Reply to: What's the biggest change the world has seen in your lifetime?

[shaunbhoy]

Whats wrong with starting from scratch, neither took any skill to build which we no longer have

Not sure we are quite as good at rubbing along with the Frogs to be fair.

[Spacecadet]

As mentioned earlier. Saturn V and Concorde. Not to say we couldn't make them again, but we'd have to start from scratch.

Whats wrong with starting from scratch, neither took any skill to build which we no longer have

[Spacecadet]

Making a sword is easy - just as making a chair is easy. Making an amazing sword that is folded hundreds of times is very very hard.

There are still artisan samurai sword makers in Japan making swords with thousands of folded layers

[Mich the Tester]

Making a sword is easy - just as making a chair is easy. Making an amazing sword that is folded hundreds of times is very very hard.

I have tried DIY and I can assure you it isn't easy. At least, not a chair that's suitable for a 16 stone person to sit upon with confidence.

[d000hg]

and the UK

Crisp & Sons - Sword Cutlers - Military & Ceremonial Sword Refurbishment, Sword Makers UK

Saw a blacksmith on TV not so long ago make a bill hook from scratch. It didnt even need sharpening to be used (though he did put an edge on it shortly after). It cant be much of a step to make a sword.

Making a sword is easy - just as making a chair is easy. Making an amazing sword that is folded hundreds of times is very very hard.

[NotAllThere]

I'll bite. Name one

The only thing I can think of which might qualify is violins whose technique in manufacture has taken a few steps backwards over the centuries. But we can still make them

As mentioned earlier. Saturn V and Concorde. Not to say we couldn't make them again, but we'd have to start from scratch.

[OwlHoot]

Saw a blacksmith on TV not so long ago make a bill hook from scratch. It didnt even need sharpening to be used (though he did put an edge on it shortly after). It cant be much of a step to make a sword.

Yes you can make a sword, even a fancy looking ceremonial one, almost as easily as a billhook. But to make a Saxon or Samurai multilayered sword that will stay sharp and not snap like a twig is much harder.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Super slim TVs and Monitors. Do you remember when having a 21" monitor meant you had to use a 10 foot table for the back of it. Also a tv larger than 42" took up half the lounge + dining room.

[Arturo Bassick]

A real example... maybe sword-making?

Saw a blacksmith on TV not so long ago make a bill hook from scratch. It didnt even need sharpening to be used (though he did put an edge on it shortly after). It cant be much of a step to make a sword.

[Spacecadet]

There are still master sword makers.

In Japan.

and the UK

Crisp & Sons - Sword Cutlers - Military & Ceremonial Sword Refurbishment, Sword Makers UK

[d000hg]

And we still have the preserved knowledge to revive old skills.

A real example... maybe sword-making?

[Spacecadet]

There are many such examples. Machines we can no longer build because we don't have the skills any more.

I'll bite. Name one

The only thing I can think of which might qualify is violins whose technique in manufacture has taken a few steps backwards over the centuries. But we can still make them

[Arturo Bassick]

The biggest impact is the silicon chip. It created a step change in technology which has been the root of all other change and advancement.

[Mich the Tester]

For me it is the arrival of the dishwasher, the drier, the clothes drier and satellite TV. It means that the wife has more time to do er chores leaving me more time to watch what I want

Yes, the site of one's wife's pretty little head bobbing up and down at waist height is something I like to watch too.

[DodgyAgent]

For me it is the arrival of the dishwasher, the drier, the clothes drier and satellite TV. It means that the wife has more time to do er chores leaving me more time to watch what I want