Sharp enough to shave with.
I know that this story is stretching the definition of redundant technology somewhat but as the vast majority of answers here seem to be more along the theme of 'they don't make them like they used too' I’m slotting my two cents in here.

Tools.

Yeah Seriously.

What the fuck is up with modern day tools? They're all a huge pile of wank. I've got a modest collection of edged tools which I use for my conservation work and occasional woodworking project and nothing produced these days can even hold a candle to the stuff which was produced 'back in the day.' These tools by manufacturers such as Brades, Nash or Gelpin can hold an edge; they were made by skilled craftsmen from properly tempered metal. Tools that you could use all day doing manly stuff such as chopping down trees and then go straight home and shag the wife and drink beer from a tankard not waste time sharpening ones tools.

Okay so I know it’s an unsual bugbear but at least its different to all the stories about mega drives and ZX spectrums!

I'm putting the even more off topic story about how I once prepared a cheese sandwich using an axe in the replies.
(Psymon_Spark Jesus Saves! The rest of you take 4d6 damage, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 9:26, 10 replies)

Don't each cheese when pissed!
So we've all been students, in our house the typical contents of the cutlery draw was seventeen spoons, one cheese grater, a melon baller and the one knife (which is always dirty). Anyway it was my birthday and as such a house party was planned, it was to be an excellent BBQ with drinkies and much funtimes. Anyhoo I started on the cider a bit too eagerly and was rather pissed before the event had really got going, but no fear I said to myself in my drink addled state everyone knows that when your a little bit pissed you need some food! I decided to make myself a cheese sandwich, however the knife for cutting the cheese was of course dirty. So I used an axe, not just a little hand hatchet either, a full sized 7.5lb English felling axe, and I proper swung it over my head as well (I split the chopping board in half.)

The moral of the story is clear; don't eat cheese sandwiches when pissed.
(Psymon_Spark Jesus Saves! The rest of you take 4d6 damage, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 9:27, closed)

I was there for this! I'll try and find the pic of us in the kitchen where you chopped the cheese! Does Tom still read/write on B3ta?
(RJWEcology is just sharpening his axe on, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 18:40, closed)

4 years ago I bought an axe for splitting logs
It was a "Spear & Jackson", hickory handle and precision laser sharpened head (or whatever).

Piece of shit, doesnt hold an edge. 3 years ago my grandfather died and I had some of his tools, including 2 axes that are probably between 50-100 years old. Absolutely incredible, hold an edge for months.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 9:58, closed)

This is my
point exactly.
(Psymon_Spark Jesus Saves! The rest of you take 4d6 damage, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 10:01, closed)

Although I did have to give them a new edge with an angle grinder
which was quite good fun
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 10:06, closed)

I use a
whetstone for the authentic manly feeling
(Psymon_Spark Jesus Saves! The rest of you take 4d6 damage, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 11:40, closed)

The China effect

The old tools were better because they were made up to a quality by toolmakers rather than down to a price by accountants. But because everyone wants only to pay "China price", that's all that gets made nowadays in factories far, far, away for slave wages. And also why films like the Full Monty are an accurate depiction of how we (Maggie?) valued our mining and manufacturing industry. And why I can only get engineering work in Asia. Bah, humbug.
Length? All in imperial units.
(Classic Ray, Sun 7 Nov 2010, 13:29, closed)

A while ago...
I decided that I needed a woodworking plane. A bit of internet research suggested that the prevailing opinion, among the people who are properly into these things, is that sometime in the 70s they stopped making the blades for these out of metal and started making them out of cheese. They also stopped caring about little details, like whether the body is actually decently cast. So I went on eBay and bought an old one (50s). It is pretty nice and I have no reason to believe that it won't last me my entire life and probably well beyond.

Old tools for the win!
(flimflam_machine, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 11:21, closed)

Further demonstration
of my point!
(Psymon_Spark Jesus Saves! The rest of you take 4d6 damage, Fri 5 Nov 2010, 11:40, closed)

Hammer and knife
The two tools I use most at work and they both belonged to my grandfather. The hammer's a solid old lump with a leather hand grip; none of this lightweight, hollow crap I keep seeing. The knife's something that he made himself to fit Stanley blades, because he though Stanley knives were shoddy and ill-made.

They never leave my side. I even take them home with me to keep them safe. The rest of my tools can be replaced.
(Unit, Sat 6 Nov 2010, 4:14, closed)