I don't know if it is part of growing older but I have always been very retro and nostalgic and "old School" I like to be able to see how things work.I like hands on stuff, I like grease and oil and machinery.
Believe it or not I am not very fond of computers, I do like being able to use them for research. It's pretty neat to be able to take a modern piece of electronics and find out about an old gun or tractor or anything else you may wish to know about but you do have to be careful, there is a lot of misinformation and garbage on the internet.I don't care for cell phones, mine stays turned off when I am home (for the most part)
If I want a tool I will go find an old one and even if it needs work I will revive it to function for me. I like to do things the old way when I can. I don't like tools made in China.
There is something satisfying about taking an old tool or machine which is neglected and discarded and reviving it to work again. I think about the hands which may have held it in the past.
I like to be able to understand things. I like to be able to start an engine and envision each moving part and know exactly what it is doing and if it sounds right. I like to be able to pull the trigger and know what each part is doing in the exact sequence to make it fire correctly.
I think that is why I don't overly care for modern electronics, I am sure some fully understand them but I don't.
I don't like that modern cars are computer controlled, I know it makes them more reliable to a point but if they do actually break in the middle of nowhere you might as well start walking. I remember driving old junkers as a kid, I would take off on a 1000 mile trip in desolate areas with a few tools and never got stranded.
I had an old car once and drove it for a long time with a very weak battery which could not crank it over, It was no problem, I could just park on a hill and start it by rolling it with the ignition on and popping the clutch, it would fire right up like a push start. I could fix anything on the side of the road, not so today.
I guess I think about these kind of things in a survival situation, how many people will be stuck without basic things because they rely on the latest and greatest, don't get me wrong I enjoy some of that as well but I don't rely on them 100%
Some people are techno-geeks, I am not, I used to work as a surveyor years ago, we would cut line through swamps and dense brush and find section corners set 100 years ago. I learned how to find my location on the face of the planet with a map and compass or transit. I can find true north with no instrument whatsoever, not a makeshift compass either.( that might make a good future blog)
It is sad those skills are dying. Now there is ultra fancy GPS units which do it all faster.
Like I said, I like old things. My wife used to ask me if that's why I liked her.........Talk about a loaded question, I'm not stupid I know when to keep my mouth shut.
until those batteries run out in the ultra fancy GPS's and then your up the creek. When I worked on base, I would get tickled at the new navy wives that came in complaining how email was down on the ship and they haven't heard from hubby. Email? What is that? I would then tell them that We use to write our letters and number the envelopes so we knew which ones to open first. It was quite common to get a stack in the mail on the same day. It was also so exciting to make the trip to the mail box every day, hoping to hear from Senior. Those girls would look at me like I was from another planet.
ReplyDeleteBTW: I am thrilled the last pic is of a Jeep... : )
Oh my gosh I remember those numbered envelops. Good memories now, but I have to say, I would have loved an email:)
DeleteJUGM, I have sent the numbered envelopes many times.Thanks.
DeleteAGirl, Email is good but goes down a lot. Thanks.
Yeah' Im with you 100 percent.
ReplyDeleteI purchased a hatchet at the last gun show thats at least 100 years old from an antique tool dealer. I inherited a whole bunch of antique tools from my dad. I thought about selling them, after seeing the decline of the quality of mondern tools, I decided to keep my dads tool and use them.
One the old car part, I own a 2002 vintage SUV. This is the newest vehicle I will ever own. In time when I have some extra cash, I will like to have a restored first generation Dodge Diesel w/standard transmission and 4 wheel drive. (only luxury items I want are A/C and heat) I will evan keep the stock mechanical fuel pump. (No more computer chips for me)
Im only in my 40's and Im turning into a non-conformist old geezer and Im enjoying it.
Anon, I like the old Cummings diesel, I have a gen 2 (2001 Dodge) I like it a lot even though it has some computer control. Thanks.
DeleteConcur. And my first new car (after a series of used ones) was a CJ-7. You could find most of the parts to keep 'er running on an old F150 if you had to, and fixing was a piece of cake. I miss a mechanical shift lever for the transfer case, too - can't stand the electric switch everyone uses these days.
ReplyDeleteRev Paul, Old jeeps are nice to work on. Thanks.
DeleteI like new things,,,once they get old. i just found your blog enjoyed the post. regards capn'matt
ReplyDeleteCapn'Matt, Glad to have you chime in. Thanks.
DeleteWe're in the process of looking for a car for my teenager and the old adage they don't make things like they used to sure is true!
ReplyDeleteGarand Gal, those old cars are good teaching tools for future cars they may own. They learn a lot of basics. Thanks.
DeleteOld things CAN be fixed with bubble gum and bailing wire... The new stuff, fuggadaboutit...
ReplyDeleteOld NFO, it is true old stuff can be patched up a lot easier. Thanks.
DeleteWhat memories...I wish I had kept all those numbered letters I received...and Duke, Ole Buddy, we sure think alike.
ReplyDeleteThanks my friend.
DeleteMy Rooster works with 20 somethings. He gets really tired of all the "Oh, you do it old school." Has using your mind gone to the side too??? But guess who has to fix everything when it gets screwed up?
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't blog, email, or text. He only recently had to work with the computers at work. He calls them those damn things. LOL
He can tell when things are out by centimeters. His boss is shocked everytime. Gee, I guess being a battlefield engineer/demolishions expert doesn't help in the real world. Not.
God Bless and have a wonderfully Old School Day.
Amy, thanks. I fought computers for a long time as well.
Deleteduke - i completely agree with you - i have TONS of old hand tolls, knives etc. i do have a bunch of modern gadgets too, but they aren't "fixable".
ReplyDeletei worked in on computers most of my adult life. it was a good living, but i use them mostly as you do, for research. they are excellent for getting information on fixing up old things, go figure!!
i have never owned a gps, never will - maps and a compass are just fine. i don't know the true north trick, but moss always grown of the north trunk of a tree and the sun always rises in the east, sets in the west..
as a kid i fixed all kinds of things... used to take them apart left to right and put them back together right to left.
great post - thanks for the memories!
Jambaloney, great minds do think alike. Part of the problem today is too much stuff is disposable. Thanks.
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