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Mass-produced items like clothing and cars are manufactured in large quantities with varying degrees of quality. Some are cheap, and some are expensive. How do you know which are of quality and which are cheap when looking at these items? A user in an online forum 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
Another succinctly describes “the humble corrugated cardboard box.” 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 a mass-produced invention that most of us regularly benefit from. 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 experiment with batteries in school, you might not be aware of just how impressive their 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, which has 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.”17 Actions to Avoid Once You’re Over 65
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Image Credit: Shutterstock.[/caption]
We all have an eBay account, but who still uses the platform? Traditionally, eBay was the go-to website to sell and buy used items. Now, there are many marketplaces for second-hand items, but eBay is the place where weirdness abounds. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on eBay? I can bet it wasn’t as weird as some of these items.
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There are occasions when we all need to take a time out. When the pressures of work or other areas of our daily lives become too much, it’s good to walk away and take time for ourselves. If those pressures aren’t addressed, they can lead to burnout. This unpleasant phenomenon involves many symptoms, including exhaustion and a lack of motivation. However, if you feel you’ve crossed the line from tiredness to burnout, there is good news: There are many ways to get on the road to recovery.
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