My anecdotal experience (and my parents and grandparents) tells me that: a) devices back them broke about the same and had similar lifespans. Yes, some devices

My anecdotal experience (and my parents and grandparents) tells me that: a) devices back them broke about the same and had similar lifespans. Yes, some devices lasted for a long time but I suspect that it is just a survivor bias. b) there were less devices overall (no dishwashers for example), they were harder to get and more valuable. c) they didn't have any modern electronics. All failures were mechanical, while today they are electronic (and usually non-reparable, only replaceable). d) some of the devices were built using post-war production lines, e.g. ex-military electric motors, heavy metal bodies etc. e) those devices were not even closely comparable to today's. Vacuum cleaners that were a metal body and a motor basically. Washing machine for <6kg that was twice as big. Fridges that couldn't keep temperature, had no proper ventilation, multi-zones or sound proofing. Rubber elements that degraded faster than now. The list is endless really. tl;dr Article paints old tech as better overall which is maybe applicable to top models in some countries and still not even close. But he is right of course and we do need to strive for more durable devices.