Collecting in the 1950s + 1960 Price List

[Uncle Paul]

Ever wonder what was available and what things cost back when collecting Third Reich artifacts was a new hobby? Here's a price list from 1960 and the covers of two publications from 1958. You won't believe your eyes.

[StuG III]

Those prices are unbelievable compared to prices today. Where's that bl**dy time machine??
Tom

[oradour]

Gents, I was only talking about prices yester year with another collecter the other day, and came to the conclusion that these may look inexpensive now...but its all relative, I notice on list 1, a cased EK I at £7.00, that was a tad more in 1958 than a weeks wages for the average working man back then, todays cost approx £250, again around the average weeks pay of today.....its called inflation, both the item and ones pay goes up with time..... still these lists make interesting reading now, especially when there probably all originals, the blight of repros was not something you would normally fear at that time !
Prost ! Steve.

[Bluemoon]

[Quote .I notice on list 1, a cased EK I at £7.00, that was a tad more in 1958 than a weeks wages for the average working man back then, todays cost approx £250, QUOTE]
It is in dollars isn't it? so depends on the exchange rate at the time of which I haven't a clue.

[Whitehunter]

Thanks for sharing. If i could go back in time i would take all my old coins and buy the whole lot

[Panzer 3]

Hi,
those prices bring back some memories, everything was cheap compaired to todays prices
i brought my first M1 helmet back in 67 for £3.00, and a 35 german for £4.10s, i sold the same M1
for $600.00 two weeks ago, nice profit.
Dave.

[medals1966]

hi guys did a search on google historical exchange rates a dollar was worth about 35 pence in 1960 hope this little bit of info helps kind regards duncan

[medals1966]

hi i also forgot to say i have a book coins and medals by ian mckay written in the 60s he states you could go down to the barras market in glasgow and purchase a knights cross for about £15 in about 1967/68 another book i have that was written in 1988 states a knights cross is about £1000 and a victoria cross is about £10000 kind i love old books shows you how things have changed over the years you wouldnt get much change from £100,000 now for a victoria cross kind regards duncan

[Horst Wessel]

BRB Just gonna start working on a time machine now.

[Sarge]

Yep, prices are all relative!
When I started collecting in 1953/54 - I Bought a K98k (with sling, hood, rod & bayonet) for $25 (from an uncle who had brought it back) to hunt deer with and got interested in German weapons - I found that prices were fairly steep.
For example the above k98k and P.38s/holster & spare mag at $25 ea. When I started to find medals and other non gun items it was the same thing, medals were in the .50 - $1 range.
Now the fun part! I was in high school and worked in the hay fields for .50 an hr in the summer and hunted/sold rabbits for .50 ea in the winter.
With that income how long does it take to save $25 to buy a 98k or P.38??? Or for that matter a medal that cost $1 took me 2 hrs in the hay field or 2 rabbits (and I had to buy my ammo).
Sarge