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Some mass-produced items are cheap, and it shows. Others hold up and have been successfully used in manufacturing for years, regardless of the production cost. An online user asked for examples of items that fit these criteria. Here is how the forum responded.
Zippers
The zipper was invented in the 1800s. They’re now used nearly every day in 1000s of designs. One stated, “It’s a very cheap mechanism that elegantly secures objects. No wonder it’s used in most objects that need to be opened and closed, such as luggage and jackets.”
Cardboard Boxes
“The humble corrugated cardboard box,” another puts succinctly. They continue, “It’s lightweight, strong, splash resistant, somewhat padded, doesn’t break down in heat/cold, scratch resistant, recyclable, biodegradable, and able to be assembled cheaply into any size.” This design has worked as designed and has been sold affordably for decades.
Toilets
Quite a few forum members listed this one, so we had to include it. One mentioned, “I’ve been a plumber 20 years, and very little has changed, or needed to. Minimal upkeep, cheap and easy repair, very long life.” Well said! I’m grateful for modern plumbing, too.
Ballpoint Pens
Ballpoint pens, including Bic pens, were on the list for obvious reasons. Imagine if you still had to write everything with a fountain pen. Though fountain pens and earlier writing tools can still be used to create beautiful writing, they’re impractical.
Soda/Beer Cans
Regardless of what you drink, aluminum cans are one mass-produced invention that most of us benefit from regularly. One commenter said, “The design has existed for decades with few changes. It’s a way of using a relatively small amount of cheap metal to withstand the pressure of carbonated beverages with a reliable opening mechanism.”
Batteries
If you didn’t do experiments with batteries in school, you might not be aware of just how impressive the inner workings are. Someone stated, “Batteries are marvels of engineering packed tightly into a minuscule canister. Even AA batteries are incredibly sophisticated internally.”
Lighters
“The lighter. Spontaneously ignite fire wherever you want,” said one user, and I couldn’t agree more. Bic lighters were specifically mentioned multiple times, with commenters stating that they’re durable, cheap, and last for a long time.
Another mentioned their hand-me-down Zippo lighter that’s been through a lot, including “being underwater and then under sludge for about two weeks straight thanks to Hurricane Agnes in 1972.”
Metal Pencil Sharpeners
More recently, more expensive and modern solutions have been invented, like electric sharpeners. However, the metal pencil sharpener sold in most art stores is an excellent choice for your sharpening needs. Whether you’re an artist or use pencils daily, a metal pencil sharpener will last you for ages and keep your pencils sharp.
Zip Ties
It wasn’t the first thing that came to my mind, but zip ties were the top answer for many users. “Such a simple piece of plastic but so versatile,” one person mentioned. Multiple other users proved that versatility, with uses ranging from holding a car together after an accident to installing fencing.
Screws
“Can you imagine what would happen if all the screws suddenly disappeared from [the] world? Everything would fall apart.” I couldn’t agree more with this person’s take on a thing we often take for granted. Although they may be a small, simple part, screws are used in many ways we don’t even think about.
Road Reflectors
Road reflectors were allegedly created after an inventor drove home from the pub. A user explained, “His headlights reflected off a cat’s eyes, causing him to correct his course and stay on the road.”
Diapers
Disposable diapers stag got quite the shout-out on this thread. One put it better than I could have, “Imagine being told as an engineer you need to design a device to contain the vilest, grossest materials known to man—both liquids and goopy solids.
This device must have the best seals to guard against a constantly moving and wiggling life form of varying sizes. Said life form has notoriously delicate skin, so the materials you can use are drastically limited. It must be able to be removed and installed in seconds by amateurs running on approximately 14 minutes of sleep… and it has to cost about 30 cents a unit.”
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