Old Ads/Old Prices

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I think we have to see the ads in the context of the value of the dollar.

http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm

At this rate of the devaluation of the dollar, we don't have to go to the store to buy toilet paper, we can just use Ben Franklins. We could also be like those old time millionaires before the depression and light out cigars with $100 bills also. A dollar just ain't what they used to be.
 
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CGW

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At this rate of the devaluation of the dollar, we don't have to go to the store to buy toilet paper, we can just use Ben Franklins. We could also be like those old time millionaires before the depression and light out cigars with $100 bills also. A dollar just ain't what they used to be.

Yup. Point is, some of this stuff would have been just as pricey then as it is now were it currently priced, e.g.,

A Pacemaker Crown Graphic kit in 1958 had a reg. price of $252.50

In 2011 $, that would be around $1,794.

I think US Federal minimum was in 1958 was $1/hr

Take a look at this expressed in historic minimum wage terms for some context:

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/anth484/minwage.html
 
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