by my dad's workshop for around 35 years. When he passed I was walking around there and picked it up. It now sits on a shelf at my house with some of the flowers from his funeral
It's not conspiracy anymore. It's a proven fact. I mean it's on the history channel now.
I bet you have a lot of interesting stories, life advice, and wisdom to share. :^)
Load More Replies...I miss products being built to be the best and to last, now we just get c**p that is planned obsolescence.
I have my mother's Singer sewing machine from 1938. It's beautiful and still works great!
I have a can of sewing machine oil that my mother purchased back in the '60s (for 35 cents in a metal can) that we use on everything. Squeaky cabinets? One drop and they'll never squeak again.
I have a couch that is older than me (I'm 53). The structure is still great, but the fabric was going so I had it reupholstered. Was it expensive? Heck yeah! But the upholsterers told me that I will never find a couch that sturdy and in such good condition. I also still wear my grandmother's long jersey (sweater? jumper? cardigan?) that is definitely older than I am (it must be at least 60 years old if not more). There is a little fraying on the inside binding, but otherwise you'd never know! I also have my own long jersey that my aunt knitted for me in about 1988 that still looks new.
My grandpa had a couch and chairs set that came from his mother. Not sure how old, but he would have had it from the late 60s at least. He reupholstered sometime after that and now my mum had them and they still look great, so well worth the cost to reupholster. My mum loves the couch, because it is built lower to the ground and not as deep as most modern ones. She is very short, and likes being able to both touch the ground and use the backrest :)
Load More Replies...I have a cutting tool, a kind of hatchet, from my italian Grandfather.... he bought it in the 1950s, four generations have worked with it until now
I still have my Dad's Browning P35, 9mm pistol that he bought in London in 1940, on his way into Europe and North Africa. The grips rotted away in the heat and rain, but I carved new ones and it still shoots about as well as ever.
I want to share my 180 year old German Hunt Cabinet made from Walnut wood from the Black Forest hand carved
Why are like half of these items only a few years old? That doesn't feel like a bifl situation.
Well, BIFL is a little subjective. I read it as something really sturdy, dead people can't come on and post their old items. The average life is just under 80 years, so should we only allow things eighty years old?
Load More Replies...My parents are still using the dishwasher they bought circa 1975 and it works great.
In 1983 I bought an Oster Mini Food Processor so I could make my own baby food. It is 2022 and that thing still works like a charm.
That's amazing! I recently bought a spice/coffee grinder and it stopped working after two uses!
Load More Replies...I have a cheapo plastic rain jacket from Woolworth ... purchased in 1999 or 2000... It fits wonderfully (slightly oversized, not as tight as clothes tend to be nowadays) and has several large pockets (!) with zippers (!!) which haven't broken in all those years (!!!). And I even got complemented wearing it by a youngster (!!!!). Perfect ☺
My grandmother's grandmother clock (like a grandfather clock, but made to sit on a mantle) was given to her as a gift from her next-door neighbor when my grandparents got married. The neighbor had gotten it from *her* mother, when the neighbor had gotten married, who had gotten it from *her* mother when *she'd* gotten married. It was one of the things that my grandmother brought with her when she immigrated to the U.S., in 1920+/-. It needed the be wound once a week, and at some point, the mechanism needed to be cleaned and repaired. It has since been again cleaned and repaired by my cousin's daughter's husband, and it sits on their mantle. Said cousin's daughter also uses my grandmother's treadle sewing machine, from the early 1920s, similarly cleaned, oiled and repaired by her husband. Those are truly antiques. Soon, my father's wooden-handled pipe wrench, gifted to him in the 1930s, but I think made in the 1920s, will become one. Like Adam, I'm older than a lot of the stuff here.
My parents have a toaster from 1948 that still works great. The plug had to be replaced just under two years ago because it has been consistently used since it was made, but it still makes great toast. Also, I have a dresser and vanity set from sometime in the 1920's that's about as old as my grandparents would be if they were alive today. They're a bit scuffed but I think some Old English in the right shade will spruce them right up.
I used to work in an antique store and was told the general rule of thumb is 20 years for vintage and 50 years for antique
Until recently I was sewing almost daily on the sewing machine my Mum got for her 21st birthday in 1968. I bought a new machine to let the old one rest, but it's been rewired and polished and working good as new still!
My 1982 Ford Granada station wagon. I drive it everyday and have since 2006. CLARKSEPT-...e0ea25.jpg
When my 2nd fancy dryer broke I asked my father in law to help me find the oldest Sears dryer he could, I've been the proud owner of a 1976 lady Kenmore for 7 years now and she never disappoints!
So, my dad asked me if I wanted the (original) art nouveau buffet and top and clock my grandmother was given by her aunt as a wedding present. I was in town (1000km away) a few days in January and remembered it well, so I said "Sure!". "I'll bring it when I visit.", which was planned for March. In FEBRUARY the storage place burned down -- and with it the buffet, top, the table, the chairs... everything. The clock somehow survived the fire. Untouched, but a ton of smoke and water damage. He washed it a few times to get the soot out, and it was still working, but it looked very ropey. He came to visit a few days ago (September) and brought the clock with him. I've cleaned it again, carefully wiped the surfaces, treated it with the furniture oil (at least 30 year old oil!) a few times... voila. It now has pride of place on my mantlepiece. IMG_202309...cc6f3c.jpg
Oh, I should probably mention that the shepherd's hook hanging above it is also at least 50 years old, and he brought that on his visit last year in October. I also have my Granddad's Saddler's Clams -- both at LEAST 70 years old, possibly older. One is a "regular" one you put between your knees, which he brought with him a few days ago, the other last October is a "Clam chair" you sit on. And I have a bunch of my Granddad's saddler round knives, and other saddlery tools -- used by my Granddad, as well as my Dad, and ME, when I was about 10 years old, and taught how to stitch a bridle back together... (I'm 58 now) AND... I also have my Dad's Grandmother's wall clock. No clue how old it is... but I'm a bit "clocked" out now lol
Load More Replies...here is my vintage thing, it closed before I could post anything..... IMG_202211...be3833.jpg
I have an old milk bottle that had been laying in the grass by my dad's workshop for around 35 years. When he passed I was walking around there and picked it up. It now sits on a shelf at my house with some of the flowers from his funeral
It's not conspiracy anymore. It's a proven fact. I mean it's on the history channel now.