Ask Lemmy

Until the oil pump shaft broke: a 1965 Holder AG3 European vineyard tractor. Centre articulating, 35+ Hp diesel, close to 2 metric tons, and a third the size of a VW Beetle. We used it extensively on our orchards for a good four decades, or just shy of that.

Sucker was stupidly strong for its size, and could out-pull most tractors twice its physical size. Last I was using it for was some pretty extreme landscaping in the front yard. Another story, because it takes some explaining, but yeah.

So apparently the oil pump shaft broke late 2023, and we thought it was just overheating. Nope. Plus, the mechanic also found a rather severe hydraulic leak into the oil system, which was about the only thing that kept the engine from totally seizing.

Unfortunately, we are about three decades too late for most of the required parts. The engine place does a lot of remanufacturing and machining, so I did ask them for their “fuck off” price (gotta have a benchmark in that regard). But they did strongly suggest a Kubota engine as a replacement, primarily because the original oil pump required some pretty unusual maintenance to avoid breaking like it did. Whoops. No-one in my family realized that, least of all my father who had bought the tractor in the 80s.

I have a stove that is a little older then me. I have a cheese grater that no one in house kniws where it cane from or when we bought it. I have a towel i go in the 90s on a trip. That's about as old as a robotech art book i have kept since around then. And I have my grand father's dresser. Not sure how old that is

Physical item: LL Bean Laptop Bag. Was designed for laptops much bigger than the one I have now and it’s held up well… except for the buckles.

Digital: Rollercoaster Tycoon got it in a cereal box and I still play it today.

I have a 1973 Gibson ripper bass and a 1971 ampeg svt v9 with a late 70s 8x10 ampeg cabinet. I don't use them daily but more than twice a week, they both still work perfectly. Just regular maintenance

TI-83 plus

A large tooth comb I’ve had since middle school. I used it everyday until a couple of years ago when I switched to a brush better designed for my hair type, but I still use it on occasion. Not sure how I haven’t lost that thing throughout the years.

ETA: I’ve had the thing for over 2 decades!

Maybe the iron skillets. I don't think a day passes that I don't use those. Or my house, it's from the 1940s. Some of the furniture is older than that too, though I don't think there is any one piece I actively use each day.

Truly oldest? Double entry accounting, I use nearly every day and that's from around 1300.

If it's truly daily use only, then surprising myself, I think it might actually be my phone.

My back. Its getting creeky though.

Probably my Ron Jon Surf shop beach towel I got while on holiday in Florida in 1997 (I live in the UK). Still in great condition and I wouldn't say I've looked after it particularly.

Also honourable mention to my oldest tech which is an HP touchsmart 600 PC I use for youtube in my bedroom, it's from 2011 and still just about hanging on.

I have a washcloth I got when I was like 6.. I’m almost 40. It’s a really nice mesh washcloth and somehow it only has one extra hole that shouldn’t be there, as well as a seam for the edging that needs to be fixed.

I’ve used it almost daily for my face that whole time.

But the oldest thing I have that I sort of technically use is a wheelchair from WWI. It functions as a chair in my living room. I don’t really think it counts, being furniture, though.

I've got this little blue plastic cup I've had for almost 30 years. Use it for my toothbrush. Got it when I was a kid and it's the only toothbrush holder I've ever had since.

The foundation of the building I live in is from the 1880’s. Does that count?

I have a teeny tiny screwgate carabina from about 1997 that I use as a key ring.