America Had No Planned Obsolescence Until 1924 — Why Did Things Stop Lasting?

America didn't always have a throwaway culture. Until 1924, products were engineered to endure, passed down through generations as durable investments. This deep-dive historical documentary uncovers the shocking true story of why things stop lasting, revealing the origins of planned obsolescence and the secret agreement that redefined modern capitalism. Discover the hidden history behind the "Centennial Light"—the world's longest-burning bulb—and contrast its craftsmanship with the intentional failure built into today's light bulbs and smartphones. We explore how an economy based on genuine craftsmanship was secretly sabotaged by the Phoebus Cartel, an international conspiracy of top executives who secretly legislated product failure in the winter of 1924. This faceless documentary details how General Motors used psychological obsolescence to force consumer turnover and how even the Great Depression brought proposals for mandatory legal destruction of goods. From the golden age of American manufacturing to the modern e-waste crisis, this film indicts an economic system engineered to break. Learn the secrets corporations don't want you to know. If you are tired of modern fragile technology, subscribe for more suppressed American history. #PlannedObsolescence #PhoebusCartel #ForgottenHistory #FacelessDocumentary #AmericanHistory #ConsumerCulture