Walk Through Old Sears Catalog Fins Shoes For $2.59
On a back-to-school shopping trip to outfit 11-year-old Adam and his 9-year-old brother, Ian, we got to wondering about how prices have risen since their Grandpa Carl’s school days in the 1920s.
For today’s young man, a First Day of School outfit purchased in the local shopping mall runs about $25 for jeans, $15 for a shirt, $3.50 for socks and $40 for shoes (if you’re lucky). This comes to a total of $83.50 plus tax.
When we returned home we went hunting through an old copy of the Sears, Roebuck catalog from 1927 to see how today’s prices compared to those from 69 years ago.
In 1927, denim pants cost 69 cents. A khaki tan shirt, guaranteed to “please the little fellow immensely,” sold for 59 cents. Extra heavy, cotton socks went for 18 cents per pair. Leather, hand-stitched shoes, remarkably similar to a pair we found in the mall, sold for $2.59. The total for the 1927 outfit came to $4.05 plus shipping.
These prices were so good we thought we would look for other items on our shopping list and compare them to current prices.
Wearing a warm coat on a cold day is always a good idea. Sears would sell you a genuine horsehide coat with a sheepskin lining for $8.50. Today a leather coat with a wool lining costs $200.
A William Southworth autographed baseball glove, signed by the star outfielder for St. Louis, was listed for $2.35. A comparable glove today would be autographed by Ken Griffey Jr., star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners. Cost for the contemporary glove: $350.
Every kid needs a bicycle. In 1927 you could get a top-of-the-line Elgin for $32.45. Today a good mountain bike costs about $229.
Homework has always been a part of going back to school and having a good place to study is important. A golden oak student desk could be yours for $13.35, fully assembled. A similar desk today would run anywhere from $179 to $229, and you would have to assemble it yourself.
Fifth or sixth grade is usually when boys and girls start playing an instrument in band. A brand-new trumpet in 1927 cost $11.95. Today you will pay $85 for a used one or $630 for a new instrument.
For an after-school snack, your young student might want a candy bar. Hershey’s with almonds cost 98 cents for a three-pound box in 1927. A king-sized almond chocolate bar weighing in at 2.6 ounces cost 89 cents at a local grocery store this past week.
Many boys and girls still enjoy building with Erector sets. The catalog features the deluxe model, including a motor, for $12.98. Today, the same set at a major toy store is priced at $115.
Finally, our list included a few books to read in the evening. In 1927 you could get a set of two “X Bar X Boys” western stories for 93 cents. We pay $3.49 every month for the latest “Goosebumps” book by R.L. Stine.
When using the 1927 prices, the total for all the items on our list comes to $87.54, just slightly more than the cost of one outfit at today’s prices.
Now, if we can only get Sears to ship us this order.
xxxx