Panasonic microwave oven model NE-7850 (700 watts) purchased in 1983 and still running. Replaced light bulb, fuse, turntable belt (turntable belt was the most recent replacement, July 2009.) I love the layout of the touch pads, it just has four buttons for time entry. 10 minute, 1 minute, 10 second, 1 second. So if you wanted 5 minutes and 30 seconds, you would hit the 1 minute button 5 times and the 10 second button 3 times then start. Six power levels. Auto Cook, Auto Defrost by weight. Push button pull handle. Built solid and very heavy. Quiet. Realizing this thing wont last forever I replaced it with a Panasoinc NN-H965B but hanging on to the old one. The new Panasonic can't compare to overall quality of the 26 year old model. Already I don't like the push to open button under the touch pads. Door gets all finger prints from just closing the door and it's black, not stainless. Very noisy fan, way noisier than the old one. Very hollow sounding when closing the door and light in weight. Closing the door pushes the whole oven back if it's not against the wall. It has a good button layout and is not confusing but display is not as clear and looks washed out (especially when not viewing the display at eye level, this is a countertop model so you do look down at it). I know I'll never get 20 years out of it but I'll have the old one to fall back on.

@fatcatz, I don't know if you like Traditional style, but I am about to buy Moen's Weymouth Single Handle Pull Down Spray faucet in polished nickel. I've been researching for a few days and came across an article from Starcraft Builders saying Moen's Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Polished Brass, Brushed Gold, Brushed Nickel, and Classic Stainless finishes are PVD. The remaining finishes are either Powder Coat or Electroplate. It's a great article, really goes in depth on the PVD process. Echoed your point about not always being the metal used in the PVD process. That being said, in reading the section on Electroplating, taken from the article: "Undercoats of copper, zinc, or nickel usually precede the final decorative coating. The undercoats have two purposes. Some metals, chrome being one, do not adhere very well to naked brass. One or more nickel undercoats are usually used before the chrome is applied so the finish does not flake or peel. If finishing a zinc component, undercoats of copper then nickel are commonly used. The copper sticks well to zinc, nickel adheres tightly to copper, and chrome bonds securely to nickel. Undercoats also help smooth out any small imperfections in the faucet material. It is not uncommon for faucets to be electroplated with nickel and chrome and then highly polished before a final PVD coating is applied. This process eliminates any potential flaws in the surface so they don't show up in the final PVD finish." Link to the article follows, below. Very high marks for customer service, Starcraft actually ranks Moen's customer service #1 in North America. http://www.starcraftcustombuilders.com/sources.faucets.Moen.htm

I have a 1937 cottage, and trying to retain the vintage feel. I've done a bit of researching on this very topic! No glaze on the cabinets, but chrome or nickel was used very often for kitchens and baths, even if the door hinges are brass, and very dark and aged (mine are too!) So you have lots of knob options.. just the hard part is deciding!! Chrome, nickel, brass, ORB, iron, glass, and ceramic will all work! I *think* I decided on chrome.. and we just ignore the door hardware! Seriously.. I have looked through 1/2 million kitchen pictures and you don't really notice the different finishes unless you really are actually looking for it!

@Kristin S, not sure but I can certainly ask. I really need a middle ground between the Polished Brass and Satin Nickel. The Polished Brass seems too gold for me and the satinnickel slightly too muted. Hard to tell but is the Top Bronze kind of in between? Going to go online and see the difference. At the end of the day, the pulls are so subtle so maybe I should stop belabouring on this point and I guess I could always just change them out after the fact (although my husband would kill me!!) ... LOL. Thanks!!