Using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index calculator is a real eye-opener, as Paul noted above!
One of those ubiquitous ads for Lionel in the early/mid 50's was burned into my cranium at the ripe young age of 8...the singleton 2500-series Pullman car, Silver Cloud...$9.95. Santa had given me the 'Speedliner' 3-car set with the Silver Bluff Pullman. I dearly wanted that other Pullman. But Dad had his usual quick response...'Well, start saving your money!' And, so, I did.
The CPI calculator says today's equivalent price for that car would be in excess of $110...moving further 'north' daily. Now, 70 years later CPI calcs make it easier to understand how a kid would view that sort of challenge back then.
At this time of year (holiday sales), when I worked post-retirement at the LHS, I well remember many shocked expressions when grandparents seeking to buy little Jack...or Jill...their first Lionel train set would look at the prices. 'No way!', 'Highway robbery!', 'You must be kidding!', 'My first Lionel cost less than half that price!!', etc., etc..
The shop manager encouraged us to enter into a quick friendly conversation that zeroed in on those memories...the year, the price, the features of the set, etc.. We'd update their perspectives...with the help the CPI calculator. It was then really quite easy to point out the many, many additional features of the current, comparable Lionel sets...at a today's price even below the price (CPI-adjusted) they remembered. They got it. Occasionally they bought it, too!
In fact, it really makes for some interesting discussions when I visit with my two sisters and we recall the seeming largesse that awaited us on the Christmas mornings of our youth. Both of our parents died in 1984. As we sorted through the old records they kept...including receipts, notes, circled magazine/newspaper advertisements, paycheck stubs, etc....we were astounded at 'Santa's' generosity, and how hard it must've been for his helpers (Mom & Dad) to save for that annual occasion...as well as other special days throughout the year!!
Yepper, we'd look at those published prices from back then and concede those were 'the good ol' days'!! And yet... Pretty humbling, those family memory discussions now. (Far better than some of the contentious across-the-table ideological crapola I've heard about more recently!
)
Ah, well,...meanwhile back at the ranch...
KD
P.S....Re the OP's ad. Gargraves track for $0.95!?!?!?!?!?
