A catalogue from 1908

[philip in china]

[alabadi]

I see the 12 foot was £52, I wonder what that equates to in todays money?

today they go for anywhere between 5-12K

[mythman69]

Billiard paddle 01.jpg

I have one of those billiard score paddles

Thanks for posting the catalogue

I just noticed the UNSW logo too.

[philip in china]

I am pleased that I have created a bit of interest. I don't post very much these days.

On the cost of things- in "The Copper Beeches", Sherlock Holmes talks about how a governess- a resident teacher- would work for £40 a year. So those tables are not cheap!

[mythman69]

What is on the cover? Pic maybe?

[philip in china]

It is from a reproduction of an "Army & Navy Stores Co-operative Society" catalogue from 1908. It sold almost anything thatw as then available. It is published under the name "Yesterdays Shopping" and is well worth finding.

It was a large store in London with a mail order catalogue as well and supplied stuff to embers of the forces, civil servide etc. Of course in 1908 they were all over the world- Hong Kong, India, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland etc. etc. If you wanted a snooker table, or a grand piano, or a revolver you simply selected what you wanted, paid and it was sent to you.

[alabadi]

I am pleased that I have created a bit of interest. I don't post very much these days.

On the cost of things- in "The Copper Beeches", Sherlock Holmes talks about how a governess- a resident teacher- would work for £40 a year. So those tables are not cheap!

that seems about right, because a top quality new table today would cost around an average persons yearly salary

[philip in china]

If you compare, say, a good quality sidelock shotgun, a snooker table and a Bechstein concert grand piano I think prices are about the same relative to each other and the actual items are probably not significantly different now from what they were in 1908!

[mythman69]

If you compare, say, a good quality sidelock shotgun, a snooker table and a Bechstein concert grand piano I think prices are about the same relative to each other and the actual items are probably not significantly different now from what they were in 1908!

Anyone want to swap a snooker table for a Bechstein concert grand piano?

[philip in china]

I wouldn't swop mine for a table. Then again I wouldn't swop my table for a piano either. I am very happy with both.

[jrc750]

that seems about right, because a top quality new table today would cost around an average persons yearly salary

How much is a table nowadays?

[alabadi]

How much is a table nowadays?

well if you take an antique one they can cost anywhere upto 5-12k

[jrc750]

well if you take an antique one they can cost anywhere upto 5-12k

So no where near a year's salary then as you stated,?

[alabadi]

So no where near a year's salary then as you stated,?

for some it is

[robertmac]

Thanks for sharing that. Its interesting to see the
quality of merchandise that was made that long ago.
The prices as you say are comparable in relation to
todays prices I would imagine.