Steps: 3,282,233
Miles: 1371.58
Each week, Archie and Edith Bunker would sit at their piano and sing:
"Boy the way Glen Miller played, songs that made the hit parade, guys like us we had it made, those were the days, and you know where you were then, girls were girls and men were men, mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again, didn't need no welfare states everybody pulled his weight, gee our old Lasalle ran great, those were the days!"
What brought that on? Well, while looking for something on the web for work, I stumbled into the following picture -
Car at Pennsylvania Turnpike Service Station in 1941
And it immediately reminded me of a photo album my grandparents had showing them taking a trip with my dad as a young boy - My grandparents were "travel-holics" - I think they visited every state in the USA and at least 30 foreign countries.
Combine that with the knowledge that my dad had a red convertible when he met my mom - My mom still says one of the major reasons she went out with him was to get into this car!
So in an instant, a kaleidoscope of impressions streamed though my head and work was nearly forgotten.
What Things Cost in 1940:
Car: $800**
Gasoline: 18 cents/gallon - pumped, windows washed, and oil checked!
House: $6,550
Bread: 8 cents/loaf
Milk: 34 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 3 cents
Stock Market DOW Index: 131
Average Annual Salary: $1,900
Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour
**Obviously without OnStar, Navigation System, MP3 Player, Airbags (and maybe even seat belts), electric windows, electric locks, and A/C. It might of had, but not necessarily, power steering and an automatic transmission! The car in this picture may be rusting away in a junk yard, a proud sight at an auto show, on a car spindle, or even recycled today.
3 comments:
Makes a person stop to think, doesn't it?
I bought a brand new Mustang in September of 1973 and it cost me around $3400. I ordered it with a few extra options, but not with the options I wouldn't want to go without today. Things like power windows and door locks, cruise control, a/c, and an automatic transmission. But it did have a radio, and my dad put in an 8-track player for me. :) I could fill up with gas for around $2 back then.
I remember when gas was .35 cents a gallon...didn't get to over a dollar a gallon until early 70's. and when I went to work in 1972 I think I made about $1.50 or so an hour...damn I'm old remembering this kinda shit LOL
AK..trust me you can live without any of that stuff...I have automatic transmission and that's in..no a/c no power windows and manual door locks..we're just too spoiled these days..eh?
A/C in a vehicle? WTH is that? The A/C in our truck is the ole 265 kind....2 windows down and going 65 mph!
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