The Stradivari violins are believed to be so good because the wood they are made from grew during the Little Ice Age. Are their any other objects that can't be produced today because the materials are impossible/illegal to obtain?

My house was built in 1957. The exterior wall framing is all true 2" x 6" lumber on 12" centers, clad with 1" x 8" lumber and then bricked. The rafters for my roof are all 2" x 10" with cross braces vertically and laterally. I was joking with a neighbor that one of the giant pine trees in the yard could fall on the house and not make a dent. He told me that 10 years before we moved in that exact thing happened and all they had to do to fix it was put new shingles on. Built like a fortress....but at the same time obviously wired and plumbed by a mad man. Half the wiring is the wrong color, outlets are wired with lamp cord, and the master bath vent stack used to just end in the attic.

/r/history Thread Parent