Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

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Rob
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Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by Rob » Sat Jun 25, 2022 8:42 pm

I was looking for a few early Ford ads and articles in Newspapers.com, and came across this. A Ford Model A, with options, for sale in Detroit, January 15, 1905:

28C8A011-29E7-4EF2-91C4-92767FA4D929.jpeg

The owner offers to "take a trial spin" (who would have thought going for a "spin" was already part of the automobile lexicon?). Additionally, the owner writes "Please don't write about your real estate or pianos, as I don't wish either." I thought, who would offer a piano in exchange for a car, even in 1905?

Low and behold, the very next day, in Buffalo, N.Y.:
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Who would have thought.................


Wayne Sheldon
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:17 pm

Pianos were very expensive in those days!

The comment reminds me of the ads I see for selling cars and not wanting other offers, trades, or help with the sale.
Neat stuff!


kmatt2
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by kmatt2 » Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:18 am

In 1905 a good piano was like today’s high end computer gaming systems.
See my second post.
Last edited by kmatt2 on Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:39 am, edited 3 times in total.


kmatt2
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by kmatt2 » Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:26 am

Rob, I think this may be someone in Ford’s marketing department ploy to use a lower cost add, to sell a car that would in todays auto world be called a, Factory buy back. Plus this gets Ford additional coverage in the Detroit market to go with the regular Ford adds for that day and the next few days. The car for sale add copy reads, and the piano add copy reads to much like a marketing person wrote them. Just saying, some things in auto marketing copy, no matter what the technology, haven’t changed all that much in over 100 years.


DHort
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by DHort » Sun Jun 26, 2022 1:22 am

My wifes ggrandfather did some patent work for the Palmer family of Chicago. I do not recall how long ago it was. Mr Palmer paid him with the Steinway that is in our living room. Rumor has it that Mr Caruso played on the piano. Do you think she will let me trade it for a Model K?


TXGOAT2
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sun Jun 26, 2022 7:41 am

Upright pianos were very popular with families that could afford them. Big Piano made big profits in the late 19th and early 20th century. Pianos and sheet music were big sellers in the pre-radio days. Then people wanted bicycles ... and Big Bicycle flourished... then the automobile became the (expensive) rage ... and motorcycles ... fancy indoor plumbing ... electric lights ... telephones.... radios and store-bought clothing ... prepared foods ... ice boxes...

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Rob
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by Rob » Sun Jun 26, 2022 11:09 am

I have to admit this wasn't the first time I've encountered a car and real estate for trade. While the Model K was eventually going to almost zero in value, if a person owned a quarter (160 acres) of dryland western Kansas land, or a Model K, they would probably be worth about the same today. I guess things come around.............. albeit 115 years later.....

5B7013BC-0C03-4A42-9369-B48E5D8C2023.jpeg


This is probably one of the most unusual. A three ton clock offered to trade for a Model K or Franklin six. The Franklin cost $4,000 new in 1907, a Model K $2800.

92A08A98-7DE0-4719-8214-B5EC9ED4BBD4.jpeg
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Rich P. Bingham
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Sun Jun 26, 2022 11:36 am

Hard to imagine, according to the inflation calculator, that $2800.00 Model K equaled $82,600.00 in today's purchasing power. :o
Get a horse !


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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by John kuehn » Sun Jun 26, 2022 3:49 pm

Well it sure looks like the Ford and the Franklin looked almost alike. I guess the potential buyer liked the way they looked. Wonder what happened in the transaction if any years ago. Guess we’ll never know. Interesting to say the least!


Rich P. Bingham
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Sun Jun 26, 2022 5:51 pm

John kuehn wrote:
Sun Jun 26, 2022 3:49 pm
Well it sure looks like the Ford and the Franklin looked almost alike . . .
Good observation John. The side profiles are amazingly similar in these illustrations. They were very different from other angles, however. I believe that Franklin had a very distinctive front end, rather like a barrel.
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Re: Sometimes the news surprises. Even in 1905

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sun Jun 26, 2022 7:33 pm

The early Franklins had a unique look from the front, and I'd guess they sounded like nothing else, too.

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