The old LEGO motors are still going strong

Broken LEGO motor box

While the LEGO motors of my childhood are still going strong, the motor from the set 8287 broke barely three years after I bought it. Actually the motor is OK, but the battery box or the switch has a slack joint somewhere inside. And what is worse: I cannot get a spare part! I hope LEGO is not following the trend producing throw-away toys. The motors from my childhood (which you can see in the background) are nearly 40 years old. This proves that one can build durable toy motors.