A Kenwood Chef mixer, circa 1960s, with original invoices for purchase and repair. Kitchen gadgets were built to last then, and it has.
Robert Falk, London
None – as engineers we should be early adopters and exploit technological advances.
Martin Miller, Desford, Leics
Vinyl-record player. Vinyl conveys so much more musical information than a CD or the dreadful MP3. The latter stays in my iPod where it belongs.
Steve York, Warrington, Cheshire
I still use my Casio fx-180P calculator. It was a Christmas present when I was 13 in 1980. It’s been through schools and university and is still on the original batteries.
Steve Amphlett, Sompting, Sussex
The pencil, paper and sharpener – works in all weather conditions, batteries never run out, no upgrades, no compatibility issues.
Ian Radanke, Norfolk
I use my 1957 Raleigh Roadster rod-braked bicycle, which a friend retrieved from a skip about 20 years ago, on a regular basis to get around town. Its giant wheels give a great feeling of momentum. The gears change smoothly and the enclosed chain is a great maintenance-free advantage over inferior, more modern imitations.
Jonathan Gulliver, Southampton
My Linn Sondek LP12 turntable which, although originally introduced over 30 years ago, in terms of musicality at least still outperforms most digital music players and streamers.
Clive Blackman, Bristol
My 10-year-old Nokia cellphone even with its declining battery is simple and easy to use. All I want and need is a phone.
Ivor Mansell, Oakville, Canada
I had a 25-year-old washing machine that I managed to keep going by changing the odd belt or carbon brushes. However, after a recent failure of the electro-mechanical controller, I bought a new one. Interestingly the salesman told me that he would guarantee that the new machine would not last as long as the old one had.
Kevan Reilly, Stockton-on-Tees
A compass. We did a four-day desert drive last week using a compass. So much more rewarding than using GPS.
David Haboubi, Abu Dhabi
Paper maps. One day I’ll get myself a satnav, but I like seeing the bigger picture and deciding where to go instead of being told. OK I get lost, but I enjoy finding myself again. It’s like orienteering without ending up puffing and panting.
Valeria Riccardo, Didcot, Oxfordshire
Woodworking hand tools, especially planes and spokeshaves.
Clive Bolton, Northwich, Cheshire
At first I thought “I don’t use old technology” but then realised that, as a part-time guitarist, I play an instrument that is pretty much the same as the first one made in 1954, a Fender Strat. Mine is, regrettably, only 30 years old as early specimens are highly valued and sell for £100,000 or more.
Jeff Bulled, Lidlington, Bedfordshire
A machete! I learned to use it for cutting back grass and clear land when undertaking charity work in Ghana about 10 years ago. I regularly use it instead of the various gardening power tools I have as I find it so effective, versatile, and environmentally friendly. When it comes to crop the rhubarb, nothing cuts it cleaner.
Mike Davies, Wells, Somerset
I like using my grandfather’s hand drill. Holding the wooden handles and hearing the exposed gears whirring turns a boring task into a sensual delight.
Clive Renton, Chippenham, Wiltshire
The paper and pencil is so antiquated and yet still so useful. A permanent record or, unlike computer recordings, you only need an eraser and it is gone forever. No traces, no way back, no hackers, no traceability, no everlasting digital memory. Wonderful!
Matthew Waterhouse, Calveley, Cheshire
Our washing machine is from the mid-1980s. Unlike modern versions it has a hot-water feed, allowing us to use free hot water from our solar thermal system. Our 1960s Hoover Junior is still going strong, as is the 1920s Singer sewing machine. Old stuff was built to last!
Karen Quigley, Billingshurst, West Sussex
I have a number of antiquated television sets, some of which are nearly six months old, and I have recently returned to Windows XP as an operating system for my laptop. Maybe not the antiquated you were looking for but technology moves so fast you daren’t turn your back or you’ll miss it.
David McArthur, Cumbria
A slide rule. Just can’t be bettered in my opinion.
Trevor Howard, Gloucestershire
A Swiss army knife – without which I don’t know how most engineers survive!
Andy Brown, Gloucester
The printed version of PE magazine.
Richard Anderson, Stocksfield
- Have your say what antiquated piece of technology do you still find useful? Please comment below.