12 Things That Aren’t Made Like They Used to Be in Nevada
Remember when things felt sturdier? Like your grandpa’s old toolbox, or the microwave your mom got in 1985 that’s still kicking in her Nevada basement?
Back then, stuff was built to last, and a lot of it was made right here in the U.S.A.
These days, products might look fancier or come with a screen, but they don’t always hold up like the old stuff did. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and talk about some classic American products that aren’t made the way they used to be.
Furniture
Think back to your grandma’s living room—the one with the floral couch that had real wooden legs and weighed more than your dad’s pickup truck.
That sofa was probably made by Broyhill or Ethan Allen in a North Carolina factory, built with solid oak and upholstered to survive decades of family reunions, spilled root beer, and Sunday naps.
These days, most of what we call “furniture” arrives in a flat box with an Allen wrench. Big-name stores like IKEA and Walmart sell pieces made from particleboard and held together with tiny screws and glue.
They’re good for a few years, but don’t expect them to outlast your cat.
Even American brands like La-Z-Boy have moved much of their production overseas or started using lighter, cheaper materials.
Of course, you can still find high-quality U.S.-made furniture. But it’ll cost you, and you might have to wait six months to get it.
Jeans
There was a time when every pair of Levi’s 501s came straight out of the El Paso, Texas, factory. They were thick, stiff, and strong enough to survive a barbed wire fence.
Sure, you had to break them in over weeks, but once you did, they were your jeans. People wore them until the fabric knees gave out. And even then, they’d patch them up and keep going.
But Levi’s shut down its last U.S. factory in 2003. Now, most jeans, regardless of the clothing company, are made in countries like Bangladesh and Mexico.
Such jeans look great on the shelf, but the denim is often thinner, the stitching looser, and the zippers flimsy. Due to modern trends, they often come pre-faded and full of holes—how can one possibly expect them to last like they used to?
A few American companies like Raleigh Denim and Tellason are still making jeans the old-fashioned way, but a single pair might cost over $200.
For many folks, that’s just not doable.
Tools
Your granddad’s garage probably had a red Craftsman toolbox full of wrenches, screwdrivers, and sockets that still work today.
Back then, Craftsman tools were made in the USA—often in places like New Britain, Connecticut—and came with a lifetime warranty that Sears actually honored.
Break a ratchet?
No problem. Walk into the store and they’d hand you a new one, no questions asked.
Today’s tools, even the ones with recognizable names, are often made in China or Taiwan. That old “heft” is gone—now they feel lighter, and not in a good way.
Some brands still offer warranties, but good luck finding someone to honor them now that Sears stores are gone.
If you want the old-school American-made quality, you’ll have to look for brands like ChannelLock (made in Pennsylvania) or Klein Tools (made in Illinois). But even those are getting harder to find on store shelves.
Dishes and Glassware
If you grew up in the ’70s or ’80s, chances are your kitchen cabinet was filled with Corelle plates. You know the ones—lightweight, with little blue or green flower patterns around the edges?
They were made in Corning, New York, and you could drop them on the tile floor without a chip or crack.
And let’s not forget the thick Coca-Cola glasses you’d get at gas stations or diners—they were heavy, sturdy, and made to last.
Today’s plates and glasses?
Not so much.
A lot of them are made overseas with thinner materials that practically break if you sneeze too hard near them. You might get a whole set for cheap, but it’s unlikely they’ll survive a toddler or a clumsy dishwasher cycle.
Even some Corelle is now made outside the U.S., and the designs just don’t hit the same nostalgic note.
If you want the good stuff, you’ll have to dig through antique shops or estate sales. That old diner-style mug with the thick ceramic walls? Still keeps your coffee warmer than any modern one.
Sometimes the old ways really were better.
Baseball Gloves
Remember when getting a new baseball glove was a big deal? You’d go to the local sporting goods store, try on a few, and pick out a Wilson or Rawlings made in the U.S.A.
It came stiff as a board, and you’d spend weeks breaking it in—sleeping with it under your mattress, rubbing it with glove oil, and shaping the perfect pocket.
That glove could last you through Little League, high school, and maybe even get passed down to your son or daughter.
Today, many baseball gloves are made overseas, often from lower-quality leather that breaks in faster.
The downside? They also tend to wear out quicker.
Such baseball gloves might feel game-ready off the shelf, but they don’t hold their shape or stand the test of time. And while there are still U.S.-made options from companies like Nokona in Texas, they come with a steep price tag.
There was something special about earning every scratch and stain on your baseball glove back in the day. It wasn’t just sports equipment—it was a part of growing up.
These days, that kind of sentimental connection is harder to find.
Appliances
Remember when your parents bought a Whirlpool washer in 1989 and it kept spinning clothes clean until your senior year of college?
Back then, machines like Maytag and GE were proudly made in American factories like Newton, Iowa, and Louisville, Kentucky. Parts were simple and easy to fix with a little know-how.
Modern appliances are a different story. That fancy fridge with the touchscreen? It might break down in five years, and good luck finding someone who can fix it without ordering a part from halfway around the globe.
Many brands outsource parts or assembly, and they pack their machines with electronics that aren’t built to last.
Even brands like Maytag, which once stood for American durability, now outsource much of their work. The heart might still be in the U.S., but the parts come from all over.
And unfortunately, those parts don’t always hold up.
Toys
Did you ever step on a metal Tonka truck as a kid? Hurts like heck, but that’s because those things were built like tanks.
Tonka made their toys in Minnesota, with real metal and tough wheels. You could drive them through mud, gravel, and even down the stairs, and they’d still be ready to roll.
Today’s toys are mostly plastic and made overseas.
Even newer Tonka trucks are lighter, smaller, and not nearly as durable. Walk through a toy aisle now, and most stuff feels like it might break before you get home from the store.
There are a few gems left—Green Toys, for example, makes eco-friendly toys right in California.
But they’re the exception, not the rule.
Cars
Classic American cars like the 1967 Ford Mustang or the 1970 Chevy Chevelle were big, bold, and full of personality.
Pop the hood and you’d see a massive engine, not a maze of sensors and wires. You could change the oil yourself and actually understand what each part did.
Today’s cars are more fuel-efficient and packed with high-tech features, but they’re also more fragile in some ways. Bump a curb too hard, and you might knock out a sensor that controls half the car.
And while companies like Ford and GM still make cars in America, many parts come from all over the world.
There’s no doubt that today’s cars are safer and cleaner.
But there’s something magical about cruising in an old Impala or listening to the rumble of a real V8 engine—something modern cars just can’t replicate.
Shoes
Back in the day, your dad’s work boots were Red Wings made in Minnesota, and your Sunday church shoes were probably from Allen Edmonds in Wisconsin. They were made of real leather, had thick soles, and could be re-soled again and again.
People didn’t buy new shoes every few months—they fixed the ones they had.
Nowadays, most shoes are made overseas, often with synthetic materials that can’t be repaired. Even Converse All-Stars, once proudly made in Massachusetts, now come from overseas factories.
And once they wear out, into the trash they go.
There are still a few holdouts—Red Wing still makes boots in the U.S., and you can find American-made sneakers from brands like New Balance—but they’re a lot harder to find, and usually a lot pricier.
Kitchenware
If your family still uses an old cast-iron skillet, chances are it’s a Lodge, made in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. That pan probably outlived your grandparents and will outlive you, too.
Similarly, old Pyrex dishes, made in Corning, New York, were so tough you could drop them and they wouldn’t chip.
Today’s nonstick pans feel like toys in comparison. Many are made overseas with coatings that wear out in a year or two. Drop them once, and the handle might snap off.
And don’t even think about using metal utensils—they’ll scratch right through.
Lodge still makes cast iron in the U.S., and brands like All-Clad (made in Pennsylvania) offer top-tier stainless steel.
But most of what’s sold at big-box stores just doesn’t have the same staying power.
Bicycles
Back in the ’70s and ’80s, American kids grew up riding Schwinn bikes made in Chicago.
Those bikes were heavy, yes—but they were nearly indestructible. You could fall off a dozen times, scrape up the handlebars, and it would still keep cruising.
By the 1990s, Schwinn moved production overseas, and the quality started slipping. Today’s bikes are often made with carbon fiber frames, which are lighter but can be more fragile.
And many are sold half-assembled at chain stores, missing that old-school craftsmanship.
There are still American bike makers out there—Detroit Bikes and Brooklyn Bicycle Co. are bringing some of that old pride back. But they’re niche, and they don’t come cheap.
Electronics
If you had a Zenith TV or a Magnavox stereo back in the day, you had something special.
Those were made in places like Springfield, Missouri, or Fort Wayne, Indiana. And if they stopped working, you’d call a local repair guy—not toss them in the trash.
Modern electronics are sleek, fast, and smart—but they’re also disposable. Phones come with glued-in batteries, TVs are too thin to fix, and when something breaks, you’re often better off buying a new one.
We’ve come a long way with technology, but there’s something comforting about those big clunky machines that clicked, buzzed, and kept working long after the warranty ended.
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