15 Things ’60s Families Kept for Years Instead of Replacing

In the 1960s, the average family invested in its goods for the long run instead of seeing them as items to be thrown out after a time. Appliances such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners were useful for as long as they could be repaired and maintained. The wooden furniture had the memories of family gatherings, while sewing machines and cast iron pots helped in making budgeting easier. Old cars, kitchen radios, and lawn mowers continued to be used as long as they were doing their functions. Winter coats and bedroom dressers were handed down from one generation to another, along with dinner plates that featured in many meals together as a family. Even simple hand tools were passed on from one generation to another.

1. The Refrigerator That Outlasted Everything Else

The refrigerator was an integral part of the kitchen in the sixties. People continued to use strong refrigerators from brands such as Frigidaire, General Electric, and Kelvinator well into the sixties despite new models being available in the market. The presence of some rust on the door handle of the fridge could not justify getting a new one. Parents cleaned the shelves, repaired the worn-out door seals, and sought professional help whenever something seemed odd about the functioning of the refrigerator’s motor. Inside were glass bottles of milk, leftovers from the oven, and bowls covered with wax paper. Even with the arrival of fashionable refrigerators in colors like avocado green, old white refrigerators were still highly functional.

2. The Living Room Sofa That Survived Generations

All the happenings, from Saturday morning TV shows to visiting relatives who slept on the sofa during holidays, were viewed on the family sofa. In the sixties, it was quite common for most families to continue using their sofa for many years, even after their cushioning sagged and fabric wore out. They might have had the flower-print sofa, or wooden arm sofas, or simply sturdy sofa frames that could withstand all the usage. The children knew which cushions sagged and which spot had the best views of the TV. At family occasions, additional people sat on the sofa without any grumbling. When the fabric got too uncomfortable, some families chose to re-cover their sofa.

3. The Sewing Machine That Fixed Everyone’s Clothes

A sewing machine became part of many homes of the 1960s by consistently saving the family money. The Singer sewing machines, which came in both treadle and electric models, were normally used from generation to generation. The mother would shorten the school pants, fix torn shirts, and even fix broken zippers rather than discarding the clothing items. A loose button or ripped seam was no reason for a trip to the department stores. The children would watch the needle race through the material as scraps accumulated around the machine. The machine was regularly serviced and oiled, with new needles inserted in preparation for use. The machine would still be in use even as more advanced ones could sew on decorative stitches.

4. The Television Set That Nobody Wanted to Give Up

The television set was kept in a coveted corner of the living room, and no one ever imagined replacing it after every couple of years. Programs such as “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “Bonanza” were viewed on large TVs produced by companies like RCA, Zenith, and Philco. If there were any problems with picture distortion or audio quality, then the family would either turn the knobs or contact a television repair technician. There were vacuum tubes at the repair centers, and even some drug stores would offer tube testers to those who were trying to do the repairs themselves. Kids would know better than to touch the antenna after their father had managed to get a good picture. In many cases, the wooden case would complement the rest of the furniture in the room.

5. The Cast Iron Skillet That Cooked Thousands of Meals

The cast iron skillet was not an attractive piece hanging from the stove; it lasted for decades through meals. Bacon was fried, cornbread baked, and pork chops fried in the thick pan made by companies like Lodge and Griswold. The blackened surface only improved through frequent use and seasoned cooking techniques. After dinner, the pan would be cleaned and oiled before being hung back up in its usual spot. Sometimes kids complained about how heavy it was when they had to move it. But the grandmothers knew exactly how the pan cooked and where the food browned the fastest. The cast iron pans didn’t bend and scratch as light pans did. Some skillets even went on to become a gift from parent to child.

6. The Dining Table That Hosted Every Family Occasion

The dinner table was not only where meals were eaten in many homes during the 1960s. Dishes from breakfast would be cleared away, and homework or sewing patterns or bills would promptly be set upon the table. Oak and maple tables that came from an older era would have leaves added for Sunday dinners. Nicks made from projects at school and marks made by the water-filled drinking glasses would make the usual signs on the table. The furniture would either be polished, or any legs that would come loose would be tightened. Sometimes, the table would even get refinished rather than buy a new one. When there were visitors for Thanksgiving, like cousins and grandparents, there would be folding chairs brought out.

7. The Family Car That Kept Running Long After Its Prime

Old cars in a family could stay in the driveway well past their design becoming passé. Cars like Chevrolet Bel Air, Ford Fairlane, and Plymouth models from the previous decade were still being driven in the 1960s. Fathers were the ones who would change oil, check spark plugs, and replace worn-out belts. Mechanics fixed the engine without advising a purchase of a new one right away. Kids remembered broken-down vinyl seats, hefty doors, and a unique starter noise that would wake up people on cold mornings. Purchasing a new car required a lot of money, especially if tuition fees and the mortgage had higher priority. Rust could become an issue in areas where it snowed a lot, but families would fix little problems and continue driving.

8. The Vacuum Cleaner That Never Seemed to Quit

The noise from the family vacuum cleaner used to resemble that of a small airplane preparing to take off. Upright vacuums by Hoover and Electrolux canister vacuums were quite common during the 1960s. The metal construction of these vacuums could withstand collisions with door frames, and there were even removable bags that held dust that came from the rugs and carpets. If the suction began to fail, one might check the hose, clean the brush, or fix the belt. Kids would dread starting the machine, as it meant having to move their toys and lift their legs. In many cases, repairs cost less than buying a new one, provided the engine was still operational. Some vacuums came with tools kept inside the box or the closet.

9. The Bedroom Dresser That Passed Between Siblings

A reliable wooden dresser witnessed a number of milestones in the lives of children. People purchased bedroom furniture thinking that it would serve for years, and many items were already passed down from one generation to another. There were drawers stuffed with folded undershirts, school uniforms, and treasured holiday clothes. If a handle got damaged, parents either replaced it with a new one or fixed the old one. Scratches could be concealed under a lace runner, a picture frame, or a jewelry box. Younger brothers and sisters got not only rooms, but also the dresser when their older siblings outgrew them. It stored something else, but furniture did not have to be replaced with new every time people’s tastes changed.

10. The Kitchen Radio That Played Through Every Decade

The kitchen radio would wake up the family before anyone was ready to eat breakfast. The tabletop radio set from companies like Zenith and Motorola would give people the latest news, the weather, sports, and even popular music. Families were using old-tube radios that required some time to warm up. If the channel is crackling, the user would have to adjust it slowly or tune the antenna. The parents would listen to it while cooking their dinner, and the children would gather near it when there was something they liked on. Despite the emergence of portable transistor radio sets, the kitchen set kept functioning, and its location on the shelf remained almost unchanged.

11. The Washing Machine That Handled Years of Laundry

The washing machine could handle tons of clothing without much regard being shown to it until it malfunctioned. People during the sixties made use of washing machines by manufacturers such as Maytag, Whirlpool, and Kenmore, with some houses still having wringer washers. Most of the time, either the hose or the drive belt was the problem, and a repair was the order of the day instead of buying a new one. The shops in the area stocked spare parts, and in-house relatives were able to fix simple problems. It went about doing its job while the laundry waited to be put up for drying, even if its enamel had chipped and its controls were easy to understand.

12. The Winter Coats That Younger Siblings Inherited

The properly constructed winter coat would last not only one but possibly two or three children as well. During the 1960s, parents would purchase wool coats, heavy-duty parkas, or lined jackets that allowed a little more room for additional growth before they would become too small. If the sleeves became too short, the hem would be let down or handed down to younger siblings to wear. Families would take special care to clean the coats and put them away properly, so as to preserve the material. A coat purchased for the eldest child could show up in school pictures over the course of several years, being worn by various brothers or sisters.

13. The Lawn Mower That Survived Countless Summers

A family lawn mower could last many years of Saturday work. Some households in the 1960s used reel-type mowers for their small yards, whereas others employed gas-powered machines by Toro and Lawn Boy brands. Blades had to be sharpened, wheels had to be adjusted, and oil and spark plugs needed to be changed. Sometimes a neighbor would help tighten the bolts that came out. Youngsters got some extra money for doing yard work, including learning how to guide the mower in straight lines. Clippings stuck to their shoes and socks, and the smell of the freshly cut grass could be smelled through the open windows. A mower was not to be thrown away for being old-fashioned: just fixed if it worked.

14. The Dinnerware That Stayed in the Cupboard for Decades

There was also a collection of strong dishware that was used at normal dinners and festive gatherings. People used dishes by Pyrex, Fire King, and ceramic manufacturers such as Homer Laughlin. In some cases, a cracked dish was utilized as a saucer for flowers while undamaged dishware was regularly used. Moms kept their dishware sorted and saved serving platters for holiday use. Sometimes wedding presents would sit in people’s cupboards for decades despite changes in fashion trends. Once a dish was damaged, people looked for a similar one in a store and used an incomplete collection. It is the dishware that brought birthday cakes, roast meat on Sundays, and everyday meals to the family table.

15. The Toolbox Filled With Hand-Me-Down Tools

These were tools that were more likely to have been manufactured before the kids began using them. The dads and granddads had their trusty Craftsman wrenches, Stanley hand planes, hammer handles that were wooden, and screwdrivers whose grips were worn down. A creaking door, a loose chair, or a faulty fence latch had one rummaging through that same old battered box. Scratches on tools could never make them less useful. Some families even went to the extent of writing their names on the handles of the tools to ensure that the borrowed items made it back home. The most reliable tools would be packed and taken along when the sons and daughters finally left home.