Nice article, and a real interest of mine.
I think we're seeing the difference between the days people made something because they wanted to make it and so the natural approach was to make something you're proud of and charge what it cost plus something for yourself; and (now) when people make something because it's a way to make money a…
I think we're seeing the difference between the days people made something because they wanted to make it and so the natural approach was to make something you're proud of and charge what it cost plus something for yourself; and (now) when people make something because it's a way to make money and so you (or your company) naturally makes it as cheap as possible, which leads to people competing on price and the buying public using that as their only selection criteria, which drives quality ever-downward. I don't see how we get out of this, and the environmental impact is huge. Even electric vehicles are becoming cheap flimsy things based on software and madly expensive batteries. They're like iPhones, and will just get thrown away in a few years, not worth repairing or upgrading.
As one bright note, I believe there is a growing slice of the population who do see through this - who are realising that anything made before about 1990 will be of an entirely different quality, and is worth grabbing if you find it, because you simply can't get stuff like that any more. It will be made of slow-grown wood, not fast-growth timber; made more by hand than on a CNC machine; use British or German or US steel rather than cheap imported. Use enough materials to do a proper job, rather than as little as they can get away with. And the final difference, which you allude to early in your article, is that these old things are fixable. They come apart, they use straightforward components, they can be mended. if you know how to look after them, they will go on virtually for ever.
Yes! I could repair anything on my 1970s stove because everything was nuts, bolts, and screws. I ordered a new coil or timer unit online and installed them myself; not a big deal.
Today, with computer chips and non-mechanical connectors, I can't fix jack.
I would add that they replaced quality with marketing.
You don't sell a product on the reputation of its lasting quality, you sell it on a slick marketing campaign fed directly to targeted consumers that are accustomed to judging by fad and appearance.
The first house we bought was built around 1999. I never got the kitchen I wanted because all the money went into re-building the foundation - drainage issues and quality issues (and let's not talk about the dishwasher replaced twice over 14 years, and the oven, and the microwave, and the AC). The second house we bought was built in 1989. It is twice the size of the first house (yes, more space than we need). The utilities cost the same due to better quality construction. This pre-1990 house is so much better built. I've got some normal maintenance issues to deal with, but, four years in, no evidence of quality issues.
One of the reasons we have always bought old houses is that the construction quality is better. Old houses do develop issues over time, but they are usually worth repairing.
Boy, isn't that the truth. The house we own now was built in 1896. Two-story Victorian built out of clear fir and cedar. Eleven foot ceilings. Solid as a rock. Not well insulated though.
Based on the evidence we've discovered during remodeling, our current house actually incorporated a structure that was built before its theoretical build date of 1874. One downstairs corner of the house was built with non-dimensional lumber on a stone foundation. That lumber is a bear to cut, drill, or screw into--much more solid stuff than anything you can buy new.
If you are in eastern U.S. it's probably hardwood. This house was all built with local softwoods (Olympic Peninsula). All the original structure is cut with honest dimensions (e.g. 2 x 6" instead of 1-1/2 x 3-1/2").
I bought a "loaf" of sourdough bread in the grocery store yesterday and noticed it is half of a round loaf. For the price a full round loaf. This must help the Government lie about inflation.
I'm in the Midwest. Not sure what species the wood is in the oldest part of the house. The boards are dark brown on the outside, but closer to cedar colored inside, although there's no scent to suggest they are actually cedar.
I've noticed that product shrink is happening faster and faster. Christmas treats are especially affected. Popcorn tins are smaller. Shortbread cookie tins are smaller.
Nice article, and a real interest of mine.
I think we're seeing the difference between the days people made something because they wanted to make it and so the natural approach was to make something you're proud of and charge what it cost plus something for yourself; and (now) when people make something because it's a way to make money and so you (or your company) naturally makes it as cheap as possible, which leads to people competing on price and the buying public using that as their only selection criteria, which drives quality ever-downward. I don't see how we get out of this, and the environmental impact is huge. Even electric vehicles are becoming cheap flimsy things based on software and madly expensive batteries. They're like iPhones, and will just get thrown away in a few years, not worth repairing or upgrading.
As one bright note, I believe there is a growing slice of the population who do see through this - who are realising that anything made before about 1990 will be of an entirely different quality, and is worth grabbing if you find it, because you simply can't get stuff like that any more. It will be made of slow-grown wood, not fast-growth timber; made more by hand than on a CNC machine; use British or German or US steel rather than cheap imported. Use enough materials to do a proper job, rather than as little as they can get away with. And the final difference, which you allude to early in your article, is that these old things are fixable. They come apart, they use straightforward components, they can be mended. if you know how to look after them, they will go on virtually for ever.
Yes! I could repair anything on my 1970s stove because everything was nuts, bolts, and screws. I ordered a new coil or timer unit online and installed them myself; not a big deal.
Today, with computer chips and non-mechanical connectors, I can't fix jack.
I would add that they replaced quality with marketing.
You don't sell a product on the reputation of its lasting quality, you sell it on a slick marketing campaign fed directly to targeted consumers that are accustomed to judging by fad and appearance.
Thank you for writing this - I really enjoyed it.
The first house we bought was built around 1999. I never got the kitchen I wanted because all the money went into re-building the foundation - drainage issues and quality issues (and let's not talk about the dishwasher replaced twice over 14 years, and the oven, and the microwave, and the AC). The second house we bought was built in 1989. It is twice the size of the first house (yes, more space than we need). The utilities cost the same due to better quality construction. This pre-1990 house is so much better built. I've got some normal maintenance issues to deal with, but, four years in, no evidence of quality issues.
One of the reasons we have always bought old houses is that the construction quality is better. Old houses do develop issues over time, but they are usually worth repairing.
Boy, isn't that the truth. The house we own now was built in 1896. Two-story Victorian built out of clear fir and cedar. Eleven foot ceilings. Solid as a rock. Not well insulated though.
Based on the evidence we've discovered during remodeling, our current house actually incorporated a structure that was built before its theoretical build date of 1874. One downstairs corner of the house was built with non-dimensional lumber on a stone foundation. That lumber is a bear to cut, drill, or screw into--much more solid stuff than anything you can buy new.
If you are in eastern U.S. it's probably hardwood. This house was all built with local softwoods (Olympic Peninsula). All the original structure is cut with honest dimensions (e.g. 2 x 6" instead of 1-1/2 x 3-1/2").
I bought a "loaf" of sourdough bread in the grocery store yesterday and noticed it is half of a round loaf. For the price a full round loaf. This must help the Government lie about inflation.
I'm in the Midwest. Not sure what species the wood is in the oldest part of the house. The boards are dark brown on the outside, but closer to cedar colored inside, although there's no scent to suggest they are actually cedar.
I've noticed that product shrink is happening faster and faster. Christmas treats are especially affected. Popcorn tins are smaller. Shortbread cookie tins are smaller.