When I was in high school in the 1960s, my DD sold stainless steel cookware, and did the in-home demos where he cooked a meal for the prospects. My Mother used his "sample" set for many years, and when she died in 1977 I wound up with it. Still cooks good, still looks good, after all these years. The only problem is the 12 in skillet: food sticks to it if you fry on a high heat. My cookware has traveled many a mile, but has lived in one spot for the last 24 years.