Another Ad From 1954

[Vettepartz]

A lot of us old-timers are confined to being in the house (me included) so I find myself looking at old magazines and wishing for a time machine. Here i another ad from a 1954 American Rifleman. I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Telecaster]

Wish I could grab a few hundred bucks and jump in a time machine.

 

[OLDSTER]

I'd spend hours looking through "Shotgun News". Guns of all sorts would be delivered to your home. I remember you could buy Colt Peacemakers, Lugers, etc.for hundreds delivered. Yep-the good old days.

 

[Targets Guy]

Yes indeed.

 

[41 Roadmaster]

Thanks, I enjoy those old ads. Makes me wonder just what things will cost in another 60 to 70 years. I thought the Colt refinish for $15 was really interesting, that just seems unbelievably cheap..

 

[Speedo2]

Multiply those prices by 10x-to-12x and you'll be pretty close to today's prices, in most cases. Everything today cost at least 10x what it did in 1954 and a $10K yearly salary then was "executive" pay. You were walking in high cotton if you could afford those S&W's back then. My family was in more of the surplussed Victory category, but I was too young to care. -S2

 

[Telecaster]

That down parka would cost about the same today, but it would be made in China or Vietnam out of synthetic materials.

 

[kscharlie]

I see an option for the .22 and .38 Masterpiece, 4" or 6", was what they called a "Spur Hammer" for an additional $2.75. Pretty sure all the K frame hammers had a spur. Assume this was meant as a target hammer????

 

[geeollie]

I'd go back and get several made in USA canvas shooting jackets.
Maybe a few Woolrich coats. Did things come in 3XL back then?

I'd love to go down to Gibson's and get a metal tackle box and a Zebco made in Tulsa.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

I'm pretty sure my Dad paid just under $3,000 for his 1957 DeSoto Fireflite with a custom Chrysler 300 engine and some other upgrades. That sucker would do 140 in the days before I-80 was built and the speed limit in Iowa was "reasonable and proper."

God, how I miss bombing around the Midwest with him on business trips in the summer.

 

[quinn]

Anybody beside me note the lack of 357 (pre 27)?

 

[italiansport]

I for one wonder how many took advantage of that Colt SAA rebuild offer?
Jim

 

[glowe]

Anybody beside me note the lack of 357 (pre 27)?

Also, I noticed the store must not have purchased and K32 Masterpiece revolvers to sell??

 

[Valmet]

I love seeing old ads like that.

 

[Jack Flash]

I'll bet those Japanese binoculars were made by Nikon.

 

[jmart172]

1954 being my birth year
I like seeing that ad

 

[Absalom]

Anybody beside me note the lack of 357 (pre 27)?

Also, I noticed the store must not have purchased and K32 Masterpiece revolvers to sell??

From what I've heard, Warshal's was a Seattle institution for most of the 20th century.

But they were just a storefront sporting goods business, so considering the relatively low production numbers on some of the more "exotic" models, my impression is that they are actually surprisingly well assorted, looking at the models they do offer

 

[Mrnurse]

39.99 for a goose Down Fur Lined hoodie Coat... Made in the usa, or for 70.99 a 38/44 or a 1950 with 3t's. So the coat was 1/2 the price of the pistol...like today... ahh 1400.00 for a N frame and a well made jacket is 700.00. about the same trade ratio.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Also, I noticed the store must not have purchased and K32 Masterpiece revolvers to sell??

And no Chiefs Specials, either! Not big sellers at that point, I'm guessing.

 

[Old Wheel Man]

Here's a blast from the past. Ads from the first copy of Gun Digest (1944) and from the 6th addition Gun Digest (1952). Pay attention to the price difference on that magnum.

 

[Spurdann]

The more I see these ads the more I hate to admit it, but now is the good old days. When I see a deal it kills me to pass on it but I have this issue, commonly referred to as a lack of available finances.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I'd just like to be able to go to Warshal's again but it closed years ago. Just as well, I guess since downtown is such a mess now.

 

[NavySCPO]

Is it just me, or does 20% Federal Tax seem excessive for 1954?

What does that amount to on the inflation calculator?

 

[Hawg Rider]

1954 dollars vs 2020 dollars...

1954- my birth year, as well! This was around the time that S&W started selling the Highway Patrolman, and just before the release of the Colt Python and S&W Model 29. $70 was a lot of money back then when you consider the average hourly wage, price of a gallon of gas, prices of cars and real estate, etc. $70 in 1954 equates to about $670 in today's dollars- so it's not that much different than the prices we pay for a lot of revolvers today.

 

[moosedog]

In 1954 the average yearly income was just over $3,000

 

[LPD256]

I have the hospital bill from my birth in 1952. Total was $99 all in. Times change. Here is a 1954 38/44 with invoice. Enjoy your weekend.

 

[raljr1]

For perspective, there were 39 million families in the US in 1950. Only 9 million of those had household incomes over $5000 per year. Average family income was $3300 per year. So that 44 or K frame masterpiece would be a little over a week's earning for a family.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[BruceB]

I'd just like to be able to go to Warshal's again but it closed years ago. Just as well, I guess since downtown is such a mess now.

1st Ave and Madison St. is not a place to be around these days, without carrying one of those advertised products!

I bought more than a few firearms from them after arriving in Seattle in the early 70s. They were kind to service members and I could always get them to move off their retail pricing a fair amount.

 

[GypsmJim]

I retired 4 years ago, but at that time my weekly gross income would buy me at least 3 new S&W revolvers.

The 1950 .45 Target was the gun that Dad always wanted. Back in 1954 I'm quite sure that the $84 price tag was more than he earned in a week.

Prices are all relative.

 

[ParadiseRoad]