My 50-year-old Braun food processor needed a new part, and Braun can no longer supply it. So I took it to a local precision engineering firm and asked them if they could make the part I needed. I collected it today, and it's as good as new.Dad brought a very posh Kenwood food processor for me to use over Christmas. I'm very glad he did - it really lightened the load. But now I'll be happy to hand it over to my sister Stephanie and use my old Braun instead. In another 50 years' time, the Kenwood will be long dead, because they deliberately make consumer gadgets to break down frequently. But I believe there's every chance my Braun will still be going strong, because it was made before they thought of planned obsolescence, when things were still built to last.
18 comments:
Yup, you're right. I have a hand blender I've inherited from the year dot which still goes, yet have had to replace my hand whisk I bought new several times. What a waste of time, money, effort, energy and plastic! Hazel xx
A while ago I scrounged a washing machine on FreeCycle. The previous owner had thrown it out because the pump was jammed on a bar-wire. I thought I was doing really well, and so I was until the bearings went some months later.
Not usually fazed by such things I took it apart intending to get some spare bearings from the bearing shop on the industrial estate in town. Indesit (cursed be their name, I shall never buy another machine of theirs[1]) have GLUED the two halves of the tub together so you can't get the inner drum out to change the bearings.
We now own a second hand Bosch, about four years old, £140. Much quieter, seems to wash a lot better, and best of all you can take it apart. It's amazingly well made inside (well, I had to take it apart, didn't I?) so here's hoping it'll last.
[1] Actually, we've never bought a washing machine, they've just happened along at the right time for the last 19 years!
Okay, I'll take care & make good use of the Kenwood, and see how long I can make it last, with repairs & whatnot.
There's a small shop in Sunderland (in the North East of England), a really dingy looking place that was old when we moved here 15 years ago. I took my Dyson vaccuum cleaner there when the cable came loose, and they fixed it for less than ten quid. Thank goodness small shops like that exist, so we don't have to rely on a manufacturer telling us that a part is no longer made, so we have to buy a new model. I love getting stuff fixed or fixing things myself; shoes, bags, clothes, bikes.
Our Dyson vac came from FreeCycle. The cable had snapped just where it leaves the plug - the bare conductor was quite visible. The donor said "The motor's burnt out, but it'll do for spares".
I fixed it in ten minutes[1] then emailed them and offered it back again - I felt rather guilty about such a trivial fault. But they'd already gone and bought another.
[1] Much of which was spent finding the screwdriver.
This is great. But I have no idea what a precision engineering firm is or where I would find one in the SF Bay Area. Anyone from the U.S. who can explain?
Beth, a precision engineering firm is an oily noisy workshop where people make things out of metal and plastic using lathes and what-have-you. You must have them, but I've no idea what they're called in the States.
You'd be surprised how many people have metal-working abilities. There's lots of old blokes with metal turning/gear cutting lathes tucked away in their garages. My father in law has one - and I can think of perhaps three or four more without trying hard.
Planned oobsolescence really pisses me off. I think its really evil. Like you I combat it by using things that are much older than I am, like my sewing machine.
Hi Mel! I have an old Kenwood mixer which needs a replacement nylon gear so I can repair the gearbox.
Where did you go to get your part made, and how much did it cost? I might give it a go...
Goodness me, I have a Kenwood Chef and a Kenwood food processor, both of which are over 20 years old. (The food processor has lost some of its 'ears'(kids) but I can still use it.They have served us well - all 8 of us.
We do tend to kill washing machines, however. Although the current one is about 10 years old
Can I speak up for Kenwood products too?
My Kenwood Chef is 35 years old and I can still get any spares I want. My friend has had hers for 50+ years and the spares for hers are still made.
Kenwood deliberately overdesign their products so you really could use the Chef to mix concrete and it could do it. No built in obsolescence there.
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