[ARC5] 1940 Light Aircraft Radio Prices

[Mike Morrow]

I was reading a 1940 "Radio" magazine last night, one which contained product announcements for the latest RCA light aircraft set consisting of the AVR-15 (200 - 410 kc) receiver, AVT-15 (2500 - 6700 kc) transmitter/vibrator supply, and the AVA-41 trailing wire antenna assembly.  The price for the AVR-15 was $99.95, while the price for the other two components was not given except as a package:  Piper would provide this radio set in their aircraft for $467.

According to US government figures, $1 in 1940 is equal to about $14.50 today.  So the AVR-15 (without supply or accesories) cost the equivalent of $1450 today, and the AVR-15/AVT-15/AVA-41 added the equivalent of $6800 in current dollars to the price of a Piper aircraft.

In the same issue, a Meissner FM broadcast table radio (on the original 42 to 50 mc FM broadcast band) was advertised for $99.95.  Anyone care to pay $1450 of an FM table radio today?

A dollar in 1944 was equal to about 11.50 of today's dollars.  Has anyone come across reliable figures for how much the government spent on, say, a BC-454-B or DM-32-A or BC-457-A?  How about a BC-348?  An article by Walt H. in "Electric Radio" years ago reported the WWII price of an AN/ART-13 as $14,400 (equivalent to $166,000!).

I guess a person shouldn't feel too bad about those ebay prices.  : - )

Mike / KK5F