<p>I have a pencil sharpener that we got when we lived in Japan - so it dates back to at least 1964. It sharpens pencils better than any American pencil sharpener I’ve ever owned.</p>
<p>Almost everything we have is old, it seems. My shorter list would be the things that we paid way too much for that didn’t work from Day One…</p>
<p>(and the '65 Mustang that is registered as an antique car??? Geez…)</p>
<p>In our state, a car must be 25 years old to be registered as an “antique car”. An antique car can only be driven occasionally for pleasure, not for routine transportation, and the insurance is much less costly than for regular registration. Also, yearly inspections are not required for antique cars.</p>
<p>Washington has a similar law. You pay once for the plates ($75) and never pay again if the car is pre-1974. No inspections or smog tests. I have those plates on four cars–sweet deal.</p>
<p>My comment on the Mustang being an “antique” was more on the order of “Hey, I’m older than that! Does that make ME an antique?” </p>
<p>I like the term “classic” better.</p>
<p>MY mom’s toaster, a wedding gift in 1946 just went on the fritz, Dad is going to tinker with it to see if he can get it functioning again</p>
<p>I have an LL Bean hunting coat that absolutely refuses to wear out.</p>
<p>I have some LL Bean boots that have been re-soled 3-4 times.</p>
<p>Some of their stuff is amazing.</p>
<p>Let’s see: 24 year old Cuisinart still works perfectly. 49-year-old husband has needed some repairs but is now in good running (and cycling) order. </p>
<p>My Festiva Maxima peony, a clone of the peony introduced in the mid-1800s, blooms every spring, as do millions of them, all around the world. And it smells lovely.</p>
<p>The cast iron pancake griddle my mother gave me, which was a wedding present to her and her first husband in 1937, has worn so thin it requires careful heating not to have hot spots. </p>
<p>OTOH, I am on my tenth toaster since our marriage (we were given three, I killed those and got more). It is a Waring commercial restaurant toaster, however, and has lasted five years, which is a record for me. I’m not sure what I do to them, but I kill toasters.</p>
<p>I’ve never been able to find a decent toaster, dmd77! :(</p>
<p>My mother’s Oster blender (Osterizer) from the early mid '50s. Still makes a heck of a frosty margarita. (Must have a 5hp motor in it…LOL).</p>
<p>It was expensive but I bought a Hanna Anderson winter coat and snow pants set for my oldest daughter when she was about four years old. They were passed down to two younger sisters, all in all they served eleven straight winters. Those zippers were like butter from beginning to end. </p>
<p>My mother in law still uses the same pots and pans her husband sold door to door when he was working his way through college in the 1950’s. </p>
<p>My mother still has the same dryer she had when I was little. I’ve been through three in 15 years. It’s the darn computerized heat sensing dealiobobs, you can’t buy one without them now. </p>
<p>My father has what must be an original prototype of a microwave oven. It takes about five minutes to make something vaguely warm. I thought about getting him a new one for Christmas but he doesn’t seem to mind it not really working.</p>
<p>Try the restaurant supply stores. They have heavy duty models that should last but they also cost over $200 or so.</p>
<p>I too have a London Fog raincoat that I bought several years before my S was born (and wore it throughout the pregnancy, it was so roomy.) He was 19 last Fall. I had the cuffs turned up when they frayed, since they had been a little long. </p>
<p>Corning Ware casserole dishes that are 30 years old.</p>
<p>My great grandmother’s rolling pin, a solid single piece of maple you could kill someone with.</p>
<p>We have a 12-inch Sony TV that we use in the kitchen that was purchased in 1984…</p>
<p>I have an alpaca coat I paid a small fortune for at Saks in the mid 80’s. I think it is beautiful, and I wear it for dress & to church. D informed me this year that it is “so out of fashion.” Oh, well … so am I.</p>
<p>Our Bellini crib. It went from our kids (each used it for years since it converts to a youth bed) to each of the kids of a younger relative’s whose youngest is 14 years younger than our youngest. It was just given to someone they know who got rid of their crib years ago, mistakenly thinking that there would be no more kids. S chewed the rail and we replaced it - it’s still in great condition!</p>
<p>I own three coats, (suede dress coat, down warm coat, wool car coat) all of which were bought before my oldest was born. She’s in college now. Maybe it’s time I get a new coat.</p>
<p>60’s Chev’s & Buick
mid 90’s camry
Dynstar Ski (before the hyped parabolic shape, but mine worked just as well)
DELL computer I bought from my ex employer for $80, still runs my XP apps
DELL monitors
BSR turntable (made by the Brits)
Wife’s French kitchen set</p>
<p>Things didnt last >>
this might be a surprise, all my HP purchases were duds, the LCD i paid good money for went out in exactly one year (while 7 year old DELL LCD still ticking) and the HP tower PC were problematic and slow</p>
<p>I have a gorgeous (still in amazing shape) red cashmere knee-length swing coat that was my mother’s, from the 1940’s… Even the lining is in great shape, and I do wear it. I have a lot of her other clothes, the ones that are still in good shape and that are timeless styles-- and I still wear those, too. I also have furniture from my grandparents-- that they had when they were first married-- All this furniture is so heavy and built so well, compared to the stuff you get now. The chairs are big and spacious-- great style, too. I also still have (and still use) my old Crockpot and my fondue sets from the early 70’s. I also have my grandmother’s handwritten recipe books-- and still use the recipes in them, though I now have trouble locating some of the ingredients.</p>
<p>Oh I forgot…a Revere wear stock pot. It was a gift from my dad to my mom when they got married…hmmm…about 60 years ago. My son tried to get me to give it to him…nope!!!</p>