A look back

[OH Osthaus]

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

[Steve Hodges]

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

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hodges

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

if you consider the Purdey purchaser an average sort of guy

[Kensal Rise]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

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.