December 27th 2023.
Mary and Ivor Waite have been using the same multipurpose machine since the day they got married. An incredible 98 years ago, Ivor's aunt gifted them the trusty Piccolo on their special day. Not only is it still functional after all this time, but it has never broken down.
The Piccolo is a marvel of engineering, boasting the ability to be used as a vacuum cleaner, food processor, meat mincer, coffee grinder, polisher, vegetable peeler, drill, and compressed air paint sprayer all in one. It was especially popular among families living in cramped houses in Germany and Eastern Europe for its small size and versatility.
Ivor, a 73-year-old retired engineering inspector, said: “We were given it in 1976 from my auntie as a wedding present – it’s the household equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.” His aunt's husband was a businessman who worked to import the German appliances to the UK, but because he had no service department, he couldn’t sell them in England.
The couple has mainly used the Piccolo as a mincer, but it has many other purposes. It even comes with a tag still in perfect condition and a toolkit. Ivor has only had to change the plug to a 13amp English one in his time owning the appliance, and said he plans to keep it as long as he can.
He added: “With modern vacuums, they’re virtually unrepairable nowadays. It lasted because it’s German engineering. It’s well-built and heavy. The motor weights 3k or 4kg at least. You can’t mess with it really. It’s solid, all metal. Dysons are a pain to repair. You have to unclip all this plastic.”
In 2013, the couple won an award for the oldest working appliance in the Black Country after entering the Piccolo into the contest. Ivor joked: “We’ve got two children who will fight over it when we go. I haven’t left it. The only thing that might burn out is the motor, but I have three of them.”
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