I agree with the overall point of this post, that most of the time stuff gets better over time (the oven is a great example).
However, I think there might be small and specific counter-examples where large infrastructure shifts take place. Lets say that some particular consumer item really is at its best and most cost effective when made of cast iron. Then perhaps at some point in history when a lot of things are made of cast iron infrastructure and expertise are widespread and the item gets better. Later most of the economy moves on because other techniques are better for other products, and that last cast iron product is “orphaned”, becoming worse.
I have been told that a bunch of giant machine shop tools (lathes and things) from the late 50′s and early 60′s (lots of cast iron) were probably better than those today—which I found plausible for the above reason. Perhaps in 50-60 years petrol cars will be a niche plaything for enthusiasts in the same family as steam-train fans. For those people which petrol cars are they going to nod sagely and proclaim the best? Ones made about now with all our investment of money into making good petrol cars for a mass market? Or ones made then (2080), built specifically for the enthusiasts, by people who are themselves more or less hobbyists? [Or, going the other direction, do we thing a steam engine built today would be as good as a Victorian one.]
I agree with the overall point of this post, that most of the time stuff gets better over time (the oven is a great example).
However, I think there might be small and specific counter-examples where large infrastructure shifts take place. Lets say that some particular consumer item really is at its best and most cost effective when made of cast iron. Then perhaps at some point in history when a lot of things are made of cast iron infrastructure and expertise are widespread and the item gets better. Later most of the economy moves on because other techniques are better for other products, and that last cast iron product is “orphaned”, becoming worse.
I have been told that a bunch of giant machine shop tools (lathes and things) from the late 50′s and early 60′s (lots of cast iron) were probably better than those today—which I found plausible for the above reason. Perhaps in 50-60 years petrol cars will be a niche plaything for enthusiasts in the same family as steam-train fans. For those people which petrol cars are they going to nod sagely and proclaim the best? Ones made about now with all our investment of money into making good petrol cars for a mass market? Or ones made then (2080), built specifically for the enthusiasts, by people who are themselves more or less hobbyists? [Or, going the other direction, do we thing a steam engine built today would be as good as a Victorian one.]