Images speak. They speak of times past, of progress, creativity and the transformation of ideas. The goal and basic concepts are timeless. Often, it is only new materials and technologies that affect the shape of a tool or appliance. The mechanism, or the motion that is required to obtain a specific result, remains the same through time. In many cases, it is timeless.
We find clever ways to reduce the weight of equipment and the steps required to accomplish a task. Perhaps there is only a single question, one asked decade after decade, use after use: “How can we simplify this?” Then, once evolution takes its course and an object becomes obsolete, we call it vintage and turn it into a collector’s item or give it a new life, because we cannot help but seek to create something new.
Juicer Then
Juicer Now
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Blender Then
Variation on the theme
Blender Now
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Humidifier Then
Humidifier Now
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Food Strainer Then
Variation on the theme
Food Strainer Now... and for generations to come!
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Lawn Mower Then
Ha! The questions begin...
Variation on the theme
Lawn Mower Now
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Pressure Cooker Then
"World Under Pressure" by Morocco artist Batoul S’Himi
Pressure Cooker Now
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Is there a point where a tool or appliance reaches its optimal expression? Generation after generation, we adopt new household appliances and rave about their new modern design, the ease of use, the clever new functions and so on. This is it, we think. We are amazed by the “clumsiness” of some older versions. But for those who lived at the time their version arrived on the market, it was a true innovation. Every version is an innovation.
Perhaps the main difference in this progression, today, is that question again, “How can we simplify this?” We have reached a time in history when many of the devices we use truly do not require improvement. Instead, it is manufacturing methods and material availability that dictate the next step. Also, our perception of design changes as we become more acutely interested in our impact on the environment. What will we think of next?
#1 by thekalechronicles on 02/16/2012 - 12:07 pm
Well, let’s see. I don’t have any of those things except the Osterizer beehive blender, only ours has a metal milkshake-type canister because the glass containers were not available for awhile. My Grandma had the first kind of lawn mower pictured and I used to cut her grass with it. Our old metal waffle iron had the nerve to stop working after ninety years and now we have to use my plastic-coated one. Sigh. And we stopped buying toasters once they were no longer all metal because the plastic parts break. Now we have a toaster oven — oops, I guess I just illustrated your point. Takes up more space than a toaster though.
#2 by Granny on 02/16/2012 - 12:19 pm
Ha! ha! Very interesting. I like combination appliances. A toaster oven serves more than one purpose. A blender/grinder serves more than one purpose and today juicers even serve more than one purpose. So instead of having 5 different appliances for 5 different tasks, we can have one or two good appliances and accumulate less stuff. This does bring up another factor though: it changes how we plan cooking projects doesn’t it? Maybe something for another blog post. Thanks for visiting.
#3 by CurtissAnn on 02/16/2012 - 4:44 pm
This was fun, thanks! I do wonder where my strainer went to– not that I ever used it much. I had a dandy of a pressure cooker, too, which went the way of all good things. Sigh.
#4 by Granny on 02/16/2012 - 5:44 pm
I remember my mother’s strainer. It was exactly like the one in the picture. She made fantastic applesauce with it. I wonder where she found the time for this, for she worked more than full time. Interestingly, as I recall, she did these things mostly when her own mother visited and when she passed away, my mother kept cooking, but she stopped making applesauce and pickling and canning. All the old traditions were buried. Thank you for your visit.
#5 by ceciliag on 02/17/2012 - 12:19 pm
fantastic, i have a couple of those old mowers out here.. I love re-purposing stuff! c
#6 by Granny on 02/17/2012 - 12:33 pm
Hi! Thank you for stopping by… I agree. Re-purposing is great. A few years ago, my husband turned a 2-door kitchen cabinet a client of his decided not to use into a shopkeeper’s desk. I love this piece.