What Products Improved

Cars

50 years ago, new car cost was in the $2000 to $4000 range. Most cars were US made. They got 10 mpg and lasted for 100,000 miles if you were lucky. The paint was bad and faded and the body rusted.  We did our own oil changes and many did their own auto mechanic work. Gasoline was 20 cents a gallon.

Now, new car cost is in the $15,000 to $40,000 range.  They get 25 mpg to 55 mpg and some last for 300.000 miles.  The paint is good and the body doesn’t rust. New cars are more complex and breakable; the body includes lots of plastic.  Gasoline cost in in the $2 to $3 per gallon range. We traded in our Cadillacs in 2005 and got 2 Toyota Priuses and that was a good decision.

Siding & Decking

50 years ago, house siding was Masonite cardboard, shingles and wood. We also used brick and stone. Masonite lasted 30 years because it was made of paper and it deteriorated.  Shingles were hard and they split and some were asbestos.  Wood siding could last over 100 years if it was sealed and maintained.  Wood decking lasts about 30 years.

Now siding is concrete fiber and could last over 100 years with less maintenance. We continue to use brick and stone. Composite material has replaced wood on decks and siding members and could last indefinitely; it won’t rot like wood.

Sewer Pipe

50 years ago, sewer pipe was iron, steel or lead. It was subject to deterioration and breakage from tree roots. These pipes lasted 25 to 35 years and replacement cost for a homeowner is around $4000. 

Now sewer pipe is made of Poly for homeowners and Composite for storm sewers. Cities are replacing their corrugated steel pipes with composite pipes that could last over 100 years.

TV Sets

50 years ago, TV sets had 27 inch screens and were heavy. They lasted a long time and some of these TV sets are still working. But larger screen flat TVs have replaced them. TV signals were received by roof-top or set-top antennas. Channels were few and limited to less than 10, but programs were better and more entertaining.

Now, TV sets have 50 to 80 inch screens and are flat and light. The picture resolution has improved greatly. Antennas are gone and have been replaced by cable and dish.

Phones

50 years ago, phones were not portable.  Phones were connected by wires to the wall and wires from the mouthpiece to the base.

Now phones are portable. Land lines in your home have phones that are portable, so you can walk around the house talking on the phone. Cell phones are totally portable and can be used anywhere there are cell towers. Most cell phones allow users to use them as cameras and camcorders with personal computer access to the internet.

Heating & Cooling

50 years ago, some home furnaces were still coal fired, but were being converted to gas.  Older homes had coal fired furnaces that sent hot water to heat radiators in the house. Air conditioners were mostly window units.

Now HVAC units have integrated, forced air gas furnaces with central air conditioning units. These units last about 20 years.  Costs range from about $2000 for a Goodwin unit to $30,000 for an unnecessarily pricy unit.  They include the furnace/ac unit and an outside condenser for the air conditioner. Some homes have electric heat systems.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader