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Elderly Couple's Old Household Appliances Still Work After 50 Years

Elderly Couple's Old Household Appliances Still Work After 50 Years

Sydney and Rachel Saunders of Exeter, Devon hope that the appliances will find a home in a museum so people can see how well they were made.

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

Can you imagine any modern appliances lasting half a century? Maybe that Nokia 3310 you've got floating around in the drawer, but most of what we rely on today probably wouldn't last five years, never mind 50.

That makes it all the more class that one elderly couple's tumble dryer, boiler, cooker and washing machine all still work, despite them all being gear from the 1950s and 60s.

Credit: SWNS

Sydney and Rachel Saunders, 83 and 81, live in Exeter, Devon and are only replacing their household appliances because they fancy a clear out.

The couple even hope that the appliances will go on display in a museum so everyone can marvel at how much sturdier things used to be made. Wouldn't hold your breath.

"Things were made better in those days, they were more durable and stronger, but of course the new ones are more sophisticated," said Sydney.

"That's a good thing, but it means that if something goes wrong it can be quite a big job," he added. "I think a lot more care was taken in older days."

The couple got their washing machine way back in 1956 for the tidy sum of £60. Their Burco tumble dryer cost £52, their baby Belling cooker cost £19, and their boiler cost just £15.

However much the appliances may be worth now, the couple have said that they don't mind what price they get for them so long as they find a good home.

"We've been here for 60 years and we've kept them for spares for years, but now we'll never use them again and it's time we found a good home for them," Rachel said.

"I'm not bothered about the price. I'd like them to go to a museum or something like that so they can be preserved."

Credit: SWNS

While most of the appliances are still in perfect condition, retired carer Rachel admitted the 60-year-old washing machine may need some TLC.

"We were given the washing machine when we were married - 62 years ago - and the last time it was used was 12 years ago," she added.

"As far as I know it's still in full working order, it just leaks a bit."

Just to emphasize how long that washing machine's been working, 1956 saw Elvis Presley enter the U.S. charts for the first time. The year also saw the Suez Crisis, Morocco and Tunisia declaring their independence from France, and the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest.

Those appliances have had a pretty impressive run. You've probably already broken your new iPhone X.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: UK News, News, Devon