Legacy Gear - They Don't Make it Like They Used To

I have started a quest for select types of legacy audio, video and computer equipment for my business. It is interesting that some of this stuff that formerly would have been dumpster fodder, is making a comeback or is in demand. I'm not sure if it is for the same reasons I want to use it for or not though.

There is just something cool about owning some of this gear because in my opinion it is more than just for function, but for beauty. Just like vintage automobiles, there was a sense of pride and competitiveness that went into manufacturing this gear. It was meant to last and was made out solid materials. This equipment was made so that you could repair, calibrate and replace broken or worn parts.

I find it disheartening that consumerism has overtaken our market of goods and rather than having the option to repair items at the component level, we simply haul it out to the dumpster and buy a new one and don't even think twice about it, because the newer one is better anyway. We call this "programmed obsolescence" and it is the process that keeps the manufacturers in business, or should I say it makes them filthy rich. This hasn't always been the case. The way that we do business has fundamentally changed. Many of our products are outsourced to cheap labor. An advantage is that it is less expensive for consumers for the same class of product produced many years ago, but the disadvantage is that since these items are not designed to be repaired, it is more cost-effective to simply go to Best Buy and get another one.

One of my professions has been a repairman. I once had a job repairing TVs, VCRs, CD players and other consumer electronic devices. We would get truckloads of them and "refurbish" them. This was in the early 1990s. I think there are a few companies that still do this, but by and large, this market has virtually evaporated. It's just not worth it anymore because most of the consumer electronics are simply junk - straight from the manufacturer. Without boring you with technical details about the internal components, suffice it to say that even though improved technology has given us more features, durability and repairability is simply not even an option at the component level and even at the modular level (board level), it is often necessary to get the parts through a scrap dealer or through aftermarket parts supplier (that are usually of questionable origin).

There's not much of a market for repairing consumer items anymore, so I only do this occasionally and selectively... and when I tell potential clients how much the repair costs are, they usually make the decision to replace the inoperative item. Which brings me back to the market of legacy equipment. There are technicians who still work on this stuff, usually as a hobby, but sometimes they actually earn a living at it. Personally, I find it somewhat gratifying to clean up and refurbish a vintage piece of gear. Mostly, though, I just enjoy restoring one of these items to its original beauty and functionality. There's just something about the solidness... the chunky aluminum... the shiny chrome or brushed stainless steel... the buttons, levers, knobs, lighted meters and analog controls that makes me smile with sentiment.