I used this inflation calculator: https://www1.jsc.nasa.gov/bu2/inflateCPI.html

it only went back to 1913 and up to 2004. $100 in 1913 is $1908 in 2004

I'm lovin' this thread. Here's one more from Michigan Avenue, Chicago:

about $2200.

Looks like over $2000.
if this is right

Let's say you wanted a telephone installed back in the day. Here's how the Bell PhoneCo. installer would have looked like at your doorstep:

[edit] Is he wearng Ferragamos??! I believe he's wearing Italian bespoke loafers....My....God.[/QUOTE]

probably not while riding a claud butler with a british chainset. i don't know much about british shoe companies . . . maybe william j. dudleys, but that's just a guess.

Curious Moments: Archive of the Century

holy crap, this thread took off. awesome pictures! i'm definitely stealing the idea of having a bike photo screensaver. my current screensaver has way too many pictures of parties and ex-girlfriends.

the image of all the biking soldiers reminds me of something...

reminds me of this:





Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies (and the Malay Peninsula) in the 1940's was executed on bicycle. Devastating to Dutch and British defense. (I wonder if they're NJS?)

"See Kid, back in my day we rode around the world with nothing but a big tarp strapped to our bike. Just a big old tarp was all we needed."

+signature

These are great. I just bought a Velo Press book called Cycling's Golden Age.
All photos from 1946 to 1967, most of which are from a private collection and haven't been seen before. Highly recommended.

Wtf? What band is that?

A slide show of messenger boys and their bikes from 1890's to 1930's. Many of these are from Lewis Hine's work documenting child labour from 1908-1912.
Music is by Go Kart Go
(from the YouTube page)

ps- that song sucks.

my all time favorites

from some old thread on here:



Seems like some things never change-

At first I thought that was a modern picture but taken in B&W. Crazy.

Shouldn't the relevant question be how much $35 was worth in 1896? Since they are advertising a $100 bicycle for only $35, that's kinda like Bikes Direct advertising a $2000 bicycle for only $800.

In other words in spite of radio, television, the web, and every other change in technology and media, marketing really hasn't changed much i the last 110 years.

edit: I just re-read the poster. The bike is $800, and $100 in "camel cash", Marlboro bucks, Cereal box tops, or what have you.

Things definitely are the same. You have to pony up at least that for an ANT of similar quality.

But with that 1X1 ratio, where exactly would you go? Better use that gift certificate for a chainring!


~This is my favourite thread in life~

don't forget your 100 yellow Primley certificates.

Cool

yup.

surly attitude? check.
no front brake? check.
cuffed up pants? check.
hoodie? check.
big ass bag? check.

looks like this fellow was also an early proponent of a power-strap-like pedal system.

I'm betting that was from the paris-roubaix race. It was run over about 100km of dirt roads if i remember, which would explain the dirty face.

"Image of four cyclists, including one African American, positioning on a wooden track to begin a race at a velodrome in Chicago, Illinois. Spectators are watching from the bleachers in the background and a group of men is standing in the track inner grass. 1901"


"Image of J. A. Spenks, C. G. Starsch, Dick Strutz and an unidentified cyclist positioning their bicycles on North Michigan Avenue in front of the Water Tower for the start of a race. Spectators are surrounding the cyclists. The Water Tower is located at the intersection of North Michigan Avenue and East Chicago Avenue in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. 1901"


"Group portrait of two cyclists, racer on the left looking down, balancing on bicycles at the beginning of a race amidst a group of spectators at the intersection of North Michigan Avenue and East Chicago Avenue in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. The cyclist L. J. Leonard holding a stop watch is the race starter, and the Water Tower is visible in the background. 1905"


"Image of crowd of cyclists and spectators gathering for a race in front of the Chicago Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue at East Chicago Avenue in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. 1901"


"Half-length portrait of cyclist, Blum, with his arm bent with his hand on his waist, standing in front of a group of boys by the Chicago Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue at East Chicago Avenue in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. 1901"


"Informal full-length portrait of Metzner, a runner, running on a street in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by men riding bicycles and riding in automobiles and a horse-drawn wagon. An African-American man is riding a bicycle in the foreground. Buildings are visible in the background. 1905"


"Image of a group of boys and young men riding bicycles on a wide street in Chicago, Illinois, on Motor Field Day. A man is standing on the side of the street on the left side of the image, and another man is standing on the other side of the street on the right side of the image. A building is visible beyond trees in the background. 1908"


"Portrait of cyclists Francesco Verri and Reggie McNamara sitting on their bicycles on a wooden platform for the Bay Bicycle Race in Chicago, Illinois. An unidentified man wearing a dark coat and hat is standing between the bicycles. He appears to be holding them steady by their seats. 1917"


"Full-length portrait of bike racer Carl Stockholm sitting on a bicycle in front of a light-colored backdrop in a room in Chicago, Illinois. The bicycle is sitting on rollers."

Hundreds more where these came from.. just have to know where to look!