My dad is a notorious packrat. In his 74 years on this earth, I’m not sure it ever occurred to him to throw away or get rid of anything more sturdy than a gum wrapper. It comes in handy for the rest of us though as we often come begging for a tool, a scrap of wood or a knob for a forties era radio cabinet (true story).
So I wasn’t at all surprised when he handed me this publication – a 1969 brochure for the National Radio Institute’s home study training program called “Servicing Electrical Appliances.”
This 28-page piece claims the program is for beginners, experienced technicians and homeowners alike. There are some great photos mixed in with testimonials and descriptions of appliances students would learn to repair. From clothes dryers to vacuum cleaners, the course even covered air conditioning and small gas engines.
Every community across America once had a little shop where you could take your toaster, blender or television for repair. It wasn’t uncommon for those folks to make house calls to work on your deep freeze or washing machine. You can still typically have a repairman come to your home for large appliances but it’s so expensive that it’s often cheaper to just buy new then to pay for parts and labor on your six year old clothes dryer.
I know many people who have replaced refrigerators, washers and dryers every few years for the last decade because, while more technologically advanced and more expensive, the machines don’t last. Personally, I have a washer and dryer that are far more than twenty years old and dread the day I have to replace them. They’re basic, non-computerized, made of metal appliances that just keep going.
When did it become more efficient to throw away a toaster then to have it repaired? When did it become more important to have a computerized dryer than one that lasts?
I wonder when the National Radio Institute saw the writing on the wall that the neighborhood small appliance repairman was going the way of the old wringer washer. Wonder what happened to all those people who gave testimonials in the brochure, saying how this course gained them side gigs, promotions and raises that gave them hope for the future
We spend so much money buying shiny new things that will just be discarded because it’s more appealing to shop than to fix. I think history will judge us for our appetite for cheaply made junk piling up in our landfills.
Meanwhile, send good vibes to my washer and dryer because I really do want to keep them!
I’m not a fan of all the newer technology. The more settings and special functions something has means there’s a higher chance it’ll break or something will stop working. I’m all for basic as well.
Our fridge actually stopped working a few months ago. We had a repair person come in and he basically told us that we had to get a new one because they don’t make the parts to fix it anymore. Thankfully my husband’s uncle is handy. He came over, took a look, figured out what was wrong, was able to order a compatible part and fix it himself. And so that’s what we did.
You’re lucky to have someone who could help! When I bought my fridge several years ago, the sales person hated me because I didn’t want any bells and whistles – not even an ice maker because it eats up a lot of space and is always the first thing to break. Lol. Basic for me as well!
My dad was a TV repairman. That was back when TVs had tubes. I believe he went to people’s homes. Later, he had his own business fixing automotive repair equipment. He had a shop but did make “calls” for large equipment that needed repair. We have an appliance repair man who has fixed our refrigerator and washing machine. We have found it is cheaper to have these repaired than to buy new. We’ve had these appliances for 13 years. Yikes – I just jinxed myself, and there’s that number 13!! A double whammy! Good vibes to all our washers and dryers!
lol. Fingers crossed that 13 is your lucky number! Meanwhile, I have a friend who owned a washer for three years before something went wrong in the computer. She could spend almost a thousand dollars fixing it or just buy new. What a strange world we live in that we just accept this as normal.
I too dread when my more than 20 year old appliances die!!! I don’t need an all electronic, wifi enable washer/dryer/fridge/stove … I just need them to work. Most of my appliances are closer to 30 years old and know that whatever I replace one with will never last as long!!! Technology is pretty disposable at times!!!
Yes! WHY do you need WiFi on a washer and dryer? It’s not like you’re going to set them to run when you’re not home.
Indeed!!!
I do hope you can hold onto your current appliances, because they ARE better built. Even newer ones are repairable, though you will be told they aren’t. We are very much the type to repair, not replace. I hate shopping, and I’ve been quite disappointed in the performance of newer models.
They’re still going strong so far… knock on wood!! The stories I have heard lately about large appliances that are less than five years old are absolutely appalling. Do you have anyone local that repairs small appliances like blenders or toasters? Those little repair shops seem to have all disappeared from the landscape around here.
Not that I know of. Hubby fixes the larger ones.
That’s good! I have heard horror stories from people around here regarding large alliance repair. Do you try to repair small appliances like toasters and radios? We don’t have anyone around here that will do that sort of thing. We used to have a guy who worked with antique clocks but I believe he retired. Small appliance repair seems to be a thing of the past.
I used to love watching over the shoulder of repairmen who came to the house when I was a kid. I had no idea what they were doing, but I learned that someone who knew what they were doing could get inside of a TV or an appliance and fix what wasn’t right.
People with mechanical brains are intriguing. To think someone can look at a motor or a bunch of wires and know what’s needed to make it run again is foreign to my little brain. There great imagery – a little kid watching over the repairman’s shoulder!