Other than the style differences, the fact most noticeable from the contents of this catalog’s 1,491 pages is what the catalog doesn’t contain. The Sears customer in 1975 found no CD players for either home or car; no DVD or VHS players; no cell phones; no televisions with remote controls or flat-screens; no personal computers or video games; no food processors; no digital cameras or camcorders; no spandex clothing; no down comforters (only comforters filled with polyester).
Of course, some of what was available to Sears’ customers in 1975 is also quite noticeable to those of us looking back from 2006: typewriters, turntables for stereo systems, 8-track players, black-and-white television sets. And lots and lots of clothing and bedding made from polyester.
Read the whole thing, which isn't that long. On the one hand all of this is obvious. We have better stuff than people 30 years ago. What's also worth noting, as the blog points out, is that not only is the stuff better, but also cheaper in inflated-adjusted (and sometimes even absolute) terms.
What that means is that a person could actually make less money than 30 years ago and still be better off. Of course, this is just looking at consumer goods -- I don't know how the picture changes when you take into account things like health care, housing, etc.
Kind of reminded me of this article I read years ago in Reader's Digest entitled "Richer than Croesus." For those of you who don't know, Croesus was the king of Lydia (located in modern-day Turkey I believe) and was insanely rich because Lydia was astride some key trade routes (if I remember my history 101 correctly). The author of the article, however, pointed out that a number of regards, she had things better than he did. Television, phones, central AC, etc. -- i.e. an average person in the U.S. today is better off in some respects than one of the richest men of the ancient world.
Food for thought.
What that means is that a person could actually make less money than 30 years ago and still be better off. Of course, this is just looking at consumer goods -- I don't know how the picture changes when you take into account things like health care, housing, etc.
Kind of reminded me of this article I read years ago in Reader's Digest entitled "Richer than Croesus." For those of you who don't know, Croesus was the king of Lydia (located in modern-day Turkey I believe) and was insanely rich because Lydia was astride some key trade routes (if I remember my history 101 correctly). The author of the article, however, pointed out that a number of regards, she had things better than he did. Television, phones, central AC, etc. -- i.e. an average person in the U.S. today is better off in some respects than one of the richest men of the ancient world.
Food for thought.
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