[roverbarmy]

I used to visit many manufacturing businesses during my working life. The research and development done was second to none. We produced products which lasted a lifetime, unlike the "lifetime" guarantees we get today! Some of the companies I visited included Mintex, Timken and Hepworth and Grandage. Built in obsolescence and the throw away revolution has made the "quality" items a thing of the past. Life is now a "marketing exercise" with "spares no longer available" being the current style. The spares that are available throughout manufacturing are generally poor quality items. We are being hoodwinked into buying more and more to be better than our peers. Remember the base, L, XL, Ghia and Executive models that appeared in the 60's and 70's? I was very proud of a family member who refused to go to his "Prom" as a protest about how much was being wasted.