[ARC5] Inspired Hack Job

[Glen Zook]

And people today think that $700, or less, for a "modern" SSB transceiver is really expensive!

The Heath DX-20 at $35.95 in 1957 would cost $289.12 today.

The Heath DX-40 at $64.95 in 1958 would cost $508.62 today.

The Heath DX-100 at $189.50 in 1955 would cost $1602.57 today.

My first transmitter, a Globe Chief 90A, which cost $74.50 in 1958 would cost $583.40 today.  The SM-90 screen modulator cost $11.99 in 1958 would cost $93.89 today.  The WRL-755 VFO cost $69.95 in 1958 would cost $547.77 today.  My Hallicrafters S-107 that I got new (traded in a Heath AR-3 at Allied Radio, 100 North Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois) for $94.95 in 1958 would cost $743.54 today.  The total would be $1968.60 today!

I got the Globe Chief 90A used from a local for $50.00, paid $5.00 a week as a Novice Class in May 1959 and then the VFO and modulator from the same local for $35.00 paid at the same time.  This equates to $660.34 today.

My father was making like $150.00 a week which equates to $1165.31 today.  If I remember correctly, I got $30.00 for "trade in" for the AR-3 which made the cost of the S-107 $65.95 which is $512.35 today.  That was right at 44% of his weekly salary and he was getting above average wages for the time.

To put it bluntly, amateur radio today is CONSIDERABLY cheaper than in the "goode olde dayes"! 
 
Glen, K9STH


Website:  http://k9sth.com


________________________________
 From: Kenneth G. Gordon <kgordon2006 at frontier.com>
To: Arc5 at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Inspired Hack Job
 
On 6 Mar 2013 at 17:55, Bob Macklin wrote:

>     B&W SSB adapter 1957  $265.00

$2131.12 in 2012

>     Central Electronics 10A transmitter 1953  $129.50

$1100.00 in 2012

>     Central Electronics 10B transmitter 1954  $129.50

$1090.78 in 2012

>     Central Electronics 20A transmitter 1954  $199.50

$1680.39 in 2012

>     Central Electronics 100V transmitter 1957  $795.00

$6393.66 in 2012

>     Collins 32S-1 transmitter 1957  $590.00

$4744.98 in 2012

>     Collins KWM-1 transceiver 1957  $770.00

$6192.60 in 2012

>     Johnson Viking 500  $950.00

$7915.25 in 2012

Etc. 

I sure as HELL couldn't have afforded even the least expensive one of those in equivalent 
dollars at that time!!!! 

It sounds to me as though some of you had way more money than most of the rest of us.


Lucky you!