lo fi
Our car radio has been slowly falling apart for the last few months. On a road trip to Wilderness (Garden Route SA) in June, our primary form of entertainment was trying to wangle ways to keep it going, taking turns at tweaking, prodding and pushing, followed by bashing, shaking and dismembering. Only on the return trip did we manage to get it going well enough to last a while. But recently it went totally schizo and it was clear that more serious attention was needed. Out came my jewellery wire and pliers, followed by prestik (sticky tack), superglue and a match (which turned out to be the magic ingredient).
I really prefer our lo fi hi fi to tell the truth - it seems to have more integrity without all the plastic, streamlined shininess. But I am also really fed up with how appliances (and pretty much everything else) are made so crappily these days. It amazes me how I am happily using a sewing machine that was manufactured in the 1950s and is still going strong, but the hairdryer I bought last year breathed it’s last sigh a few days ago. And now it’s most likely going to be a piece of rubbish in a landfill. To get more than a few years of life out of any electric or electronic device in this Age of New is unlikely. If your toaster goes on the fritz, just get a new one! Can you imagine the amount of this stuff that is thrown away every day?
Here is a comparison between some of the devices that feature in my life:
Item: Sansui car radio/cd player
Age: approx 2 years old
Status: not functioning without assistance
Item: Blaupunkt stereo receiver
Age: at least 3 decades old
Status: streaming audio
Item: Image hair dryer
Age: approx 1.5 years old
Status: kaput
Item: Jones sewing machine
Age: 1950s
Status: steamin like a demon
Item: Canon digital camera
Age: bought 2004
Status: does not compute
Item: Pioneer turntable
Age: 70s or early 80s
Status: spinning like a record baby right round round round
Item: Samsung digital camera
Age: bought last year when the Canon bit the dust
Status: periodically malfunctioning
Item: Wahl hair clipper
Age: At least 50 years old
Status: Trim anyone?
Conclusion: Old is the new new
Recommendation: Lo Fi Revolution!!!
Coming soon: Guidelines for a lo fi lifestyle.
admin on September 28th 2009 in What I did
Jesse responded on 28 Sep 2009 at 6:06 pm #
I love this post! I’m constantly frustrated by things that I can’t fix because they’re too new.
Stacey responded on 01 Oct 2009 at 4:30 pm #
purely LOVE your post!
JacciR responded on 05 Oct 2009 at 2:56 am #
Aaaarghhhhh….. I agree totally, I am so tired of buying expensive - cheap chinese junk. I am trying to buy only vinatge things as I replace my bits and pieces. Last month I bought an old flask in Kalk Bay, remember those tin flasks with the tartan pattern on the outside?
At the moment I am searching out quality 1950 / 60’s light fittings for our house. Anyone able to point me in the right direction?
admin responded on 05 Oct 2009 at 9:12 am #
I don’t know where you can get those old light fittings, but I think you’ve definitely got the right idea Jacci - buying 2nd hand is so much more satisfying on a number of levels. Not only are you doing your bit for the planet, you’re treasure hunting, you’re getting something with a mysterious history, you’re supporting local business and often charities or maybe assisting someone in decluttering AND you’re most likely buying something that will last long enough to have an extra story attached to it.
vince999 responded on 07 Dec 2009 at 8:31 pm #
I recognize that Blaupunkt hi-fi..wonder where I’ve seen it before?…;-)
Wonder if we’ll feel as nostalgic about today’s technology in 30y time? ..doubt it somehow..