"2006: A national search discovers the oldest Hobart mixer still in service: a 1913 model still used every day at Winan's Chocolates & Coffees, a fourth-generation-owned company in Piqua, OH." I couldn't find more about that mixer's retirement but there is a 1919 Hobart still working.
I messaged them and got this response
"Yes we do and it does still work, from 1913. If you come on one of out tours you can see it. Visit www.winanscandies.com/tours for more info. Happy Thanksgiving!"
I have a set of professional quality hair trimmers that my my mother bought at least in back the 70s, maybe in the 60s. She cut all 4 boys' hair with it, my father acquired it when she passed then I got it when he passed.
It still works like new. The zip up case still even works great. The days of design-to-last-forever are gone -- now we're in the age of planned-obsolescence.
post war manufacturing was based on the premise that the survivors did not have a lot of money left. First here was the great depression then the war. Goods were made to last because people could not afford to repair or throw away manufactured goods. I know a lady who bought an electrolux vacuum cleaner at the beginning of wwii, she still used it daily till she died 2014