18 Vintage Items That Were Better Than What We Have Now - Boomer insight

Andy Peters

18 Vintage Items That Were Better Than What We Have Now

Nothing beats the good old days, especially regarding the quality and charm of these older things. Even if they were made for the same purpose, a lot of older things just worked a lot better than their modern counterparts. Here are 18 older things that were far better than today’s versions of them and why.

Much Stronger

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Plastic lunchboxes have nothing on their mental ancestors. They could take a beating and still look cool, which was mostly because you could get them with your favorite cartoon characters or TV shows on the front. These modern plastic versions don’t have the same last power or style as those older ones. 

Better Image Quality

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Although they were pretty bulky and heavy, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs had much better image depth and color accuracy, especially in darker scenes. Modern TVs might be lighter and have more features, but scenes always look so dark on them. They can’t compare to how visually rich the CRTs were.

Natural Fiber Clothing

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Almost everyone knows that fast fashion is bad and in more ways than one. They’re bad for the workers making them and the environment, especially since they usually tear after just one wash cycle. In the past, we had clothes made from natural fibers, like cotton and wool, instead of man-made ones, and these lasted a lot longer.

Coffee Percolators

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You don’t really see coffee percolators anymore, thanks to modern drip or pod coffee machines. It’s a real shame because coffee percolators brew cups of coffee with so much more flavor than these modern versions. You could also be hands-on with making your coffee which made the final result taste so much better.

Real Silverware

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Eating with real silverware that’s been in the family for ages just feels a lot fancier than using something from today. These older pieces look good and have a certain weight to them, which means you enjoy your meal a lot more. Modern utensils just feel so flimsy and cheap in comparison.

Bakelite Radios

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Remember the days of Bakelite radios? Unlike today’s electronics, they actually had a personality, and they were just as decorative pieces as music players. Instead of coming in bland and uniform colors, you could get one in practically any shade, and they’d instantly liven up your space.

Wool Rugs

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Nothing beats the feel and durability of a good old wool rug. They’re just so comfortable and built to last in a way that’s a far cry from today’s rugs. You can trust a wool rug to deal with practically everything you throw at it, and it quickly becomes a special family heirloom that you’re proud to display in your home.

Manual Lawn Mowers

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We’re all so eco-conscious today that it’s strange to think we still have things like electric or petrol-powered lawnmowers. But back in the day, push lawnmowers were a quiet and pollution-free way to keep our lawns looking neat. Plus, you’d also get a decent workout from pushing them around, which is always a bonus.

Steel Kitchen Tools

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Plastic gadgets just don’t last, and it’s a shame we’ve mostly swapped steel kitchen tools for them. They were far more durable because they could go through the wringer and still make a fantastic dinner. While they’re certainly heavier and harder to use, this actually made them feel more dependable when we use them.

Enamel Cookware

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Speaking of cooking, enamel cookware looks incredible and is quite resilient, so it doesn’t make sense that we got rid of it. It’s also a lot safer because it doesn’t release the harmful substances that some modern cookware can. Enamel cookware is perfect for making any kind of meal, and we should really start using it again.

Station Wagon

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Station wagons used to be the only way to go on road trips because they were just so spacious and comfortable. And let’s not forget how stylish they were as well, thanks to that signature wood paneling. They could take you and your family anywhere in style, which is something that most modern vehicles can’t do.

Oil Lamps

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You just can’t beat a good oil lamp, thanks to that gentle and warm light that’s hard to find in modern lamps. They make any room a lot softer and can turn even the busiest room into something that’s much more peaceful. You just can’t beat a good oil lamp, and that’s why they’ll always be superior to the lamps we have today.

Ink Wells

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Dipping your pen into an ink well really made you think about what you’re about to write, unlike when we tap away on keyboards today. Writing slowly felt so much cooler and made each word feel important because you weren’t simply writing something. You were creating something that felt a lot more permanent and thoughtful.

Saddle Shoes

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Like most older products, saddle shows are great at handling whatever comes their way, and they’ll still look great. While a lot of today’s shoes barely make it through the season, these bad boys could go year after year. They’re the perfect example of how the things in the past were built to be a lot more durable than today’s footwear.

Jukeboxes

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No matter what song you played on them, jukeboxes would always make them sound good. Half the fun came from choosing a song to play, and the other half came from watching the record slide out and start working. They turned any casual gathering into a full party where everyone got into the groove.

Wind-Up Clocks

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Wind-up clocks made something as simple as telling the time into something interesting. Instead of relying on batteries like today’s clocks, which need replacing, you just have to give these clocks a quick wind-up to make them work again. They helped us to feel connected in a way that was more hands-on than any clock today.

Linoleum Flooring

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Linoleum flooring made our flooring pop with a bit of color and style like no other. It’s made from materials that are good for the earth, and it can handle almost anything without looking worse for wear. It’s a shame that so many people look down on linoleum flooring today because it’s really quite nice.

Real Wood Furniture

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The most impressive part of real wood furniture is the fact that it’s so sturdy, but it also manages to get better with age. These timeless pieces last for generations and become heirlooms that carry the stories and memories of family history. You’re not going to get that from fake wood or plywood, are you?

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