Doing it right - An Example

Consider a HiFi system of the 1970s or 1980s. The best systems were modular. Real HiFi snobs would buy modules from a variety of vendors, some of them, tiny companies specializing in only one type of module, e.g. a loudspeaker or a turntable. Many of these systems had a long life, because upgrading was a piecemeal affair. Real improvements were made at different times for the different modules, so many of the parts were retained for quite extended periods.

This system approach had many advantages to the user, not least the modest, distributed cost of the upgrading process. But perhaps, particularly useful was the value of function evolution rather than revolution. Changing one element at a time, reveals the true value/quality change associated with each of the components and if a mistake is made it is easier to put right.

A curious feature of this kind of ownership was that it was the SAME HiFi despite its changing parts. It had some sort of continuous identity, becoming more itself. It had some sort of LIFE.

During the period, a particularly vigorous trade in second hand parts existed because of this piecemeal upgrading, extending the life of the components considerably. Indeed the highest quality parts are still traded, because in some sense or another they still represent value.