Milsurp After Hours

A photo contest a hundred years ago today. In the Tacoma Washington Times. Notice the grand prize.

OK but lets look a little closer.

Actual Average Income (year) in the USA in 1912...................................... $1,033

The equivalent today for $1 in 1912 would be $23.81.

The exchange rate £-$ in 1912 was UK£1 = US$4.87.

In Great Britain in 1913 ( I don't have a 1912 Almanac ) the cost of a Kodak Vest pocket Camera with a Zeiss Tessar lens was £5.15.0



So...........doing the sums, this camera, in Tacoma in August of 1912 could have been worth about 2 weeks wages to the normal working man.

At today's conversion rate it would probably cost about $666.74

Not a bad prize if you think about it

You have a point. Back then money was worth something.

I just thought it a bit odd that there was a Kodak photo contest and the top prize was a camera. You would think whoever took a photo for the contest would already have a camera. But... now days..... most of us have plenty of toys and one camera isn't enough. Maybe the prize was a top of the line model that was much desired.

Found this earlier advertisement for a Kodak. 1898.