#[1]alternate [2]alternate [3]Homepage Accessibility links * [4]Skip to content * [5]Accessibility Help [6]BBC Account [7]Notifications * [8]Home * [9]News * [10]Sport * [11]Weather * [12]iPlayer * [13]Sounds * [14]CBBC * [15]CBeebies * [16]Food * [17]Bitesize * [18]Arts * [19]Taster * [20]Local * [21]Three * [22]Menu [23]Search Search the BBC ____________________ (BUTTON) Search the BBC [24]News BBC News Navigation Sections * [25]Home * [26]Video * [27]World * [28]US & Canada * [29]UK * [30]Business * [31]Tech selected * [32]Science * [33]Stories * [34]Entertainment & Arts * [35]Health * [36]In Pictures * [37]Reality Check * [38]World News TV * [39]Newsbeat * [40]Special Reports * [41]Explainers * [42]The Reporters * [43]Have Your Say [44]Technology [45]Technology If it ain't broke: You share your oldest working gadgets By Zoe Kleinman Technology reporter, BBC News * 9 June 2020 * [46]Share this with Facebook * [47]Share this with Messenger * [48]Share this with Twitter * [49]Share this with Email * [50]Share this with Facebook * [51]Share this with WhatsApp * [52]Share this with Messenger * [53]Share this with Twitter * [54]Share Share this with These are external links and will open in a new window + [55]Email Share this with Email + [56]Facebook Share this with Facebook + [57]Messenger Share this with Messenger + [58]Messenger Share this with Messenger + [59]Twitter Share this with Twitter + [60]Pinterest Share this with Pinterest + [61]WhatsApp Share this with WhatsApp + [62]LinkedIn Share this with LinkedIn Copy this link [63]https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 [64]Read more about sharing. These are external links and will open in a new window (BUTTON) Close share panel Nintendo Game Boy Image copyright Ricky Boleto These days, your shiny new gadget is likely to be rendered obsolete by software updates (or a lack of them) before it physically grinds to a halt. A recent report by the consumer campaign group Which? suggests [65]the lifespan of a smart fridge could be just a few years if the brand behind it stops providing software support and updates. Meanwhile, [66]Sonos has released new software for its internet-connected speakers that does not work on its own-branded older devices. And this prompted me to casually mention on Twitter that I have a 12-year-old TV. To make myself feel better, I also asked people to share their oldest working gadgets. And a floodgate opened. Made in the days before software updates, operating systems and security vulnerabilities were part of of the ecosystem, they're all still going strong. Image Copyright @zsk @zsk [67]Report Twitter post by @zsk: OK tell me what your oldest functioning gadget is (inspired by @jimeasterbrook, thank you!) - I'll start... 12 year old TV. Image Copyright @zsk @zsk [68]Report Image copyright @ReesMF Image caption This Kenwood food mixer dates back to 1964, owner Matthew Rees says Kitchen gadgets were built to last, with a number of 20-, 30-, 40- and even 50-year-old whisks and mixers proudly shown off, along with a 20-year-old Breville sandwich toaster, a rice cooker from the early 1990s and a 33-year-old Braun juicer. Image copyright Rachel Rogers Kate Bevan has a 30-year-old washing machine. Rachel Rogers has a working toaster, which belonged to her grandmother, from 1925. And the broadcaster Mariella Frostrup has a 25-year-old Magimix food processor. Mary Branscombe, meanwhile, writes: "Dishwasher from 1996, fridge and washing machine from 1997 - but the Braun hand blender is from the early 90s. And of course my mid-80s sandwich toaster from college is still going strong." Sarah is still using a Sunbeam iron she received as a wedding present in 1977, which "lasted longer than the marriage". And Sue says: "My Prestige High Dome pressure cooker was a Christmas present in 1975 - still in use. My mother's identical one, from Christmas 1953, was passed on six years ago, still good." Image copyright Ricky Boleto A surprising number of Nintendo Game Boys (launched in 1989) and the occasional NES (Nintendo Entertainment System, launched in 1983) are still being put through their paces too. Image copyright Jorn Madslien Chris Green still plays on a 37-year-old ZX Spectrum. Jorn Madslien's teenage son has acquired his mum's Binatone console from the early 1980s. And Peter Gothard's Sega Mega Drive is "coming up for 30, and still working perfectly". Image copyright Ewan Spence Ewan Spence still uses a Psion organiser from 1993. And Amin has been using the same memory stick since 2005. "This little stick has been 'backing me up' since before I can remember," he says. "It even broke and I fixed it with superglue many years ago." Image copyright Moataz Attallah There are also a number of vintage calculators still in service - the one above belongs to Prof Moataz Attallah. "My dad bought it for me in 1997 from France - hence the name, Graphique Couleur," he says. "It can plot graphs, do matrix calculations and more, with 64KB". Meanwhile, Peter Gillingwater's Casio FX-602P, which he bought in 1981, still works. And Paul Marks has been using his Casio FX-29 calculator since he got it, in 1977. "Fitted well in the knee pockets of high-waisters - anyone remember those?" he asks. Image copyright Modha Image caption This Sony Walkman, from 1991, is still going, reports Modha on Twitter Plenty of iPods, Sony Walkmans and hi-fis are still in good working order, along with the occasional Minidisc player and one 1960s HMV record player. "Functioning, probably - the Vestax recorder, which I have had since the early 90s," Keith Devereux says, "unused now since I can't really get audio cassettes any more. Currently in use? Almost certainly the trusty old iPod from the early 2000s." Image copyright Zoe Kleinman Sean McManus says: "My Amstrad CPC 464 computer from 1984 still works fine. "I've got some music keyboards from the mid-80s and early-90s too." And restaurant critic Jay Rayner asks: "Does a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano from 1993 count?" Image copyright @_Tumulus Image caption This 1960 Rock-Ola 1484 jukebox still has pride of place There are also a variety of working FM radios, turntables, early digital radios and speakers. Image copyright Neil Craig Image caption Neil Craig only recently parted with this working lawnmower, from the 1950s "As hardware lifecycles get shorter and shorter, with some even measured in months not years, it's easy to think that most people just want the latest version of a product," Wired UK executive editor Jeremy White says. "Well, that view may have value in the worlds of laptops and smartphones but sometimes older products are just better - better components, better design and a better lifespan. "Hi-fi gear shows this time and again. "A new Bluetooth speaker may have the latest software and chipsets - but this won't mean it's superior. "I still use a TV sound system that came out in 2009. "And I've yet to find one that sounds better or works as seamlessly." Image copyright Martin Mander Image caption Mr Mander's modified 1975 Hitachi TV set However, some older gadgets may need a little bit of 21st-Century magic. Martin Mander, host of the YouTube channel Old Tech New Spec, modifies old devices that continue to be of service in today's world. On his wall at home is a Hitachi CRT TV from 1975, which he has refitted to stream digital video. "At its heart, old technology was really bulky and modern technology is really tiny," he says, "so you have more space inside an old device to modify it. "You can fit something new inside it, like a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino, to make it work like it is supposed to but in a more modern way." Related Topics * [69]Gadgets * [70]Gaming Share this story [71]About sharing * [72]Email * [73]Facebook * [74]Messenger * [75]Messenger * [76]Twitter * [77]Pinterest * [78]WhatsApp * [79]LinkedIn More on this story * Sonos speaker update sparks anger 22 January 2020 * Millions of old gadgets 'stockpiled in drawers' 21 August 2019 Top Stories [80]Calls for racial justice at George Floyd's funeral The US black man's killing by a white police officer in Minneapolis caused global outrage. 9 June 2020 [81]WHO rolls back asymptomatic transmission comments 9 June 2020 [82]Satellite images may suggest virus hit Wuhan earlier 9 June 2020 Features Why US protests are so powerful this time Could the coronavirus crisis finally finish off coal? What 2008 recession can teach us about this one In pictures: Sony World Photography Awards What Trump states make of unrest If it ain't broke: You share your oldest gadgets The backpacking towns left empty by coronavirus Video 'That video of George Floyd triggered a lot in me' BBC Future: How geography shapes mental illness Elsewhere on the BBC [83] Football phrases 15 sayings from around the world [84]Full article Football phrases [85]Why you can trust BBC News BBC News Navigation Sections * [86]Home * [87]Video * [88]World + [89]World Home + [90]Africa + [91]Asia + [92]Australia + [93]Europe + [94]Latin America + [95]Middle East * [96]US & Canada + [97]US & Canada Home * [98]UK + [99]UK Home + [100]England + [101]N. Ireland + [102]Scotland + [103]Wales + [104]Politics * [105]Business + [106]Business Home + [107]Market Data + [108]Global Trade + [109]Companies + [110]Entrepreneurship + [111]Technology of Business + [112]Connected World + [113]Global Education + [114]Economy * [115]Tech selected * [116]Science * [117]Stories * [118]Entertainment & Arts * [119]Health * [120]In Pictures * [121]Reality Check * [122]World News TV * [123]Newsbeat * [124]Special Reports * [125]Explainers * [126]The Reporters * [127]Have Your Say BBC News Services * [128]On your mobile * [129]On smart speakers * [130]Get news alerts * [131]Contact BBC News Explore the BBC * [132]Home * [133]News * [134]Sport * [135]Weather * [136]iPlayer * [137]Sounds * [138]CBBC * [139]CBeebies * [140]Food * [141]Bitesize * [142]Arts * [143]Taster * [144]Local * [145]Three * [146]Terms of Use * [147]About the BBC * [148]Privacy Policy * [149]Cookies * [150]Accessibility Help * [151]Parental Guidance * [152]Contact the BBC * [153]Get Personalised Newsletters Copyright © 2020 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [154]Read about our approach to external linking. References Visible links 1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52965974 2. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/ 4. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974#page 5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/ 6. https://account.bbc.com/account?ptrt=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 7. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/ 9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news 10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport 11. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather 12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer 13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds 14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc 15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies 16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food 17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize 18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts 19. https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster 20. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews 21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree 22. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974#orb-footer 23. https://search.bbc.co.uk/search?scope=all 24. https://www.bbc.com/news 25. https://www.bbc.com/news 26. https://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/headlines 27. https://www.bbc.com/news/world 28. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/us_and_canada 29. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk 30. https://www.bbc.com/news/business 31. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology 32. https://www.bbc.com/news/science_and_environment 33. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories 34. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment_and_arts 35. https://www.bbc.com/news/health 36. https://www.bbc.com/news/in_pictures 37. https://www.bbc.com/realitycheck 38. https://www.bbc.com/news/world_radio_and_tv 39. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat 40. https://www.bbc.com/news/special_reports 41. https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers 42. https://www.bbc.com/news/the_reporters 43. https://www.bbc.com/news/have_your_say 44. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology 45. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology 46. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 47. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 48. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 49. mailto:?subject=Shared from BBC News&body=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 50. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 51. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 52. fb-messenger://share/?app_id=58567469885&redirect_uri=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&link=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974?CMP=share_btn_me 53. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 54. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974#share-tools 55. mailto:?subject=Shared from BBC News&body=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 56. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 57. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 58. fb-messenger://share/?app_id=58567469885&redirect_uri=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&link=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974?CMP=share_btn_me 59. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 60. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 61. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 62. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 63. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 64. https://www.bbc.co.uk/faqs/questions/bbc_online/sharing 65. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jun/08/smart-appliances-may-not-be-worth-money-in-long-run-warns-which 66. https://www.pocket-lint.com/speakers/news/sonos/152452-sonos-s2-system-software-what-s-new 67. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/contact-us/editorial 68. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/contact-us/editorial 69. https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cywd23g04rlt/gadgets 70. https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c008ql15vdxt/gaming 71. http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/sharing.shtml 72. mailto:?subject=Shared from BBC News&body=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 73. http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=58567469885&redirect_uri=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&link=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974?SThisFB&display=popup 74. http://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?app_id=58567469885&redirect_uri=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&link=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974?SThisFB&display=popup 75. fb-messenger://share/?app_id=58567469885&redirect_uri=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&link=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974?CMP=share_btn_me 76. https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=BBC News - If it ain't broke: You share your oldest working gadgets&url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 77. https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/create/bookmarklet/?url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&description=People share the oldest gadgets they still use, via social media.&title=If it ain't broke: You share your oldest working gadgets&media=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2015/newsspec_10857/bbc_news_logo.png?cb=1 78. whatsapp://send/?text=BBC News | If it ain't broke: You share your oldest working gadgets - https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974?ocid=wsnews.chat-apps.in-app-msg.whatsapp.trial.link1_.auin 79. https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974&title=If it ain't broke: You share your oldest working gadgets&summary=People share the oldest gadgets they still use, via social media.&source=BBC 80. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52978803 81. https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-52974416 82. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52975934 83. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/51MWxHsTD7YhW4gTWWtPvKf/end-to-end-with-15-football-phrases-from-around-the-world?intc_type=promo&intc_location=news&intc_campaign=fifteenfootballphrases_article&intc_linkname=radio4_sm_mid_c3 84. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/51MWxHsTD7YhW4gTWWtPvKf/end-to-end-with-15-football-phrases-from-around-the-world?intc_type=promo&intc_location=news&intc_campaign=fifteenfootballphrases_article&intc_linkname=radio4_sm_mid_c3 85. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-41670342 86. https://www.bbc.com/news 87. https://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/headlines 88. https://www.bbc.com/news/world 89. https://www.bbc.com/news/world 90. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/africa 91. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/asia 92. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/australia 93. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/europe 94. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/latin_america 95. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/middle_east 96. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/us_and_canada 97. https://www.bbc.com/news/world/us_and_canada 98. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk 99. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk 100. https://www.bbc.com/news/england 101. https://www.bbc.com/news/northern_ireland 102. https://www.bbc.com/news/scotland 103. https://www.bbc.com/news/wales 104. https://www.bbc.com/news/politics 105. https://www.bbc.com/news/business 106. https://www.bbc.com/news/business 107. https://www.bbc.com/news/business/market-data 108. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-38507481 109. https://www.bbc.com/news/business/companies 110. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-22434141 111. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-11428889 112. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45489065 113. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12686570 114. https://www.bbc.com/news/business/economy 115. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology 116. https://www.bbc.com/news/science_and_environment 117. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories 118. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment_and_arts 119. https://www.bbc.com/news/health 120. https://www.bbc.com/news/in_pictures 121. https://www.bbc.com/realitycheck 122. https://www.bbc.com/news/world_radio_and_tv 123. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat 124. https://www.bbc.com/news/special_reports 125. https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers 126. https://www.bbc.com/news/the_reporters 127. https://www.bbc.com/news/have_your_say 128. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994 129. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132 130. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323 131. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682 132. https://www.bbc.co.uk/ 133. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news 134. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport 135. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather 136. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer 137. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds 138. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc 139. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies 140. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food 141. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize 142. https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts 143. https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster 144. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/localnews 145. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree 146. https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms/ 147. https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc 148. https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/privacy/ 149. https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/cookies/ 150. https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/ 151. https://www.bbc.co.uk/guidance 152. https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact 153. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter 154. https://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/links/ Hidden links: 156. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974#core-navigation 157. https://twitter.com/zsk/status/1269960000203563009 158. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51206604 159. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49409055 160. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52969905 161. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52968716 162. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52815357 163. https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-52934802 164. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52943129 165. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52965974 166. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-52769901 167. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-52967551/that-video-of-george-floyd-triggered-a-lot-in-me 168. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200604-what-we-can-learn-from-untranslatable-illnesses