Not just clothing. This youtuber does testing for different types of tools and in this case crescent wrenches: https://youtu.be/cyOd05PUix4
Some of the other brands performed alright, but the best one is the vintage Craftsman that you can't actually buy new anywhere. I've heard similar things about things like kitchen appliances, where vintage versions go for quite a bit online because they are much better and more reliable, even after many years of use.
There were plenty of shit consumer products back in the day that haven't survived, but the ones that are still around like Sears Craftsman Tools from before the buyout or stand mixers from the 50s, are literally "They don't make them like they used to". Refinements of all kinds of cost cutting measures and planned obselescence and other bullshit have drastically changed the math behind the manufacture of consumer goods. Metal parts that would last for decades are now plastic parts that maybe last for years. It's cheaper that way. Screws have been replaced with glue. Hell, in cars buttons are being replaced with touch screens because buttons have to be made to spec but you can just order flat screens and put them in any car you want.
Idk, it's all bullshit.
Sometimes I dream of what the Soviet smartphone would look like. It would weigh five pounds. All parts would be waterproof and shockproof. The image quality would be shit but it would also function in space. Every single component would be user serviceable and could be replaced in the field using only a screw driver in less than ten minutes. The 2006 model would continue to be produced for 83 years with parts upgrade kits available every decade or so. Normally the signal would suck but the thing comes packaged with a four foot whip antenna that, when installed, would get five bars in the Mariana Trench. People would complain about them constantly but also keep them in flawless condition and hand them down to their kids.
Speaking of Soviet products, are you familiar with these?
What sounds like a German music festival, is actually the name of a genius east German glass invention, a glass which could last up to 15 times longer than normal glass. The origins of Superfest, literally SuperHard – were twofold. East Germany was always a frugal country with a mindset of not wasting the limited resources it had, and it was driven by technological advances.
But then...
Despite their commercial success in East Germany, the production plant in Schewpnitz was shut down on the 1st of July, 1990. After German reunification, the plant was sold off and scrapped piece by piece – as no manufacturer had any interest in the technology, or in a product which would actually “slow down” sales. And that’s (just one of many small) tragedies of German reunification. Superfest was an invention that maybe could have only been made under a “socialist” system – it was a product that solved a problem, but wasn’t dependent on inflated sales figure due planned obsolescence.
I hadn't heard of that one. But it reminds me of Pyrex, which isn't actually Pyrex anymore. It's just a brand name, now, and the glass they use for the dishes is shit and has none of the durability or temperature tolerance of real Pyrex.
It gets the point across but Supersolid would probably be a better translation.
There's a few interesting stories like this, I read a few articles about Christa Petroff-Bohne where she talks about designing every day objects for the GDR. Stuff like making sure service items for the food industry stack well and are made out of materials you can polish scratches out of.
Interestingly enough – the name Ceverit was phased out before production began and replaced with “Superfest (Super Hard), as someone noticed that “Ceverit” was a conjugated form of the Latin word “cevere”, which translates to “wiggling your butt while having sex”. Opportunity missed in my opinion.
This reminds me of my roommate who was an engineer for bank atm enclosures, he braged to me about how only an engineer could make a bridge or building that just is on the edge of collapsing but dosent because its 'efficient use of resources' after that day im becoming confident that engineering is almost most certainly a waste of time, I get the point of this in the context of say space shit yeah weight is limited but replacing doing planed obsolescence is a crime against nature.
As is often the case capitalism is a problem. A lot of engineers I've met love old consumer appliances and tools and various bits of technology that showcase ingenuity, durability, user-serviceable parts, and elegant function. They're not happy about some dickhead in finance pressuring them to remove screws or create thinner casings to shave off another penny per unit, or marketing telling them that they have to make the casing look good and to hell with the internal components. I've met a lot of software engineers who drink the silicon valley koolaid, but engineers who primarily build tangible stuff seem to have far less tolerance for it. Probably because it's a pain in the ass to get new tools anymore and they spend so much time fighting with software licensing.
Also with cookware. David Harvey talks about how he still uses his family's silverware from the 19th century. Meanwhile IKEA plates crack on me after 6 months or less.
Not just clothing. This youtuber does testing for different types of tools and in this case crescent wrenches: https://youtu.be/cyOd05PUix4
Some of the other brands performed alright, but the best one is the vintage Craftsman that you can't actually buy new anywhere. I've heard similar things about things like kitchen appliances, where vintage versions go for quite a bit online because they are much better and more reliable, even after many years of use.
There were plenty of shit consumer products back in the day that haven't survived, but the ones that are still around like Sears Craftsman Tools from before the buyout or stand mixers from the 50s, are literally "They don't make them like they used to". Refinements of all kinds of cost cutting measures and planned obselescence and other bullshit have drastically changed the math behind the manufacture of consumer goods. Metal parts that would last for decades are now plastic parts that maybe last for years. It's cheaper that way. Screws have been replaced with glue. Hell, in cars buttons are being replaced with touch screens because buttons have to be made to spec but you can just order flat screens and put them in any car you want.
Idk, it's all bullshit.
Sometimes I dream of what the Soviet smartphone would look like. It would weigh five pounds. All parts would be waterproof and shockproof. The image quality would be shit but it would also function in space. Every single component would be user serviceable and could be replaced in the field using only a screw driver in less than ten minutes. The 2006 model would continue to be produced for 83 years with parts upgrade kits available every decade or so. Normally the signal would suck but the thing comes packaged with a four foot whip antenna that, when installed, would get five bars in the Mariana Trench. People would complain about them constantly but also keep them in flawless condition and hand them down to their kids.
Speaking of Soviet products, are you familiar with these?
But then...
I hadn't heard of that one. But it reminds me of Pyrex, which isn't actually Pyrex anymore. It's just a brand name, now, and the glass they use for the dishes is shit and has none of the durability or temperature tolerance of real Pyrex.
They have certain lines that use the borosilicate glass which is the good kind
Especially as a lab person, using anything less than borosilicate feels like a childs toy. Modern pyrex is a joke.
It gets the point across but Supersolid would probably be a better translation.
There's a few interesting stories like this, I read a few articles about Christa Petroff-Bohne where she talks about designing every day objects for the GDR. Stuff like making sure service items for the food industry stack well and are made out of materials you can polish scratches out of.
Whether Supersolid or Superhard, it's like something a communist Billy Mays came up with and thinking about this is really stirring my imagination.
Now that you mention it, it does actually still have that vibe even in german I'd say
Lol!
:honecker-interesting:
What?! I was told all those East German factories had to be closed down because they were iNeFfIcIeNt!
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This reminds me of my roommate who was an engineer for bank atm enclosures, he braged to me about how only an engineer could make a bridge or building that just is on the edge of collapsing but dosent because its 'efficient use of resources' after that day im becoming confident that engineering is almost most certainly a waste of time, I get the point of this in the context of say space shit yeah weight is limited but replacing doing planed obsolescence is a crime against nature.
As is often the case capitalism is a problem. A lot of engineers I've met love old consumer appliances and tools and various bits of technology that showcase ingenuity, durability, user-serviceable parts, and elegant function. They're not happy about some dickhead in finance pressuring them to remove screws or create thinner casings to shave off another penny per unit, or marketing telling them that they have to make the casing look good and to hell with the internal components. I've met a lot of software engineers who drink the silicon valley koolaid, but engineers who primarily build tangible stuff seem to have far less tolerance for it. Probably because it's a pain in the ass to get new tools anymore and they spend so much time fighting with software licensing.
Crucially, to keep it in top working order you'd have to do it every two weeks, but to keep it generally functioning you have to do it every 3 years
Also with cookware. David Harvey talks about how he still uses his family's silverware from the 19th century. Meanwhile IKEA plates crack on me after 6 months or less.
My favorite example of this is the best toaster ever made.
I've been wanting to replicate that incredible design as a mod for a good modern toaster ever since I saw that video.
Sears Craftsman was awesome. If you found an old junky Craftsman wrench in a ditch, take it into Sears and you had a brand new wrench. Made in USA.