I was looking through my 1923 Ford Owners Supply Book By Western Auto Supply Co. I thought maybe I could post a few of the prices.
1. Radiator Cap and Motormeter $2.45
2. Oil $.68
3. Champion X Spark Plugs $.39
4. Holley Carburetor $4.75
5. Anderson Manifold $3.95 That one really floors me.
6. Wood Coils (new) $1.35
7. Bud vases $1.35
8. Klaxon Style Push Button Horn %2.45
9. Complete Side Curtain Set For Touring $6.35
10. Screw Jack $.89
11. 30 x 3 1/2 Non Skid Tires $11.35
12. Batteries $12.85
13. 1909 to 16 Brass Radiators $12.95
14. Rear Axles $1.00
15. Crank Shaft $6.65
16. Cam Shaft $2.28
17. Can Set Complete with Holder $7.45
Dave
I have the 1922 supply book, would you like a copy? I had a few made.
Bob
Not many folks made $5 a day in 1923. That $1 for an axle was not too easy to come by.
Because of inflation what would cost $1.00 in 1923 would cost $13.69 today. Based on that most of the 1923 prices listed would be good deals today. That is except for batteries. At $12.85 for a battery in 1923 it would be like $175.95 today. On the other hand you could buy a brass radiator for $177.32 in 2013 dollars.
Jim
Here's a few from a 1960 Hemming's Motor News:
Point sets $0.40 each. 4 for $1.50
Rear axle shaft: $11.90
Roller bearing: $6.40
Sleeve: $1.60
Door sill plates: $11.60 per pair
Front floor mat: $16.00 (red, green or white)
Front floor mat: $13.00 (black)
Fan blades: $1.50 (2 or 4 blades same price)
Fan w/ pulley: $4.95
Hemming's billed themselves as "Your vintage Ford parts headquarters"
Jim - I think one of the most expensive automotive items back in the Model T era was tires! Using Jim's $13.69 equivalency figure, some of those "T" sized tires would cost in excess of $300.00 today! And I think that that's one reason that the Western Auto Ford Owner's Supply Book that Dave and Bob are talking about (I have a copy too) lists many, many tire repair tools and tire repair items (including tire "boots"). Many of those "T" owners of old got as much out their tires as possible!
But in the mid fifties I worked at a Hardware store and bought a tire for my '33 Ford for $9.
Batteries were less than they were in that 1923 list.
I later went to work at a Phillips 66 station in '59 and good detergent oil like straight 30 was .50, non-detergent was '45 and when they came out with 10-30 Trop Artic it was only .65
In the 1923 list it was .68! And you know that was non-d.
Anti-freeze was also expensive in the early fifties, we got $7 a gallon for bulk (bring your own container and pump it out of the barrel) anti-freeze.
Gaskets and spark plugs were dirt cheap, so were bearings and piston & rings.
Here's another interesting catalogue on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360493693969?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m142 3.l2649
Check the prices.......
I lived about 3 miles from Royce D. Peterson in 1962 but I never met him until I joined the Dallas Model T club in 1993. Royce's knowledge, and assistance has been invaluable. Our lunch bunch meets every Tuesday at McDonalds. Too bad I didn't cross paths with him sooner.
Royce, the parts your dad sold in the 50's were mostly genuine NOS Ford parts bought from old dealerships, I guess?
Roger,
Many came from Western Auto stores and other local part stores that would sell T parts cheap enough that Dad could make money reselling them.
He did get a bunch of new old stock stuff from a Ford dealer, including some rear T sedan fenders, a 1912 steering column assembly, and lots of Model A fenders.