The old shop I used to work at had an ancient heat pump. I think it was a 70's model. It is still working but I rarely make it down there anymore. If I think about it next time I am close I will get the numbers and info off of it.

I think the question should be what brand(s) are still running.

I suspect most will be the old tanks made by GE.

IMO

The first heat pump I saw was a GE. That was in 1964. This one had developed problems shortly after installation in a new home.

"Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside."
Alexander Pope (1688-1744).

A few years ago I saw a packaged GE from early 50s in a basement. It ducted outside air in from the roof beside the chimney and sent exhaust air out another duct. The sucker had a wall full of controls. It would come on and cool a bit then some control would shut it down. Only on its 2nd compressor in nearly 60 years!

I think the one I wrote about is an old GE.

I think the one I wrote about is an old GE.

My parents GE Weathertron system that was installed in 1974 is still working well and has never been repaired, but it is cleaned every year. I know they opted for the more expensive/efficient version, the Executive, that at the time was their most efficient unit with Seer of 10 I believe.
the system is in Lakeland, Florida, very hot summers and generally mild winters.
It runs year round.

Amazing thats still running. A 35 year old piece of equipment. 10 seer - wow. Thats not to bad if thats for real.

I probably should not say this but it just goes to show that there was such a thing as quality manufacture at one time in the US. Now it is all about price and planned obsolescence regardless where the product comes from.

IMO

Our 10 SEER Trane heatpump just stopped working a couple weeks ago. It was 19 years old. The compressor was the part that stopped and the handler is probably still good, but we're getting estimates to replace the whole system with min 15 SEER. (not sure what the HSPF was on the old one).
In the 5 years we've been at this house, we've only had 1 issue with blowing but not cooling and it was a small leak a couple years back that once re-filled never gave us issues again.
We started looking at Trane for replacement mostly because this one has lasted so long, but heard conflicting reports - some say they're not made the way they used to be (quality wise, what really is made the way it used to be anyway!?), others say Trane's are still the go to along with Carrier for quality and price.

I am replacing a unit on Wednesday that was installed in 1979. ThermalKing (ThermoKing?) is the brand of the compressor unit. Air Handler was replaced since 1979 and is mismatched. No SEER available but the unit still works. I am replacing with a Mini Split because of the effeciency and I am getting worried about reliability. It can't last forever.

Wow. That is amazing story about the Thermal King. What part of the country are you in? Did it run alot? What were the bills like in winter and summer?

When I was a child, we lived for a while in a house that had an old American Standard system, circa 1965. It was a huge green box about the size of a twin bed. The coil was so long that it needed two fans. I have no idea what the SEER rating might have been on that beast.

My recollection is that it cooled well, and it heated decently in moderately cold weather. However, the control circuits were a rat's nest and it seldom worked right. I recall my dad shoving pieces of wood into the contacts of the open-frame relays to make it run.

This one is from 1980 it is operating perfectly right now and it has not been serviced

Advertisement for a 1959 Fedders heat pump room/window air conditioner. Several brands offered them through the decades.