On Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:23:22 -0700, "Bill"
wrote:

I'm buying old electrical products from 2nd hand stores now. I got an
old 1940's Kirby all metal vacuum which still runs great! Got several
old 1960's phones which work when the power goes out. Got an old
1950's sewing machine - all metal. Etc.

And I have the money to buy brand new. I have bought brand new and the
things don't last but a month sometimes! I'm fed up, so back to old
for me...

Be careful. Longevity is one thing, but safety standards were not
nearly as high in the old days-- both insulation safety standards and
inclusion of things like approved thermal cutoffs. There used to be
hundreds of people dying every year from fires caused by televisions,
and I've been shocked a few times by the old metal power tools that
developed internal shorts. Some old TVs and radios were "hot" chassis.