Compared to the '50s, what is that range/washer worth?

[fltcoils]

I like the web site measuringworth.org and it's historic economic tables. They are fun and neat.

I mentioned this a while ago, but had to share it again after seeing the photos of that '50s hotpoint range.

What kind of neat do dads would an appliance have if we paid for it? A $500 range in 1952 would cost $4054.67 in today's money.

Even more so... productivity is greater now. The real GDP per capita has increased. The annual fraction of the economic pie, adjusted for inflation, for every man-woman and child has increased from $14297 in 1952 to $43714 today. The economy produces 3 1/2 times as much output for every person now compared to the 50s.

So coughing up that $4000 for the range is 3 1/2 times easier now. Back in 1952, when our paren's bought their $500 ranges it required the penny pinching sacrifice of $12,000 in today's money (I think that's what this all means).

If we paid that much for a range, or washer, do you think it would be fancy?

-------------
pt 2
Miss Dolores Humbridge?

 

[qsd-dan]

Funny....

But I was thinking this morning how much $$ I have in vintage Maytags currently sitting in my living room. I played with an inflation calculator and I figure, in todays $$, I have about $25K worth. And to think people throw them away in perfect working condition...

 

[panthera]

Hmm,

I don't think a direct comparison is possible. For one thing, we are looking at 10% unemployment and higher for some time to come. For a large number of people, $500 might as well be $5000.

1952 unemployment was between 2.9 and 3.4% - that's pretty much the structural unemployment rate which means everybody who can work, is working. They saw that new stove as a major investment, saved for or bought on time.

There is also the minor factor that major appliances like stoves, washer, refrigerators, hot water heaters and luxury appliances like dryers, deep freezers were built to very high quality standards, they were beautifully designed by the leading industrial designers of their day, and were meant to provide value for decades, not three years.

The only home owners who spend $4,000 or so on modern ranges are the ones who buy real or faux-professional ranges. There, of course, you're paying extra for the one do-dad which outdoes them all: They work.

Beats me. Except for induction and microwaves, I can't think of a single, solitary innovation over our vintage appliances which I would pay a high price for.

 

[hunter]

4,000? Try 14000!

I read gardenweb.com, as they have a set of forums for home improvement. Since I'm doing home improvement I get useful stuff.

As for kitchen ranges, people spending 14000 for a high end (such as a Bluestar) is not that unusual.

We don't EVER eat out. We cook every meal - gluten and gluten free stuff. And I was whining for spending $1200 on a Kitchenaid with:

1. Glass smoothtop with 3 burners that were multi zoned
2. Convection oven with meat probe
3. Integral warming drawer

(I was kind of limited in my selections as I absolutely did not want stainless steel, but white. It's just personal preference).

But I ask myself -- would a range costing 10 times what this one did do 10 times the work? Only if it came with a cook!

But even so...maybe one of the TOUGHEST ranges I ever had was an electric range from the 50s that was an apartment size. It had enamel all over it, it was very thick, its oven heated very well, etc. And it had an electric plug which was very useful for the electric coffee pot.

In too many instances the faux professional ranges are for psuedo cooks -- and I'm NOT dissing anyone in particular but I had a friend who spend more than 60,000 on a kitchen redo..and primarily used to eat takeaway chinese. Que?

We're doing a kitchen refit and are looking for used or reasonably priced cabinets (nothing fancy but I want sturdy) and have bought mid ranged appliances (a reasonable dishwasher, but a whirlpool for a few hundred rather than a Miele for a few thousand), etc. Laminate counter tops. Vinyl flooring. Could we do something much more expensive? Probably, but why? It's a nice 1960s ranch, not a mansion!

I DID spend big bucks on my furnace, which is 95 percent efficientwith integral air filter and humidifier (pretty important here as Panthera can tell you) and a tankless water heater. Typically my gas bell is under $50 per month - in summer, it is about $10. I'll pay for performance, not for flash.

Hunter