Old things that still work

 

It recently struck me that all of my current means of transportation are older than any of my children. The car (and note gratuitous picture of Cro enjoying owning it) is from 1983. The bike, I have just found out, is from 1984. And the boots I bought in 1982. So all of my four treasured means of mobility predate the mobile phone, Social Media, Love Island and the idea that reality TV stars can be Heads of State.

There is something very comforting about having old things that still work well (and I promise you I am not fishing for compliments here). For one thing, if you use that old thing for a long time, you get very used to how it works (goodness me, this is all getting a bit suggestive, I will rephrase). So when I change gear in the 2CV it almost feels that there is no other way of changing. All other cars feel a bit wrong. The umbrella gearstick of the 2CV feels like an extension of my arm. When I change gear on the old bike, it is like lengthening your own stride rather than using some non-human tool. Even the boots have a momentum that seems to blend with my own stride (they are very heavy - you really do not want to have me kick you anywhere sensitive while I'm wearing them).

But apart from the way that you seem to blend into old things that still work, it is also deeply satisfying that the people who made these items did not make them to wear out. OK, I admit that each of the three devices has had much replacement and major surgery, but for goodness sake they have well over a century of use between them!

I should probably also add into the list of 'old things that still work' the musical instruments that I and my siblings and friends play when we are playing Irish music. My sister's concertina is very likely Victorian, as is my other sister's fiddle. And I actually know the year that my flute was made because it has a serial number. It was made in 1853. So over 170 years later it is still doing its thing, long after the great-grandchildren of its maker have ceased doing their things.

I would also be very very interested to hear in the comments or on Facebook about the old items that you own and which still work and make you happy. 

To take the idea and metaphor of 'old things that work' a bit further, I would direct you to this recording of lovely Country song (did I mention I like C&W?) by Guy Clark and Rodney Crowell. It's called 'Stuff that works' and it does indeed include a reference to boots. But that's not all. Enjoy. 

Stuff that works