The Days of Mend, Fix and Tinker

Photo by Kieran White

When the guys in the neighborhood got their first car, usually a clunker, they could be seen in their yards with the car hoods up. They learned quickly how to get around the trouble spots and get the car moving. They would invariable have grease under their fingernails fixing pistons, carburetors, brake drums, rotors, hoses and water pumps. It was before electronics and chips made their way into the insides of these four wheeled animals and many of the guys got an early degree in mechanics based on his hands on experience.

It was a time too when appliances lasted forever and in the event they broke down they were fixed not thrown. A Hobart Mixer or Kitchen Aid was passed down from previous generations and on to the next. The Paul Revere pans were another example of built to last, unlike the dozens of Teflon Coated "advances" that found their way to the garbage can. The old pans lasted longer than the families.

There was also a certain pride of ownership that resulted in families taking good care of their possessions. You felt proud that your coat was that old but still looked like new. Shoes were were polished and mended when there was wear left in them. Furniture was waxed and polished in spite of the fact it was far more labor intensive than today. Pride, pride was everywhere.

Recycling was not a buzz word yet, it was a way of life. Clothes were passed to younger siblings, paper bags were kept for reuse, and even the string wrapped around the butcher paper was saved for possible future use. Garbage went into a compost heap. Rain water was collected in rain barrels. Glass jars were washed and kept for storage. Left over food was thrown into a soup. Wasting was a mortal sin. It was a time before large, extra large, and super large.A minimal amount of waste was the mantra of the 50’s household. 

Yes the emphasis in the 50’s was take care of, preserve, mend and fix. It carried over to relationships as well. You didn't throw away friendships and family members because of squabbles or slights, you sought a way to solve or forgive and move forward.
We live in a throw away society now; newer is better, don't fix it, chuck it. Some see this as an improvement but a growing number of our forward thinkers are urging us to go back to preserve, protect, and keep our carbon footprints at a minimal. I must admit I am of that school.