Timeless Treasures That Have Escaped Planned Obsolescence
No matter how old we get or how much things change, there will always be one or two dependable goods that we rely on almost every day. We refuse to give these things up because, despite their age, they still function flawlessly.
Because things aren’t made to last, we’re proud of these treasures that have been with us through thick and thin. That’s where the subReddit BuyItForLife comes in. The 1.4 million members post pictures and talk about the oldest but most enduringly high-quality items they own. Some of these items have even made it across a few generations, and still work like they were made yesterday.
We compiled a list of the best, most intriguing, and most exciting goods. We had to browse the BuyItForLife subreddit with a fine-toothed comb for this. There are too many interesting things there!
Magic chef stove
As far as stoves go, this is the Rolls Royce of them all. It’s really sad that something as functional as this isn’t being produced these days. It was built almost a century ago and still works like a charm, according to the OP.
This Magic Chef stove has six burners, two ovens, and a bread warmer. So you can start some dishes and stews, as well as a dessert or cake, while the bread rolls to heat up in the warmer! It’s the ultimate kitchen appliance.
GE clocks through and through
If you’re a millennial/Generation Y, you have undoubtedly had this alarm wake you up at some point. If you haven’t heard it, let us tell you that even the deepest sleepers can be awakened by the loud alarm sound this makes.
As annoying as they were back in the day, even seeing one will make you sigh, yearning for the good old times. Some items have the power to transport you back in time, sometimes reminding you of simpler times gone by. That’s kind of bittersweet, isn’t it?
40-year-old LEGO bricks
LEGO is truly timeless. We remember coming across the pieces that our siblings played with, all those years ago. There truly is magic in those little, hardened plastic bricks. Because all that limits you when it comes to LEGOs is your imagination.
All you have to do is to look at a pile of bricks and just visualize what you want to construct. The joy of seeing what you had in mind getting built is really something. It’s the kind of thing that can’t be expressed with words!
TI-83 graphing calculator
One of the ways we knew we had made it to a higher level of learning was the day we needed to buy a graphing calculator. No more of that basic addition and subtraction; it was time to work on equations that required a computer’s brain, not ours.
This Redditor’s graphing calculator has come full circle. They bought it in high school, just like their peers, and used it throughout college. The real kicker is that, 20 years later, it ended up back in high school…the OP is a science and math teacher!
Generational timekeeping
Wow! A pocket watch that is six generations old and yet it still looks quite contemporary. This was owned by the OP’s grandfather’s grandfather! Now, how cool is that! Though they don’t know the production date, they shared that it lasted through World War I.
It’s not only a family heirloom but a stunning piece of history over a century old. Man, they really made stuff to last back in the day, didn’t they? What a testament to the literal passing of time (pun very much intended)!
Nintendo Game Boy
Talk about retro. Nintendo released the legendary Game Boy Handheld in Japan in 1989. The revolutionary tech changed the game of, well, gaming. While we love the concept of the Nintendo Switch, nothing will replace that beast of a first-generation Game Boy.
The system’s indisputable killer software was the American pack-in Tetris, a straightforward yet addicting puzzle game with limitless replay value. The OP shared that this find was accidental. They had no idea this gem was still hiding in their home.
Auto Crawler from the past
If you maintain something and take good care of it, it’ll last a long time. Now take a look at this auto crawler that we have here. How old do you think this one is? We’ll give you a hint: it’s older than you probably think.
Would you believe us if we said that this crawler is almost 80 years (three generations) old? The OP’s grandfather used this auto crawler, and now it has been handed down to them. It doesn’t look eighty at all. Maximum…ten years?
iPod Classic
Apple sure has come a long way since the first iPods, evolving from the clunky Classic, to sleek Minis, and finally giving way to iPhones. The one pictured below is from the sixth, and final, generation of the iPod Classic.
With digital tech, like iPods, the battery life will decrease significantly over time. That’s not to say it won’t work. We bet this person could still listen to their early 2010s jams…so long as there’s an outlet nearby to keep it charged.
Singer sewing machine
If there is one thing that is a constant in this life, it’s a Singer sewing machine. Kids these days might not be familiar with these machines in person, but the image of one dredges up so much nostalgia. We are literally traveling to the past!
There is a style to vintage items that we just don’t see anymore. Singer blinged out their machines with classy designs and gold accents. Plus, if reasonably well maintained, these machines are known to work the same for over a century!
60-year-old swiss backpack
What a beautiful Swiss army backpack. We can’t believe this pristine bag is 60 years old! Unlike polyester bags made today, this one features a framework inside, with canvas, cotton, and nettle fibers, all tied together with sturdy leather straps.
The design is stellar, too. The drawstring opening of the top pocket incorporates a top weather seal. A tiny enclosure that has its own weather seal is located in the front part of the pack. Two leather tie-down bands are present on both weather seals.
1958 Rolliflex Camera
Reinhold Heidecke and Paule Franke, a duo of German camera manufacturers from Braunschweig, created Rolleiflex in 1920. Until then, it was a company that produced optical instruments. Six 6x6cm frames, or more over quadruple times the size of 35mm film, was created using B1 film.
In order to create the 12-frame format people are accustomed to nowadays, it may be modified to use 120 or 620 films. What an absolute testament to German engineering this piece of an optical instrument is. The OP says it’s from 1958, but it looks so well-kept!
Gillette gold razor from the ’40s
The gold wash coating of this vintage Gillette gold razor is shielded by a lacquer. Gillette applied a really, really tiny layer of the gold finish. Today, the only sealant is the plastic the razor is made of, and the sheen comes from a glossy finish.
If done by a respectable business, current electroplating on vintage razors has a variety of benefits over the original coating. Plus, it looks so rad! It would make you feel like Richie Rich getting his first shave. So noble of OP’s grandfather to gift such a thing to him.
341-year-old oak chest
Well, the first thing that comes to mind when we see this would be “pirate treasure!” Just look at this thing! Three centuries old, and yet it still looks like it was made about thirty or forty years ago. Amazing, isn’t it?
Well, that’s oak furniture for you. If it is decently well made and you provide the basic upkeep it requires, it will survive for centuries to come. If this isn’t proof that care and maintenance increases an item’s lifespan, we don’t know what is.
Century-old waffle iron
Waffles! Even the name invokes so many good memories. Even though we mostly associate waffles with desserts and fruits, it pairs really well with fried chicken. Made you hungry now, didn’t we? Well, it was our pleasure. But let’s get back to this gem.
How can you wrap your head around the fact that this waffle iron happens to be almost a century old? Yeah, you read that right! This piece of equipment is from the 1920s! Now how can you not be impressed?
German automotive engineering at its finest
What a beautiful car! The fact that it is a vintage Mercedes-Benz in almost pristine condition makes it even better. The OP says that, despite being in excellent condition, it is not valued at a higher price. That’s a shame.
But as we have said, what matters is the upkeep—something the OP has definitely done. It looks absolutely stunning, and any dignitary or head of state would be honored to be escorted in a vehicle like this. Truly, they don’t make cars like they used to.
A compass from 1918
OP should be really proud of his pocket compass! Just look how dapper it is! Because it is from 1918, we could venture a guess on this being quite art-deco inspired. It is quite beautifully engraved: “Eng. Dept. U.S.A. 1918.”
OP might wish that they had paid more attention as to whose possession this was when their parents passed them on to them. As per OP, the compass still points to magnetic north after 105 years! Now that is really impressive!
Indestructible sweater
Now, how adorable is this! This is a proper hand-me-down timeline that we seem to have here. In the first image, we have the father of the two children, wearing the sweater almost 42 years ago! Four decades and it still looks new! Goodness, gracious!
Research should be done on the material that this sweater is made from. It is almost as if the dad went back in time and picked up his sweater to give back to his kids. It is extremely adorable and impressive at the same time!
A classic Sheaffer reminder ballpoint pen
It’s a frequent myth that classic Sheaffer all-metal pens are made of steel. Actually, these are electroplated or lacquered brass with something like a brass construction. On the second-hand market, the polished chrome model has been marketed like a stainless-steel pen.
We consider it to be a truly ageless style that is Sheaffer—unmistakably simple yet lovely. It has the uninterrupted smooth finish without sharp splits or dents that the brand appeared so anxious to master in the past, and is fashioned like a rocket or cigar.
Game Boy!!!
Are you people serious right now? Do we have the pleasure of actually resting our eyes on what is an original Nintendo Game Boy? In its original casing, with six original games included in the pouches, no less. We are giggling with excitement!
Oh, how awesome would it be to even have a chance to hold something like this? It looks like it was cut from an old magazine, rather than a physical object! Bless the OP for taking such good care of a piece of nostalgia like this.
Panasonic Boombox from ’93
Aw! We want this radical Panasonic boombox! We would rather have this in our possession than any other modern device. Sure, modern audio devices have far more power and output when you make a comparison, but this boombox has the swag!
Look how cool it looks! All you need is a tank top, a snapback, a rip curl short, and some Air Jordans to look like an extra from the Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson ‘90s classic White Men Can’t Jump. Now that would be cool!
Sixer of a mixer
No ’60s or ’70s home kitchen scene from a movie would be complete without this mixer. This is as reminiscent of that era as the hippy culture. Plus, this KitchenAid mixer looks so brand new! How did OP get their hands on this?
Well, as it turns out, the OP bought this for 35 dollars, realizing its potential. Then they went to work on it and gave it a new paint job while greasing all the joints quite well. The end product? A mixer that looks pretty darn new!
We are fans of retro GE fans!
Do you want to add a nostalgic vibe to your movie or TV show? Do you desire the 1940s and 1950s décor? Place a GE fan, such as this, on the nightstand and you’re back in time. General Electric has given us some truly longlasting devices.
These units are pretty durable, too! Contemporary pedestal and table fans are sleek, but they’re also quite delicate, and you’d be lucky to get five years out of a single one. Meanwhile, a well-maintained General Electric fan practically lasts a lifetime.
Sentimental down jackets
Now that’s a well-maintained North Face down jacket if we ever saw one. But what makes this even more touching is the story that the OP has to tell. So, OP’s parents purchased two matching North Face down jackets for their wedding, 35 years ago.
They saw continuous use and were taken care of very well. OP’s dad sadly passed away, and it is up to OP to make sure that the down jacket will continue to be in good use. Can those ninjas stop cutting those onions?
1969 Raleigh Sports Bicycle
This is a beautiful brown powerhouse of a bike. It is indeed hefty… incredibly hefty. Even a little bit heavier than just that. Fully loaded, one might say. We estimate that it weighs around 40 lbs. Because of this, this isn’t the ideal bike for urban commuters.
That’s because they must lug their bikes up 15 flights of stairs or ride them up steep slopes. But this’ll handle a paved trail well. Plus, look at the overall finish of this thing! OP has taken very good care of this!
An Oxford book bag from the 1880s
Talk about long-lasting items! This takes the cake when it comes to such things. It was originally made in the 1880s, but it looks like it was purchased five years ago. All the wear and tear that you see and experience seems so new!
This timeless bag has been used by almost three generations for over seven decades. Yet it still looks like it has another century or so left in it. It goes to show how much consumerism has changed the way products are made these days.
1976 Scrabble board
Now, how cool is this setup? Sure, Scrabble boards haven’t changed much over the years, but there’s something about this one that screams “vintage.” Okay, so the fact we found it on the subReddit gives us a hint that it’s old, but it’s still cool.
This was built in 1976. Wordle might be all the rage, but there’s no replacing the classics like Scrabble. If you are quite the word nerd, then this is the ideal pastime for you, your family, your friends, or your significant other. What a way to beat gloomy weather.
Quality boots
We all look for ways to save money, but some things aren’t worth the cheaper price tag—if you have the money for them, that is. The rule of thumb is to never buy anything cheap that creates a barrier between you and the ground. That goes for shoes and beds.
Shoes, especially if they will be worn frequently, should be purchased with care. Just like this pair of Sorel boots that the OP has apparently been using for the past 20 years! These look hardly a year old, let alone two decades!
SACHS car toy
If the mere sight of this toy car takes you back decades, well, we can understand. Plus, it is just begging to be driven—not that we can fit on it with our current bulk. But there was a time that we could.
Plus, it’s by SACHS, so you know this to be good. As OP says, it survived a total of 7 kids and still works, even after 35 years! To last through one kid’s playtime is a feat in and of itself. We hope OP continues to take care of this.
Timeless skillet
How old do you think this cast iron skillet is? If we didn’t have context, we’d guess it’s upwards of five years old. It does look the part, doesn’t it? It has all that patina from all that bacon and things fried on it.
It possesses slight wear and tear from use. Everything checks out, doesn’t it? Well, hold on to your seat because this inconspicuous-looking skillet is almost 80 years old! Yeah, you read that right! Even after millennia, it will remain this way!
Super Nintendo gaming console
OMG, it’s a Super Nintendo! If you don’t know what it is, let us tell you. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was the first customizable household system. In comparison to other platforms of the era, the console offered better graphics.
It also offered good audio features. In order to compete in the following generation, it was created to support the continued creation of an array of improvement chips built inside game cartridges. we bet kids today would be perplexed by the giant cartridges.
Fisher Price surprise!
Now we know for sure that this grandma won grandparent of the year. Why is that, you might ask. Let us tell you why. So OP had this exact set while they were a child, and they absolutely loved playing with this.
OP’s mom somehow came across this, remembered how much her child loved it, and bought it for her grandson. Like the OP, their son absolutely loves to play with this Fisher Price Micro Explorer set. We hope it inspires him to pursue a career in science!
28-year-old custom leather boots
Nice pair of boots! Looks pretty new! But are they? These don’t belong to the OP, but we bet they wish they owned them. So, the OP works at a red-wing shoe store. One day, a customer brought this stock #1177 boots. The customer needed a resole, apparently.
OP had a look and saw that it was made in 1995! Full 28 years ago, and it looks only months old. OP managed to take a picture after applying some boot oil—that also greatly reduced the overall age of these boots.
Blast (of cold air) from the past
Apart from the latches looking like they could hurt you if you’re not careful, this looks perfect. For a refrigerator that hails from the ‘40s, this looks absolutely perfect. It shows how much care OP’s grandma lavished on this piece of hardware.
You can almost expect to open the doors and find Indiana Jones inside, trying to escape a nuclear blast. This is that old, but it is also that gold! We wish modern appliances also had the same durability as these things from the past!
25-year-old Zojirushi rice cooker
When it comes to consumer electronics, the Japanese have managed to leave a lasting impression. Take, for example, brands like National. We know some people who had a National color TV back in the day, and it was an absolute beast. Worked pretty well!
In fact, it worked so well that they only got a replacement after about 15 years of use. Even then, it was functioning pretty well. So, if that’s the case with National, it is the same with this Zojirushi Rice Cooker. Man, these things are built to last!
Peugeot makes what?
What does the name Peugeot remind you of? If you say cars, well, full marks! You are absolutely correct. If you weren’t paying attention and happened to say coffee grinders, well, you are absolutely correct in that regard as well!
As it goes, Peugeot not only makes good automobiles, but they used to make good coffee and pepper grinders, too. This coffee grinder that you can see here is a standing testament to their past, which many do not seem to know.
DE-LIAR fish scale
Now, what in the world could this contraption be? Well, it is something called a fish scale. You can use it to weigh and measure the fish you catch! The De-Liar model 228 from Zebco could weigh fish weighing up to 28 lbs.
It could also measure up to 40 inches in length. It’s really a fantastic tool for someone who enjoys being outside. You can show your friends that you actually caught the big one thanks to the help of this useful, lightweight, and small tool.
Waterman 52 fountain pen
Now, this is what you call a proper pen! What a classic by Waterman! Each style of pen that Waterman produced was given a unique designation starting in 1917. As a result, the 52-model series features a 2-size nib in a lever-filled solid rubber pen.
The smaller pens received a V for their pocket size, a 12 for their slenderness, and a 0 for their gold-filled ring tops. During the era when Waterman’s established its dominance in the pen world, these pens sold in record numbers.
Coleman Lil’ Oscar Cooler
The name might be Lil’ Oscar, but the workload that this thing could do is nowhere near small. According to the caption shared alongside the picture by the OP, this cooler has been in their family for almost three generations!
Yeah, you heard that right! This has carried lunches and beers to work since 1983. It’s been in continuous use for 40 years, yet it still looks like it was purchased from a thrift store quite recently. Goes to show how well-used this cooler is.
Emerson fans rule!
No black-and-white movie is complete without an Emerson table fan like this one. They’re timeless classics, that’s for sure. Yet, they’re as durable as they are dangerous. The powerful fan can’t be beat, but the sparse wire cage makes us nervous.
Regardless, it’s a stellar piece. As we said before, modern-day table and pedestal fans are so sensitive about everything, and you’d be lucky to eke five years out of one. With an Emerson, one lasts a lifetime, maybe even a few, if taken care of.
SilvaSweden Outdoor Compass
Now, this is a pretty neat item that we have here. This is manufactured by a Swedish company called Silva. What you see in this image is an outdoor compass, probably a model from the classic or the starter range.
Pretty neat. You can use this to accurately read and measure your position, using a map. By the slight wear and tear on the edges, you can tell that this has seen plenty of use. The OP themselves has used this for close to 47 years!
Le Creuset ftw!
If you didn’t know this came from r/BuyItForLife, how old would you ay this was? Regarding this Le Creuset cookware, we mean. Well, a reasonable estimate would be around 5-6 years. Wait, that can’t be, right? These look pretty darn new to be that old.
Would you believe us if we told you that this cookware set is 46 years old? Call us liars, but that’s nothing but the truth! The in-laws of the OP were clearly geniuses if they knew to purchase this. Absolutely amazing!
1939 snap-on ratchet
A ratchet is perhaps the most essential piece of equipment for operating an automobile. A hand ratchet may be a slower option than hydraulic or electrically powered socket spinners because of advances in technology, but it still gets the job done.
A tool with far more variations and designs than the humble ratchet may not even exist. This is why we feel for the former owner of this particular ratchet. Losing this must have been quite the blow for the old owner, and lucky for the new owner!
Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman from the ’60s
Nothing was comparable to this series at the time it was first released back in 1956. And, honestly, in the 21st century, there’s still nothing that can beat it. The contemporary version of a 19th-century club chair created by the Eameses has lasted for more than 50 years.
It has also evolved into some of the most notable contemporary furniture of the 20th century. A pair like this is immediately identifiable and consistently innovative. So what a stroke of luck that the OP managed to acquire this from his grandfather! Amazing!
GE Alarm clock / FM Radio
Time for another ’90s classic, the good old GE alarm clock. We can still heard that familiar beep beep sound that can rouse even the heaviest of sleepers. You trying to shut this annoying thing down while your eyes are heavy with sleep is something quite familiar.
Also, looking at one is enough to flood you with nostalgia. You tend to remember the times you overslept and nearly missed the bus and the time when you were having the best dream, only to be woken up quite rudely by this.
Playmate by Igloo
Of all the items that we have gone through in this list, this shows much wear and tear. This means that this was used (quite obviously, yeah, we know) extensively. Looking at the picture, we can tell it was an integral item in OP’s life.
We can’t expect modern appliances to have our backs like this. Three or four years would be the absolute maximum, that is if you exercise great precaution and care. These things? These will take all the roughness and tumbling and still function like new!