Old Common, Day to Day Technology. Waht do you hang onto?

[bunyip]

The old and original universal 110 VOLT platform.

For some of the world

 

[Big Barn]

For some of the world

For you 011V

 

[Alan W.]

My wife. Looked at the newer models and the trade in cost was way too high. Plus it could be dangerous fer a man my age, not to mention all the programing time you would have to put into one.

 

[bunyip]

For you 011V

A lot of countries use 220v and 50hz and I think it is Japan that has a mix of 50 and 60hz which must confuse some systems.
I have an old Atmos clock that never needs winding, they still make them but mine is from the 50's, also a few crude old ansonia and waterbury clocks, the latter was to later become timex the original throwaway watch which was pretty much unrepairable.
Somewhere in my shed there is the first bosch nicad drill, overnight charge, about one hour use, built in batteries, bought it about 1980.
A Hamilton railway watch, unique as you have to remove the bezel to change the time so it couldn't be accidentally changed, from the 1930's although they came out much earlier, Ball had one much the same.

 

[3930dave]

Back when everything was just on paper (I was a pup), I used to do a bit of reading up on custom audio.....

The line from a British publication stuck with me........ "...... adherence to proper "earthing" is not just helpful for audio quality in 220v systems, but essential for your survival ".

110 can kill you too, but people here tend to pay less attention than they should.....

Rgds, D.

 

[California]

Old common technology?

Pretty much everything around this old (1905??) farmhouse. When Dad inherited it 60 years ago he 'updated' with a lot of second hand items that were already old. The 'modern' sheet metal kitchen wall cabinets are Youngstown Kitchen from 1940~1948. One still has its doors, years ago the hinges fell off irrepairably on the other two so they are open-face shelves. Today authentic Youngstown Kitchen is an expensive retro line. They were throw-away back then like Ikea stuff today. These cabinets literally may have come from the dump.

The lower kitchen cabinets by the sink are from some previous remodel with 1/8" plywood doors to maximize space in the too-small kitchen. I think the house itself is a Diamond Lumber precut kit because there wasn't rural electricity back then and it was only 500 sq ft. Kitchen cabinets on the other side of the kitchen are made from the same grooved 1x4 t&g fir as the kitchen's walls and ceiling, and the same lumber used milled-side-down is the floor throughout the house.

I'm sitting at a dining table that was well used, had been replaced by something newer, when we bough it from a neighbor in the mid 60's.

I've maintained Dad's style, preserving what I can of the early California farming atmosphere of the house and the 120 year old apple orchard, while neighboring old orchards have been converted to premium small vineyards to sell to new-money San Franciscans. Now I'm the view providing the ambiance they came up here for, as they look out across their sterile soulless but very profitable high fence vineyards that aren't fun to walk in.

Everything I've described here is old common day to day technology that still works as intended.

So I don't see a need to update. My kids don't agree, they see how much work it is to maintain old stuff!

 

[two_bit_score]

I admire you for respecting the old ways! ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Big Barn]

I admire you for respecting the old ways! ^^^^^^^^^^^

Me too! A lot of work and dedication.

 

[Jstpssng]

120 year old apple trees. They must be nearing the end of their prime?

 

[California]

120 year old apple trees. They must be nearing the end of their prime?

The orchard has been in production for 120+ years but most of the present trees are first, maybe second, replacements. We need to replant several each year.

Note the tree on the left below is rotted, hollow, with a new primary trunk now taking over. Similar in the photo above. Many old trees continue like this.

This tree might be original. These tall trees are a lot of work to prune and harvest.

Replacements for 50 years now have been on semi-dwarf rootstock. Production is similar with less labor needed.

I feel like I'm living in a park. Every part of the orchard is unique and interesting and I'm out there all the time.
The neighbor's vineyard doesn't look like it would be as interesting to walk in and I never see anyone. Come to think of it last time I saw them was when they ripped out their apples.