These kinds of appliances were old school in Hawaii when I was a kid 60+ years ago. Almost everyone used/uses them as rice cookers; my mom had a large family-si

These kinds of appliances were old school in Hawaii when I was a kid 60+ years ago. Almost everyone used/uses them as rice cookers; my mom had a large family-size model. Maybe using them for other things is what's new. I have a smaller Panasonic version that I still use multiple times a week that goes back at least to my college days. I had to replace the plug and repair the handle on the cover, but otherwise it works fine. The removable cooking pot depresses a spring-loaded heating element in the bottom of the outer container when the pot is placed inside; somehow the weight of the contents conditions how long the thing cooks before it shuts itself off (my cooker has no timer or temperature dials, just on/off.) However it works, it's very simple. (Off topic a little, but old appliances seem to last longer for being simpler. I have a washer/drier combo that's 29 years old; all they've needed were new belts around 10 years ago. My fridge is also 29 years old and works fine - does nothing but keep food cold, doesn't even have an ice dispenser.)