Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#1

Post by ButterWashed » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 2:59 PM UTC

There's a strong possibility I'll be moving from the UK to North America this year. I've found myself looking at all my "stuff" and thinking about what's actually worth taking with us. It's only now that I've noticed my TV is from 2008, my toaster from 2000 and my SNES from 1994!

I still use these things frequently, even daily in the case of the toaster (my wife doesn't like it though, it takes ages to toast sourdough).

What electrical goods did you buy new, that you still have and use?

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#2

Post by DamonHD » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 3:09 PM UTC

Maybe the oldest device is my soldering iron, and it really does need some TLC!

The some of our solar PV system is 2008!

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#3

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 3:36 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#4

Post by eigenhombre » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 3:46 PM UTC

Bought new and still use: RadioShack multimeter from the early 2000s

(sadly, the RadioShack soldering iron bought around the same time just shorted out)

Bought used and still use: 1950s ToastMaster toaster

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#5

Post by ButterWashed » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 4:45 PM UTC

eigenhombre wrote: post #4

Bought new and still use: RadioShack multimeter from the early 2000s (sadly, the RadioShack soldering iron bought around the same time just shorted out) Bought used and still use: 1950s ToastMaster toaster

I didn't think anyone would have a toaster as old as mine, I might take mine with me just for preservation.

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#6

Post by t312227 » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 4:49 PM UTC

hello,

i look at my desk ...

TI 30 galaxy solar calculator - bought in 1985 for high-school and still in use: maybe not daily, but at least once or twice a week :))

cheers v

ps. also a multimeter and a soldering-iron from the 2nd half of the 1980ties ...

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#7

Post by Ekaros » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 4:51 PM UTC

I think my vacuum might be 15-16 years old... Other than that, not too much as haven't been around buying stuff for that long.

Hmm old 27" 1440p Dell monitor seems to be still working most of the time. And I think I got even older Lenovo L220x...

Also old HP Color Laserjet from 2010 did print things recently.

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#8

Post by iamflimflam1 » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 5:11 PM UTC

Got an HP LaserJet from around 2001 that is still going strong.

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#9

Post by zerr » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 5:14 PM UTC

Refrigerator from 1940s, still does its job.

Re: Ask HN: What's your oldest piece of electrical equipment?

#10

Post by speedgoose » Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 5:37 PM UTC

zerr wrote: post #9

Refrigerator from 1940s, still does its job.

Didn’t refrigerators of the time commonly use asbestos? How is the energy efficiency too?