Older NON-DIGITAL technology

[Dan Q]

Plenty of us here have older computers, older phones, older consoles, older music players, older operating systems etc. But these are all electronic devices (or, in the case of software, runs on electronic devices).

Who here is routinely using a surprisingly-old non-electronic machine?

I've got two things in my collection that see routine use:

Rolls Razor

I sometimes shave with a Rolls Razor: a single-edged, fixed-blade, self-sharpening/honing safety razor that I think is just genius. The thing comes packaged in a metal carry case which doubles as its sharpening and honing mechanism (take off one side and push-and-pull a handle to grind forwards against a sharpening stone; take off the other and do the same action and it rubs backwards against a honing strap!).

The razor itself does a fine job: it's a little narrower than a disposable razor blade, so it takes more strokes, and it's less-flexible (being as it is a fixed blade) which takes some getting used to... but it's just great!

Mine's from the 1930s, which makes it about the same age as my grandparents. A friend of mine found it (second-hand) in a charity shop and gave it to me as a gift. It's still functioning just fine, as it approaches a century old.

Hand drill

I also own and make use of a hand drill. I own a power drill, but sometimes a hand drill is just a better tool for the job (in particular, when I'm pursuing a hobby that involves affixing illicit signs to places in the dead of night, when I'd rather not be making power tool noises!).

My hand drill is of a a design that hasn't been manufactured in at least 25 years... but it could be as old as 70. I just don't know.

What are you using that's "surprisingly old"?

Has somebody got a pedal-powered sewing machine that they use? Or a non-electronic typewriter? Maybe you chop logs with your grandfather's axe? Or you sharpen your knives with a grinding wheel? I'd love to hear about it!

[Pippa_the_Prius]

  Well now I simply have to acquire a large hand drill! I have a small hand drill I use for crafts that's more delicate than a drill (Mostly I used it to drill side dot holes on my guitars) but a larger version seems awesome!

I sadly don't own any other "non electric" tech. So cool seeing these though! Makes me wonder how they got stuff done way back in ye olden days   

[TheFrugalGamer]

That drill seems very useful! I had a small little hand drill a while back that ended up breaking--it wasn't the spinning type you posted, but rather a craft knife-like pen that you were supposed to twist manually. Lots of work, but it was for miniatures and wood. I would probably still be using it if it hadn't snapped, but it was cheap.

I have a treadle sewing machine that used to belong to my great grandmother, and I enjoy using it to make quilts. Moving the treadle with my feet forces me into a sort of rhythm that's really calming and naturally meditative.

I also have a mechanical typewriter from the 1980's, but it's currently in pieces because I need to repair the uptake rollers. They've gone hard and won't pull up any paper anymore, so I had to get some extra equipment to fix them myself. I will get around to that one day...

[wolfkitty42]

In the summer I was working at a sewing shop's summer camp. At one point we had two very old machines hanging out in the classroom. The paint was so beautiful, and one grandparent who came for pickup briefly sewed on it. I think they mangaged to fix and sell them eventually... it was so cool to see them being fixed!