Longevity

In this age of sometimes shoddy commodities it is good to have some things that have worn well over the years. In my case I can point to a 1920’s Smiths swivel-fronted dashboard clock taken from a 1914 Hispano-Suiza. It gains some minutes a week, but as this is when you rewind it, no problem, and the spring action feels as new. Which reminds me of a very low-cost Smiths stop-watch we were sent to try in the 1950’s. It has lain in a drawer ever since but still functions perfectly and the timing against much more costly watches remains accurate. Then there is the Short and Mason glass-cased barograph acquired at about the same time. A letter to the makers confirmed that it was supplied to the Brooklands ARC in 1906. Both clockwork and bellows are in good working order after more than 100 years. Finally there is the English made Eversure Fillacan with filter and a very convenient hinged spout (metal of course) which Teesdale gave me when I was road-testing cars for MOTOR SPORT (I used to prefer to run a tank dry rather than use the brim-to-brim method, but this resulted in stops at awkward places.) The thing dates back to the mid-50s and is quite rusty, but I still use it.