A look back

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Talking about good prices on Parkers, Check this out, Gary

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

one more

[John Havard]

An AAHE 10-bore for $235. Probably in rough shape I'd guess.

Thanks for sharing this Gary!

[greg conomos]

An $850 Purdey! Still big bucks even back then.

The prices are cheap in today's dollars but still pretty heavy compared to new prices of the day. Especially when you consider it appears Parker would cut their price in half for just about anyone!

What do the B and Y mean in front of the prices?

[Rick Losey]

Think about what the average worker made coming out of the depression

The cost of living in 1940
Car: $800
Gasoline: 18 cents/gal
House: $6,550
Bread: 8 cents/loaf
Milk: 34 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 3 cents
Stock Market: 131
Average Annual Salary: $1,900
Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour


people look at historic prices through today's prism, I remember in college thinking that if I could make 10k a year I would be all set. In the 1950's my Dad made $50 a week at a good job- brought home a silver dollar each time he cashed the check- put it in a drawer and that financed our family vacation.

still fun to look at

[Stephen Hodges]

That Purdy was 45% of an annual salary of $1900

[Rick Losey]

That Purdy was 45% of an annual salary of $1900

if you consider the Purdey purchaser an average sort of guy

[greg conomos]

Well, we like to think that in 1939 a Purdey was not as out-of-reach as it is now. But I guess that's not the case.

[John Campbell]

if you consider the Purdey purchaser an average sort of guy

While I hesitate to concede that I'm average, I am, nonetheless, a Purdey owner. Still, mine wasn't cheap.


The price of the one quoted here can be given some perspective from the Historical Currency Conversions site:

"850 dollars in 1939 had the same buying power as 14,533.67 current dollars."

Today, a new Purdey will set you back about ten times that.

Nothing, it appears, is linear.

[Pete Lester]

I like looking at these old advertisements too. We all wish we could go back in time with today's money and buy those guns. What we are really looking at is the effect of inflation over time. If you need to finance a 30 year retirement you better have a pension indexed to inflation or at least have periodic COLA's. What something costs today will be cheap compared to 10, 20 or 30 years from now whether it's a car, a loaf of bread or a double gun.

Another way to look at it, the best time to plant a tree or buy a nice Parker was 30 years ago, the second best time to plant a tree or buy a nice Parker is today.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Pete you are exactly right, although, it is hard to believe a 1000.00 dollar gun today could be worth17,000 in 75 years, but that is inflation for you, Gary

[Dave Noreen]

Got to consider that those are Abercrombie & Fitch New York City prices. Those guns would likely have been half that price or less at a pawn shop in St Louis or Ware Bros. Hardware here in Spokane!!