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| October 2007 | |
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Quite by accident I found a historical reference chart produced by the Department of Labor and Statistics. By calculating the inflation rates for various periods over history, it shows how much money is needed today to purchase the same item(s) with today's dollars. (The chart ends in 1991 dollars however.) The chart compares wages against buying power. To use the chart, say for example, in 1991 it would have taken $14.85 to purchase what only one dollar would have bought in 1875. |
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| YEAR(S) | $ MULTIPLIER | YEAR | $ MULTIPLIER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1820-1850 | $13.28 | 1935 | $9.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1850-1875 | $13.14 | 1945 | $7.56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1875-1900 | $14.85 | 1965 | $4.31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1900-1925 | $11.38 | 1975 | $2.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | $1.26 | 1991 | $1.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Using the data from the above chart, I calculated how much a specific product cost then and in 1991 dollars. |
| Product | Year | Cost Then | Cost in 1991 $ |
| Chrysler Coupe | 1925 | $750 | $8,535 |
| Oldsmobile Sedan | 1965 | $2,995 | $12,908 |
| Buick LeSabre | 1985 | $7,088 | $8,930 |
| Dozen Eggs | 1925 | 27 Cents | $3.07 |
| Dozen Eggs | 1965 | 42 Cents | $1.81 |
| Dozen Eggs | 1980 | 69 Cents | 89 Cents |
| Annual Salary Minimum Wage (40 hours week) | 1938 | $520 | $5,153 |
| Annual Salary Minimum Wage (40 hours week) | 1963 | $2,600 | $11,206 |
| Annual Salary Minimum Wage (40 hours week) | 1975 | $4,368 | $10,648 |
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Abraham Lincoln Home Springfield, Illinois | 1854 | $1,200 | $15,768 |
| James Garfield Memorial Cleveland, Ohio | 1890 | $150,000 | $2,227,500 |
| United States President Salary | 1820 | $25,000 | $332,000 |
| United States President Salary | 1875 | $50,000 | $742,500 |
| United States President Salary | 1965 | $100,000 | $431,000 |
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The last week of September, I travelled to primarily Kentucky and West Virginia to shoot panoramas. I was not satisfied with the quality of the photos I took at the Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, Kentucky in August, so I went down and re-shot them. I also did a panorama of the Daniel Boone Grave at Frankfort, Kentucky. It turned out to be extra nice since it was shot at sunset. I also went to Webster, West Vriginia and did panoramas of the Anna Jarvis home exterior and interior. She was the founder of Mother's Day. In addition, General McClellan made her home his encapement headquarters in the early days of the Civil War. While in West Virginia, I stayed at subscriber Kathleen Panek's Gillum House Bed and Breakfast. (Hello Kathleen and thanks again. Pretty state.)
Casemate Publishing has donated fourteen different new history books to award as Grand Prizes in my monthly trivia contests. The first offering is the Grand Prize in this issue of my newsletter.
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September Contest |
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GRAND PRIZE QUESTION: Who was the first president to wear long pants in the White House? (Up until this period, men wore knickers that came to just below the knees.)
GRAND PRIZE ANSWER: James Madison
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ALTERNATE PRIZE QUESTION: Which president was the first to be elected that had been divorced prior to being elected? ALTERNATE PRIZE ANSWER: Ronald Reagan |
Only forty-six people entered the contests - My lowest yet so you had the best odds of winning in this one. One entered 10 days after the deadline. All prizes were claimed. |
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To enter the Grand Prize Contest, answer the question: Which US president is known to have a degree in nuclear physics?
To enter the Alternate Contest, answer the question: Who wrote the United States' Pledge of Allegiance?
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(One winner will be selected) | |
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Iran's Nuclear Option Tehran's Quest for the Atomb Bomb Iran's Neuclear Option is essential reading for anyone with an interest in global security and the perilous volatiliticy of the Middle East. It also comprises an indicator for America's own options, should it be willing to counter the threat while time remains, in favor of world peace rather than greater global instability. If you don't win this contest, the book can be ordered from Amazon.com by clicking this link | |
(Only one of each offered) | |
 Episodes of the Classic TV Series - 1950's |
 Hell in Normandy (1968) Movie about the days prior to the Normandy Invasion |
| Original Historic Newspapers | |
 New-York Spectator historic newspaper from 1834 | |
 Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) historic newspaper from 1842 | |
 Original Manchester American & Messenger (New Hampshire) historic newspaper from 1853 | |
 New York Tribune historic newspaper from 1860 | |
 Original Coldwater Republican (Michigan) historic newspaper from 1876 | |
| That's it for this issue.
Rick Brown
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