Makes me laugh, though, you go into Sonic or wherever and there's a choice of a hundred washing machines. Even the cheapest will do a job for you and will be guaranteed for at least a year, but surely everyone understands the concept of you get what you pay for?

How do you think a manufacturer makes a washing machine with superficially comparable features and looks to on three or four time or more the price? Perhaps, just perhaps, compromising on build quality / cheaper materials? is this a shock?

Extended guarantees are a real rip off, but if you want your kit to be "guaranteed" for the indefinite future you have that option too.

Solid state electronic items that don't take the physical stick tend to be very long lived, in my experience. Can't remember the last time we bought a telly, for example, that wasn't working perfectly adequately many, many years later.

it's not so much "planned" obscolescence, as simply working to a price.

My OT comment ... You're the first person I've "met" (outside of watch forums... and I only "lurk" on those, I don't post) who I have seen/heard mention the co-axial escapement.
You now have a place in my esteem so don't go spoiling it.


If Omega made co-axial escapement watches whose aesthetic appealed to me, I might have saved up and bought one ... but they're all a bit blingy for my taste.
Nonetheless, your post is absolutely correct.
Yours El Barbudo (from henceforth aka Valjoux Fan)


Our washing machine is 12 years old and is doing great.
It did break down once and was fixed by a new circuit board ... which puzzled me, as the moving parts (which you might expect to wear out first) were all still fine.

I'm well aware that you get what you pay for.

The AEG that broke down recently was not the cheapest machine available, but was chosen partly because of it's environmental record, although that meant spending more.

The new one was not cheap either – a Bosch – and came out highly in [/iWhich?[/i analysis, and also has very good energy and water efficiency levels.

We're everywhere. You can usually spot us because we look at a persons wrist first before their face.




I'm flattered.




You mean ETA fan.

Meant to say, have you seen [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17523049this?[/url

You probably have, but this drift reminded me of it.

iPhones are the worst for planned obsolence. I had one that lasted 17 months, just none month short of a contract then all of a sudden it stoped working.

I even had to pick all the bits of glass out of my trouser pockets before I dared put them back in the washing machine.

Quote ="Mintball"Meant to say, have you seen [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17523049this?[/url You probably have, but this drift reminded me of it. '" Much appreciated. A whole host of forums and blogs that are dedicated to horology usually keep me up to date. A favorite of mine. www.hodinkee.com/ Just to keep this thread on topic. I most be very lucky or I just look after products better than others. But I always seem to make things last for ever. Both my oven and fridge are pushing the 20 year barrier and my boiler/central heating is 38 years old this year and still going strong. Perhaps it helps that I'm stuck in time warp myself.

Quote ="Mintball"Meant to say, have you seen [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17523049this?[/url You probably have, but this drift reminded me of it. '" Much appreciated. A whole host of forums and blogs that are dedicated to horology usually keep me up to date. A favorite of mine. www.hodinkee.com/ Just to keep this thread on topic. I most be very lucky or I just look after products better than others. But I always seem to make things last for ever. Both my oven and fridge are pushing the 20 year barrier and my boiler/central heating is 38 years old this year and still going strong. Perhaps it helps that I'm stuck in time warp myself.

El Barbudo, you will probably be disgusted to know that I am also aware of a co-axial escapement.

If we carry on like this, it'll be like a scene from [iSpartacus[/i.

You'll just have to watch out then.












I'll get me coat ...

Yes, I suppose so as most of my ((very) modest collection from the lower end of the quality mechanical market are spread across three or four different ETA calibres ... or derivatives thereof (e.g. Oris) ... just that the favourite watch that I own has a Valjoux 7750 ... by ETA.

Today oi am mos'ly wearin' an auto from Zeno of Basel with an ETA 2836.
Very plain indeed.

My daily wearer has a 7750 also.

New light bulbs are rubbish. I doubt it's a conspiracy, but they are really not what they are cracked up to be. I haven't had one of these rediculously expensive objects last months, let alone the years it will take for them to recover the extra investment. I have had two literally explode, glowing super bright for a few days then blowing the lamp with them. I have had to buy 2 new lamps in my office, both shagged when the bulb went.
There is a small electrical shop in our arcade that sells the old ones (they must have millions in stock), mainly to all the old people in town who can't see anything with the new bulbs and who can't afford to wait 5 minutes for them to warm up while they attempt to navigate the stairs.

I'm sure the pi$$ small amount of power we'll save will delay global warming catastrophe by 0.00004 of second so it's all worth it I suppose.

I might as well join in.



Today's pick contains a JLC calibre 956.



As for light bulbs.

I've switched to solely using energy saving bulbs. Now I can't say I've noticed a reduction in my energy bills. But the life span of the energy saver bulbs themselves far exceeds those of the old style bulbs.

As have I and for anyone who doesn't like the colour temperature or brilliance of the run of the mill energy saver, get your hand in your pocket and buy some 30 watt daylight bulbs

I bought a 60watt energy saver bulb for my elderly mothers living room because she complained about dim light contributing to her inability to the read the newspaper. I'd now liken entering that room to staring at the sun. But at least me mam can now read the paper and on the plus side she's developed a lovely healthy glow/tan.

I should really do that, but have you seen the price of them



They really do make a difference (apparently) to painting/other hobby stuff especially during the winter when you're working in artificial light most of the time, the difference from what you saw the night before and what you see the next day in daylight can be huge sometimes.

[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Energy-Saving-Bulbs-40W-200W-E27-CFL-Photography-Bulb-Daylight-Not-B22-/150783749896?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&hash=item231b696f08eBay is your friend[/url

The first ones I swapped for energy-saving bulbs were in the bedside lamps.
They take a couple of minutes to warm up to their full brightness but that's marvellous for a bedside lamp where you don't want a sudden shock of light in your eyes and gradual brightening is actually a benefit.

In the sitting room, we have some daylight energy-saving bulbs and they are way too cold in colour, I'm looking for something more like the old tungsten bulb warmth of colour ... any suggestions?

Look on the many websites, there are bulbs of various colour temperatures

This thread is in serious danger of becoming informative and useful.

I will be re-assessing my lightbulb replacement strategy forthwith.

Warm white is the nearest to the old tungston lamps

From that link:-

I love stuff like that.
A little learning is a dangerous thing.

I'll give that a go, ta.

Some good deals on there.

I've got a load of GU10 halogens in my house (a grand total of 15 lamps) and I'm in the process of replacing them with LEDs. I've had a lot of trouble finding decent ones but eventually found some excellent 4 LED units on a US website [url=http://dx.com/gu10-4-led-360-lumen-3500k-warm-white-light-bulb-85-265v-ac-44577DealExtreme[/url. They're perfect replacements for 50W halogens and reasonably priced if you buy in bulk, but those eBay units look similar for a little less.