What it was like when a 100 year old Parker was bought.

[Bindlestiff]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

That is a bit misleading where they give the average wage from 1910, when the country was just recovering from the crash of 1907. By 1916 things were booming with many new factories being built and others expanded for production to feed that war in Europe.

I'm just the messenger, I didn't gather the data. My sister sent me this and I thought I would pass it on, I found it put owning a Parker back then in a better light. I suspect more people can afford one today than could back in 1916.

[stumpstalker]

The cost of a Parker in 1916 may have been inhibitive for the average gunner, but compensating for that could have been another historical datum. I believe I read that prior to WW I 90% of American were born on farms. Many may have traveled daily into the city or village to pursue various trades or professions, but all those folks grew up in close proximity to firearms, garden pests and game animals. Thus, many may have been inclined to limiting their gun purchases to such as a Harrington & Richardson single shot, but many others would have had ample opportunity to use and may have had a preference for a Parker.

Anecdotal illustration, here: My father's favorite Parker gun, of the four he acquired (which included a DHE 12, a VH 12 and a VH 16), was a # 2-framed Trojan 12 gauge. It was purchased from a local farmer who was born in the late 19th Century and used the gun for pest control. He sold the gun to my father after his son-in-law, a soldier stationed in 1950s Germany, brought back for him from Europe a more au courant Sauer.

Postscript: Months later the farmer said he didn't like "that new gun" -- the Sauer. After repeating the phrase a couple times in quick succession Dad got the message, and just smiled and said, "sorry".

REC

[Mike Franzen]

Originally Posted by Russell E. Cleary

many others would have had ample opportunity to use and may have had a preference for a Parker
REC

With a total production of 3093 guns in 1916 not that many had the opportunity to purchase a Parker. Reading what Robin posted it makes me wonder just how good the "good ole days" really were.

[Chris T.]

The cost of goods then was really high in comparison to income.