Rant - fixing old stuff (heating pad)

The pad could be 50 YO or more. I need to ask mom. The cord broke at the control. No surprise. I bought a rubber appliance cord and cut off the end. Undid two screws on the back of the control. Unsoldered two wires and undid the strain relief and presto - back in service.

The contacts are really beefy. The only change was to add some Conducto-Lube.

I have a more modern pad that's also broken and probably can't be fixed.

Yep, 'old stuff' is much more fixable comparing to the modern electronics.