I Can’t Quit You, Old Timey Shelf Stereo!
Though it pains me to say it, I’m not state-of-the-art when in comes to most technology. Some stuff I bought because it looked old timey and, well, other stuff – like this shelf stereo – is just straight up old. Never mind I have an iPod, own like five cassingles and have one CD – Legendary Pink Dots’ The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse – I still can’t quit this shelf stereo. It was the very first thing I scored dumpstering around UVM during move out day ’05 (and it was old back then) and it works perfectly. In fact, I still can’t believe some graduating senior chucked it without a moment’s hesitation. Besides, there’s something kind of fun about listening to a cassingle of Thrill Kill Kult’s “Cuz It’s Hot” from my janky looking shelf stereo or NPR. Okay, fess up, what jankalicious technology lurks around your home?
Here’s my favorite piece of janky tech, my 20+ year old Braun coffeemaker:
The power switch tends to stick in the “on” position, so I have to plug and unplug it. It has no timer, no beep when coffee’s done… but it still makes a great pot of coffee, and I have a replacement carafe stashed in the basement so I expect to keep this baby for a long time to come.
I love that coffeemaker! It does make a brilliant pot of coffee! I don’t think I’ve ever seen it off the counter before!
Also: it doesn’t look a day over 15.
I still use all the appliances I received/bought for heading off to college in ’94: the Hot Pot, the popcorn popper, the clothes iron, and the Koss XJ-3 stereo. Stereo had a short a few years back and it was nearly time to toss it when I scored an identical model curb shopping. Couldn’t believe my luck: the parts broken on one worked on the other so it all worked out.
I don’t own a digital camera. I actually collect vintage cameras, but for everyday use, I use a not-so-vintage Canon Rebel from the 90s.
redlami, those Braun’s are built to last! I still use my coffee grinder from that same line. The top is cracked at the bottom so it’s missing the safety-doohicky that engages with the base to turn the grinder on. I hold the top on with one hand and stick a fork tong or some such object into the slot where the doohicky used to go with the other.
Do cars count? I have yet to own one made in the 21st century, and never had one <15yo or with power gee-gaws. I'm sort of a bottom feeder when it comes to automobiles.
Hahah. It’s true. Braun goes on and on forever.
This one is a bit odd, but my vacuum cleaner is a Panasonic Plus MC V6807 that I my mother gave to me when my parents decided to upgrade. I think she bought it in the late 90s? It had to get a replacement plug when I accidentally vacuumed over the cord and shredded a hole through it years ago. It makes a terrible smell when I use it, but it still works and I am a cheap lady.
Oh noes. Does it smell like popcorn when you vacuum?
Hahaha, YES. That’s exactly what it smells like. Terrible, horrible popcorn. My partner hates it, but the thing still works so well! I just can’t bring myself to justify getting rid of something that still works…
I’m in good company with my Braun:
With all the people Jessica Fletcher killed, I’m pretty sure she never poisoned anyone with her coffee.