When built to last meant built to last: Why your nan's mixer beats modern gadgets every time

There's something deeply satisfying about watching a 50-year-old appliance purr back to life with just a bit of tender loving care.

While your neighbour tosses their third toaster this decade into the bin, you're still whipping cream with the same mixer your mum bought as a newlywed.

It's a tale playing out across Australia, where a growing number of people are choosing the repair shop over the retail shop, discovering that sometimes the old ways really were the best ways.

The collectors keeping history alive

Ron Coald's Albany home reads like a love letter to the golden age of electronics. His collection of film cameras, projectors, and recording equipment tells a story that many Australians over 60 will recognise—the story of gear that was made to endure.

'I've still got a H16 16-millimetre... it's a magic looking camera and I used to cover the Avon Descent with that,' Coald explains, his pride evident in every word about equipment that's still functional decades after purchase.

For Coald, it's not just about nostalgia. These machines represent an era when manufacturers built products expecting them to be maintained, not discarded. His early video camera—the kind where 'you had the camera in your hand, and on your shoulder you had the recording part of it' - still captures memories, though it requires the skilled hands of repairers like Neil Harrison.

The repair revolution that's actually a restoration

Harrison, an Albany electronics repairer, has found himself at the centre of a quiet revolution. While the rest of the world rushes toward disposability, his workshop has become a sanctuary for the salvageable.

'We mainly used to concentrate on audio-visual gear, but we're finding there's a lot of other stuff out there that does require repair,' Harrison notes. 'Sometimes it's sentimental value, sometimes it used to work well and people want it to work well again.'

The proof is in Harrison's workload. Those beautiful old radiograms from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s keep arriving at his door—often family heirlooms passed down through generations. With vinyl records making their miraculous comeback [6], suddenly grandad's old turntable isn't just a nostalgic relic, it's a functioning piece of premium audio equipment.

When planned obsolescence wasn't the plan

The fundamental difference between then and now lies in design philosophy. Modern planned obsolescence sees manufacturers intentionally build in use-by dates, often by withholding software updates that render devices incompatible or insecure [7].

Harrison explains the contrast: 'The older stuff was always designed to be repaired and designed to be repaired at component level. Modern electronics, sometimes that can be done, but most of the time it's almost like replacing circuit boards.'

Everything has become miniaturised and surface-mounted, making component-level repairs increasingly challenging. It's a shift that has profound implications—not just for your wallet, but for the planet.

The environmental cost of throwaway culture

The statistics paint a sobering picture. Globally, we generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022, with less than one quarter (22.3 per cent) properly collected and recycled, leaving $62 billion worth of recoverable resources unaccounted for [8].

E-waste is responsible for 70 per cent of toxic chemicals like lead, cadmium and mercury found in landfill [9], yet more than 90 per cent of computer and television components can be fully recycled [10].

The stories that last generations

Perhaps nowhere is the durability divide more evident than in Elaine Johnson's Wheatbelt kitchen. Her electric mixer, purchased in 1972 shortly after marriage, still whips up batches for Country Women's Association events more than 50 years later.

'I was a young police woman on duty in the Hay Street Mall and I saw it being demonstrated,' Johnson recalls. 'It's still going strong and I've used it for lots of catering for CWA.'

That mixer has probably prepared thousands of meals, survived multiple house moves, and outlasted several kitchen renovations. Try finding a modern equivalent that promises even a fraction of that lifespan.

The hidden economics of repair

While the upfront cost of repair might seem steep compared to a discount store replacement, the numbers tell a different story when you factor in longevity. Recycling e-waste is complex and costly, with costs often higher than raw material prices [12], making repair increasingly attractive from both economic and environmental perspectives.

The irony is that many of these older appliances, once repaired, will likely outlast several modern replacements. Harrison's workshop is testament to this—filled with devices that have already proven their staying power and are ready for decades more service.

A movement gaining momentum

The challenges contributing to rising e-waste include technological progress, higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product lifecycles, and design shortcomings [13]. But there are signs of change.

Australia's new circular economy framework seeks to double the rate at which we recover, recycle and reuse materials by 2035 [14], potentially providing policy support for the repair sector.

For many Australian seniors, this isn't news—it's validation of what they've known all along. The mixer that's served three generations of family celebrations, the radio that's played the morning news for 40 years, the camera that captured a lifetime of memories—these aren't just appliances, they're partners in living.

Looking forward by looking back

As we face mounting environmental challenges and rising living costs, perhaps it's time to reconsider our relationship with the things we own. The throwaway culture that promised convenience has delivered complications—mountains of waste, depleted resources, and the constant expense of replacement.

Meanwhile, in workshops like Harrison's and kitchens like Johnson's, a different philosophy persists. One where value is measured not in newness, but in usefulness. Where the gentle hum of a well-maintained machine speaks to decades of reliable service and promises decades more.