26 replies to this topic

[James Flowers]

I remember my grandma getting the grit paper but do not remember anything about getting prize for selling them. Jon I know you and I were lucky to get the amout of models we built together in the 60's.I still have a few from then.I wish you would rebuild the Corvair V8 you you built back then. It was way ahead of its time for back then. Keep on building my friend.

[Casey]

Original retail on the Big Deuce was $14.98.

I think the Big Deuce has been re-issued five or six times, but it sure would be nice to see it all returned to original, including the '60s instruction booklet:

[jdcar32]

I think the Big Deuce has been re-issued five or six times, but it sure would be nice to see it all returned to original, including the '60s instruction booklet:

Wow, thanks for posting these really neat photos, I think we all agree that box art both new and old is a very appealing part of our hobby. J.D.

[jdcar32]

I remember my grandma getting the grit paper but do not remember anything about getting prize for selling them. Jon I know you and I were lucky to get the amout of models we built together in the 60's.I still have a few from then.I wish you would rebuild the Corvair V8 you you built back then. It was way ahead of its time for back then. Keep on building my friend.

Hey up there there in O H I O. I just cant decide on how I want to rebuild the 'Vair, but it will happen. Thanks for your memories regarding Grit. Boys Life, among others, was the one I recall that advertised Grit along with the prize incentives like thimble drome cars and the Visible V-8.

[GrandpaMcGurk]

No problem, as long as you're ok making $3 an hour...

Harry brings up an interesting point here.....I bought my first Big T when they came out, it was around seven bucks and change.....at first glance you might think that's dirt cheap what with being able to buy a gallon of gas for less that a quarter ( and that was for Sunoco 200 octane).
Well everything's relative folks...you have to consider that a forty hour work week brought home (after taxes) 60 bucks or so.
Try raising a family, buying a house and car, food, clothes etc. on that amount of income and then tell me that seven bucks for a model is dirt cheap.......get my drift?

[Junkman]

Average Cost Of New Home Homes:
1930 $3,845.00 , 1940 $3,920.00, 1950 $8,450.00 , 1960 $12,700.00 ,
1970 $23,450.00 , 1980 $68,700.00 , 1990 $123,000.00 , 2008 $238,880

Average Wages:
1930 $1,970.00 , 1940 $1,725.00, 1950 $3,210.00 , 1960 $5,315.00 ,
1970 $9,400.00 , 1980 $19,500.00 , 1990 $28,960.00 , 2008 $40,523

Average Cost of New Car:
1930 $600.00 , 1940 $850.00, 1950 $1,510.00 , 1960 $2,600.00 ,
1970 $3,450.00 , 1980 $7,200.00 , 1990 $16,950.00 , 2008 $27,958

Average Cost Gallon Of gas:
1930 10 cents , 1940 11 cents , 1950 18 cents , 1960 25 cents ,
1970 36 cents , 1980 $1.19 , 1990 $1.34 , 2009 $2.051

Average Cost Loaf of Bread:
1930 9 cents , 1940 10 cents , 1950 12 cents , 1960 22 cents ,
1970 25 cents , 1980 50 cents , 1990 70 cents , 2008 $2.79

Average Cost 1lb Hamburger Meat:
1930 12 cents , 1940 20 cents , 1950 30 cents , 1960 45 cents ,
1970 70 cents , 1980 99 cents , 1990 89 cents , 2009 $3.99

Average Cost of 1/25 scale car model kit:
1930 N/A , 1940 N/A , 1950 N/A , 1960 ??? , 1970 ???, 1980 ???,
1990 ??? , 2000 ??? , 2010 $20 or so?

Average Cost of 1/8 scale car model kit:
1930 N/A , 1940 N/A , 1950 N/A , 1960 ??? , 1970 ???, 1980 ???,
1990 ??? , 2000 ??? , 2010 ???

Someone please copy & paste this & fill in the kit prices!

It would be interesting to know the tax proportion per average wage over the decades.

[Junkman]

Cafe Kroppenberg, 1958. The exchange rate was ca. 4.20 Deutschmarks to the Dollar.