Moved into my present home 20 years ago. It had a GE air-conditioning unit that was original install, I think about 1978. After nearly 40 years, was a bit loud, a bit expensive, but worked well (live in NE, so its not getting heavy duty, like it would in the South)
Replaced it with a Lennox that failed after 6 years. The reason, I am told - condenser piping and guts have been mostly replaced with aluminum, so they have copper on aluminum welds, which will never last.
When we were a young couple just married, no kids, we bought a used Kenmore washing machine from a refurbisher that did it as a hobby. I think we paid $50 for it.
It was old and scratched but it worked. It was probably at least ten years old when we bought it.
We had it for another ten years before the transmission finally broke.
We then bought a brand new Whirlpool that didn’t last ten years before it rusted out.
Then a GE. Same thing.
Now we have a LG Front loader.
Just replaced the drain pump for $17 at ten years, and it still goes on............
I still miss that old fridge!
Appliances in general have become to electronic/circuit board based.
It used to be a washing machine lasted 20 years. Now, you are really lucky to get more than 5-7 years.
My current machine is a Speed Queen. Same with the dryer.
The washer has had the board replaced once and the lid lock twice. All under warranty. Fortunately, we bought it from a local dealer that ONLY services machines they sell.
The lid lock stopped working again. After watching several different YouTube videos I finally found a “hack” that worked. You take off the front panel. Remove the lid lock module from under the topside and put a ZIP TIE around the locking mechanism. The duct tape the mechanism to the right interior side of the machine. This way the mechanism thinks the lid is locked and the machine goes through all the cycles.
Now, Speed Queen makes a washing machine without the lid lock or closed lid indicator. It also has a dial on the right top to change the cycles. Analog technology just like the machines from the 1960s.
We have somehting like an in the wall ac from around ‘78 also. We have been using it every summer for 30 years and it was used nearly 20 years before that. Probably sucks up the megawatts like a hose monster.but it works.
As for radio...ah...I love radios but they go bad after a zillion years...capacitors start to leak, diodes fail...you know...elecronics and age..
So for radio I use one of my ham radios for that big booming nice sound of yesteryear...
And there are times when I have to find the Warriors game for my wife on the radio versus television.
Apparently that is why the old units(like my ages-old chest freezer) has never failed & is still working, even after several moves. Also must be the reason why my various portable A/C inits have had to be replaced. Now if if they know why these cooling units fail, why can’t overcome that problem? After all, they automatically have already increased the price when you buy the next one.