It's All Relative

[wagionvigil]

I was going through a box of my fathers scout stuff that I have had for like 16 years in my basement and found a 1964 Uniforms and Equipment catologue. I am not sure what the average salary was back then but the prices seem cheap today but back then I am quite sure it was a stretch for folks to buy the uniforms.
web belt.60
field cap 1.15
shirt long sleeve 3.45
pants 4.45
neckerchief (required then) .60
neckerchief slide .25
For a total of 10.50

Summer Uniform
v- neck short sleeve 3.45
shorts 3.45 Zipper Fly (this was an option) button was standard
knee socks 1.00 No one bought one pair I am sure
garter with green tab .50 same with garters no one had just one pair.
Totals 8.50

So for 19.00 minimum you had your basic uniform
Now allowing for inflation And I am going to use my starting salary as a teacher in 72 and My final salary in 06 Which was a 10 x increase, that uniform today would be 190.00 so quit complaining I am sure my dad was not even making very much in 1964.

[FrankJ]

Minimum wage was $1.15 in 1964 and it is $6.55 today. Using minimum wage as an adjustment to get today's dollars, The 1964 uniform would cost you $108.21 today. You two uniforms for the price of one.

Or you could argue we need to raise the minimum wage.

Either way it is interesting to see what the uniform cost in the 60s.

Those who fail history--do not know were they have been.

[wagionvigil]

Did some research and found out the following
the average income for 1964 was around 5800.
The average income in 2006 was around 48000.

[wagionvigil]

Few more prices just for giggles

Campaign Hat leader 20.00 add leather hat band 1.45
scout campaign hat 7.75
green jac shirt 13.50

pocket knife 1.75
sheath knife 2.95
over nighter tent (lightweight?) 5.5 pounds 13.50
add ridge pole 4 pounds 1.75
10 Tent Pegs at .45 each 4.50

[smtroop168]

10 Tent Pegs at .45 each 4.50

Were these square pegs for round holes?

Happy Thanksgiving!

[kwildman]

sheath knife 2.95

Lets not even go there again!!!

[wagionvigil]

sheath knife 2.95

Lets not even go there again!!!

That was the smaller of the two.

[alex gregory]

Don't forget in '64 you actually had to pay for it, not charge it.

[FieldSports]

How many of the products were made in the US back then? Now it is China, Mexico, etc.

[fritz1255]

The easiset way to compare against the Consumer Price Index is to check the cost of a first-class stamp, which apparently rises at the same rate. It was $0.05 in 1964 as opposed to $0.42 today.

Where are today's uniforms made? In the U.S. or abroad?