[Sarcasm Factory]

To be perfectly blunt about it, there’s a huge market crying out for the solid quality and simplicity of the products of yesteryear. Blenders, gas stoves, refrigerators, office chairs, jigsaws — everything under the sun. As it is, Chinese mainland manufacturers crank out a vast flood of junk that fails quickly and demands unending repairs. American companies that value quality have fallen by the wayside. I’ve been watching this phenomenon spread like cancer for more than twenty years, and it’s depressing as hell. -_-

[chrisser]

Being that I’ve been inside this thing multiple times, it’s basically a big stamped metal box with some insulation, burners and a few controls.

The stove burners work fine.

I wonder if it’s possible to buy just an old-fashioned oven burner assembly and gas valve and retrofit it into the box. They can’t be all that different - all of them have similar dimensions.

[Dr. Sivana]

To be perfectly blunt about it, there’s a huge market crying out for the solid quality and simplicity of the products of yesteryear.

Refrigerators (Freon)
Washers (Safety on the old Maytag wringer washers, water usage on the ones newer)
Dryers (Genetral energy efficiency)
Dishwashers (Both water usage and overall energy efficiency)

Have regulated these out of existence (should mention toilets and full house air conditioners, too).

For a washing machine, if you can afford one try to get a commercial top loader Speed Queen. The latest regulations don't affect commercial units just yet. They are designed to not break down often and to be simple to operate and service. That's why laundromats use them.

[Exit148]

Yep!!

[Adder]

I agree...

I wonder just how costly a small start up making simple and old fashioned stoves, refrigerators etc. Would be.
Seems like there would be a market.

[Western Phil]

“To be perfectly blunt about it, there’s a huge market crying out for the solid quality and simplicity of the products of yesteryear.”

Maybe you can get the Amish to do it. In some places their population is growing too much for the youth to farm and they are transitioning to small businesses - furniture and kitchen cabinets here in Illinois.

[Sequoyah101]

Speed Queen washers and dryers. No frills but a little rough on clothes.

As for ranges, avoid gadgets but finding one without such is impossible. We bought a new Frigidare and fired it up about two months ago Hope it lasts but the electronics in these things are just not up to the heat.

[TexasKamaAina]

there’s a huge market crying out for the solid quality and simplicity of the products of yesteryear.

For small appliances, go to eBay. After getting tired of replacing coffeemakers every one to two years I went to eBay and bought a vintage, made in the USA, all stainless steel coffeemaker. Fifty years old and will probably last another fifty.

[fulltlt]

We just bought a new Fridgidare dishwasher from Menards on Black Friday. So far we have used it twice and both times the dishes came out dirty. Someone told us you have to wash the dishes before you put them in the new dishwashers because all they do is sterilize. What’s the point?

[bgill]

When new gizmos break soon after purchase, customers have to buy another new gizmo that soon breaks so customers have to buy another.... If they made quality items that lasted 20 years, they wouldn’t make such high profits.

[Chickensoup]

not going to happen.

The EPA regulates appliance manufacturers

and the requirements are more stringent each years.

another reason to clean out every federal bureaucracy in Washington.