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What everyday things have you had the longest?

 
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rustaddsflavor Houston, TX posts: 307
2009 Writer
posted on September 29, 2009 at 03:08PM Inappropriate? Quote Reply

The other night I was looking through our family photo sack (sad) and saw a picture of a blue Avon brush in my brother's back pocket from around '71-'72. I'm still using that brush today, have had it since I grew my hair long back in the mid-70's. I credit it with saving me from male pattern baldness. Mom says it was bought from the Avon lady in the late 60's. That got me to thinking:

My loppers are a pair of Wiss "long handle clippers" my grandfather bought at Sears back in the late 60's. I remember the day he brought them home from the store. He was quite proud of them. People didn't buy tools like candy back then.

My main water picture is a Harvest Gold Tupperware one that my mother bought at a Tupperware party in our old neighborhood so definitely before we moved in '73. She thinks it's from the late sixties.

Some of her pots, pans and casserole dishes are the only ones I ever remember her using. I'm sure they're at least 50 years old.

My first electric guitar still gets played occassionally. It was my brother's Christmas present in '72. I played it daily for 18 years and only stopped because the frets were worn out.

My cat turned 21 last May. I'm still feeding her.

Anyone have any things you still use after all these years? It's interesting to see what survives and stays in circulation.

 

2009 Advisor
posted on September 29, 2009 at 03:29PM
 

My Toyota pickup and my pup, Annie ~ who for some reason today, has to pee every 15 min.

19 years and 15 years respectively.  I'm sure I'll think of more stuff.  Those things you posted are worth some serious vintage dough, well, except for the cat. 

:) and my record album collection...which is older than all the above.  Oh and my microwave (thanks Patty) is older than my kid ~ he's 28.

2009 VIP
posted on September 29, 2009 at 03:42PM
 

Hmmm, well my dog is 14 and he's an everyday household item. lol. I have an electric can opener that is around 8 years old and a microwave that was my father's from at least 9 years ago. I need to replace it although it still works OK. It's just old. We have one chair that is about 12 years old, maybe more. I know it's time to say goodbye to it but it's comfy and in good shape. Soon, it will be replaced.

I do have a little cross in my purse that has to be about 30 or more years old, probably more. It's been around for ages.

2009 Writer
posted on September 29, 2009 at 03:59PM
 
In response to Nancy44's post from September 29 2009 03:29PM
Nancy44 said…

My Toyota pickup and my pup, Annie ~ who for some reason today, has to pee every 15 min.

19 years and 15 years respectively.  I'm sure I'll think of more stuff.  Those things you posted are worth some serious vintage dough, well, except for the cat. 

:) and my record album collection...which is older than all the above.  Oh and my microwave is older than my kid ~ he's 28.


Is there really a market for old Tupperware? Avon? Wiss? I'm not up on the collector market. Nevertheless, I would never part with them, they've slowly become a aprt of me.

I don't drive it much but I've owned a triple-black '67 GTO since 1994. My Wrangler TJ is a '99, will be 11 next March. I will own it for the rest of my years.

2009 VIP
posted on September 29, 2009 at 04:14PM
 

I have some wooden chopping bowls that are nearing 100 years. I have a monkey wrench that has the date 1916 stamped into it.

2009 Writer
posted on September 29, 2009 at 05:31PM
 
In response to RudiXeno's post from September 29 2009 04:14PM

If that wrench were in my house, we'd still be using it. We're bad about using really old tools.

The only tool I've ever "retired" is my great grandfather's Plumb BSA axe from the 1930's. It has the original handle and I'd hate it if I was using it and the handle loosened.

We are a stone-age family, literally. We use rounded rocks for breaking up bagged ice in the freezer. There's a big chunk of petrified wood holding up the back of the grate in my bbq grill. Anything made out of iron is still new to us no matter how old.

 Moderator
posted on September 29, 2009 at 06:31PM
 

I still have the nice acoustic guitar that I bought new in 1975. I have the original receipt for it, too. I have a pair of Channelock-type pliers that I bought at a Western Auto store in 1973. They sport Western Auto's house brand, "Wizard." I don't think there's been a Western Auto store in 25 years.

I must have had one of the longest-running e-mail addresses around. From 1992 to 2008, I was bkovacs@compuserve.com. I dropped the account late last year because it just filled up with spam and there were no anti-spam tools. Also, it couldn't handle HTML documents or many other attachments. Otherwise, I'd still have that account.

--Bob

posted on September 29, 2009 at 06:53PM
 

Air. =P

I don't really know of any everyday stuff I still use. I do have a little box that had my initials engraved on it. I used to use it to hold my boy scout medals but now it holds pennies. lol.

There are a bunch of hangers I've had since before I can remember.

Um, my brothers. (lol)

 

2009 VIP
posted on September 29, 2009 at 07:15PM
 

I've had my purse for something like 3 or 4 years now.  I've been using the same hairbrush for at least 8 years now. 

2009 VIP
posted on September 29, 2009 at 07:23PM
 

my blowdryer is like 5 years old. my entertainment center is probably the oldest thing, it's about 9 years old and still in great shape.

2009 Writer
posted on September 30, 2009 at 05:18AM
 

I have a rocking chair and a bible that were given to me when I was born, which was in 1969. Two years ago I got sick and lost most of my stuff but some how I didn't lose this micro-kettle, that I use to make tea in almost everyday, that I got from my ex mother-in-law back in 1989.

2009 VIP
posted on September 30, 2009 at 07:36AM
 
In response to rustaddsflavor's post from September 29 2009 05:31PM

I still use that wrench.  Got it from my father who probably didn't know what it was for.

2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2009 at 07:47AM
 

I have a set of stainless steel pots that are 10 years old.

2009 Writer
posted on September 30, 2009 at 10:12AM
 
In response to RudiXeno's post from September 30 2009 07:36AM

That's cool to hear. I kept my father's old electric drill, an ancient one with an aluminum body. It is Model number One. I have disassembled it to fix a short but knowing I'll never use it again, it's still waiting for me to get around to it.

Our old shovel is probably at least thirty years old. The handle cracked so I shortened it and put some screws in it. It's become my prospecting shovel for when I go gold hunting. It definitely looks the part. That old thing has buried many a cat over the years. 

2009 Writer
posted on September 30, 2009 at 11:01AM
 

I have a comb that I got as a "gift with purchase" in the late 80's.  And the mirror I look into everyday came over from Gemany with my great- grandmother's family when she was 7 years old.  It is easily 150 years old. 

That is all I can think of...

 Moderator
posted on September 30, 2009 at 12:30PM
 

I can't believe your cat is 21 years old!  That has got to be some kind of record!  I rescued my cat from an animal shelter 10 years ago and that is probably one of the oldest things I own - hey I'm only 29 :)

Actually, I just remembered that I have a bookmark I bought on my first trip to Hawaii and that was in 1999, so I guess that's two things I have that are ten years old!  I wear my grandma's wedding ring on my right hand and that is really old.  She gave it to me when she was dying and it is my most prized possession.

2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2009 at 12:44PM
 

I have clothes from high school! And no, they don't fit. Never will again.

I think it's time to make a trip to Goodwill...

2009 Writer
posted on September 30, 2009 at 01:17PM
 
In response to this2shallpass19's post from September 30 2009 12:30PM

I asked my vet about that. She said she has a customer with a cat that is 24 years old. I really didn't know they lived that long. I know how old she is because she was born in my house and I recorded it in a journal.

2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2009 at 01:28PM
 

I'm pretty sure that I still have bottle of Jean Nate body splash at my parent's house in my old room.  It would be 23 years old now! 

2009 VIP
posted on September 30, 2009 at 05:12PM
 

We own a small marina that has been in the family for over 150 years so that would be the oldest thing we own. It will never be let go of unless something drastic happens. It is already written that it will be passed down to our sons and they can only sell it if in dire need. It's the one thing that my husband's family didn't sell for dirt cheap. They owned a hotel and a skating rink as well as a number or houses, all sold for crazy low prices. At least we have the lakefront property and the boats.

I found a pair of jeans that are over 10 years old while I went through some clothes. I remember them well because my father thought they had fish on them but it was actually a horse design,. They are so tacky. I hate to give them away because they have those memories but I must get rid of my stuff! Especially horse jeans!

2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2009 at 07:31PM
 

Thistooshallpass19 says:

"I wear my grandma's wedding ring on my right hand and that is really old.  She gave it to me when she was dying and it is my most prized possession."

I would give ANYTHING to be able to have such a treasure.  It's a long drawn out story about my grandma, suffice it to say I was MUCH closer to her than my own mother. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~

RAF says re: his Cat:

"I asked my vet about that. She said she has a customer with a cat that is 24 years old. I really didn't know they lived that long. I know how old she is because she was born in my house and I recorded it in a journal."

That is amazing RAF ~ I only pray/hope/wish my Annie pup lives that long.  Those fiesty eyes tell me she's got at least another year here with me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Patty says:

"We own a small marina that has been in the family for over 150 years so that would be the oldest thing we own..."

Can we skate around it Patty?  ;)  4 wheeler style?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

While I was chatting with RAF today, I thought of my iron skillet, I love that thing, and I have no idea how old it is.  At least 20-30 years?

 

 

 Moderator
posted on September 30, 2009 at 08:16PM
 
In response to Nancy44's post from September 30 2009 07:31PM

Nancy44,  I do know how precious that ring is my grandma gave me.  I would throw my own wedding ring in the ocean if it was between that one and my grandma's.  (I can always go out and buy a new wedding ring for myself, but my grandma's is one of a kind).  My grandma's ring is just a plain, gold band with tiny etchings in it and she bought it in Ireland.  It's simple, but it's so special!

2009 Advisor
posted on September 30, 2009 at 11:46PM
 

I can only imagine This2shallpass19 ~ I do have a belt she gave me when I was in my late teens/early 20's.  It doesn't seem old though, it's metal and has a gold and silver color heart at the clasp.  I think she got it at Woolworth's.

I love that song by Nanci Griffith "Love At The Five And Dime", it talks about the Woolworth store,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjQLGVQZI9I&feature=related

and here she is singing it live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwevqcForgM

2009 Writer
posted on October 01, 2009 at 11:24AM
 

I have my dad's gold Air Force ring. Shortly before he died the ruby fell out and he replaced it with a purple stone which doesn't look as good. It was on his finger every day and is coveted since he died so young. You cannot put a price on family things and I find it very sad when I see old family photos for sale in antique stores. 

2009 Advisor
posted on October 01, 2009 at 03:24PM
 

After my dad died when I was 7, my mom gave all his stuff and our family photos to the Salvation Army or Goodwill...yep, that's my mom.   I wish I had my dad's AF ring, he was an officer, chief MP, pilot...I do have his AF picture and his HS diploma. 

When my mom gave those to me about 8 years ago, I said "hey, you said you gave or threw all that stuff away" and she said something like "not these, these are for you".

I'm my dad's son AND daughter...kinda complicated...first born, took me hunting all the time when I was little, gutted, cleaned...kinda scary for a little kid I guess. 

And no, you cannot put a price on those things.  But what I wouldn't give to find the rest of that stuff someday in a Salvation Army or Goodwill store...

2009 Advisor
posted on October 02, 2009 at 09:40AM
 

My grandfather was a dentist in Pittsburgh in the 1930s. I have his dental tools, but I guess that is not an every day item. I have my mothers watch that my father gave her for their 25th anniversary in 1988, she passed away 10 years ago so it is very special and I wear it every day. I also have her college graduation ring, she graduated in 1962 so it is older than me :-).

The day I got married (one month ago) my new mother in law gave me her favorite aunt's wedding band, since she is in her 60s and her mother (the aunts sister) is 94, I suppose the ring is probably 60 or so years old.

2009 Advisor
posted on October 02, 2009 at 09:41AM
 

Oh yeah I forgot the jeans I bought in 1986, no they dont fit, and no even if they did I would not wear them (something to do with the horrid purple flowers), but a girl can dream. Cant she?

2009 Writer
posted on October 02, 2009 at 11:55AM
 
In response to TaraLee's post from October 02 2009 09:40AM

Congrats on being married!  Lots of rings have made it onto this list. My mother has a ring that has special meaning to her. I think it's been in the family for at least 100 years. I'll have to ask her whose it was.

I gave my grandfather's masonic lodge confirmation medallion to my neice to give to my brother who is a mason. It's probably 70 years old at least. The punk never thanked me. Think I'm gonna go get in his way. 

Any more special rings out there?

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