Good Old Days?
 

I came across a copy of the American Rifleman from January of 1947. It made for some interesting reading with an ad that the Communists planning to disarm America. One article interviewed a number of leading firearms manufacturers about ramping up production for the civilian market, now that raw materials were becoming available.
By far the most fun reading were the want ads. How many times have you heard nostalgic talk about the guns you could buy dirt cheap? Well, yes Lugers for $100 is pretty attractive until you remember that the average wage in 1947 was $.50 to $.75 per hour. That a man making $2000 a year was doing pretty well for himself.
Our well-off friend still had to part with a week's pay or more to pick up a nice Luger. Which sounds about right for today's market.
Maybe the good ol' days just look better though our bi-focals.
Be Well,
John

John, I appreciate your putting Luger prices and average income into perspective. The concept to which your title refers is even its own thing--the "good old days fallacy". Human nature makes us tend to forget the bitter and remember the better. Thus, someone's waxing romantic about the wonderful lack of air pollution from cars is neglecting to remember that horses have their own special pollutions!

A Manhattan hotel room cost $3 per night at that time.

W-O-W ! ! That magazine pre-dates ME by 9 months ! I love seeing those old classified ads.

I think I am going to be sick!!! Unbelieveable, but I still remember those days and prices.