Re: [Harp-L] Prices of Harmonicas

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It's a fairly complicated dynamic. IT's not only inflation, but inflation in two countries, the one of origin and the one of sale. Two different inflation dynamics... but that's not all.... then factor in the strength of the currency in the country of origin and the country of sale.... All adds up in the case of the U.S., we enjoyed some artificially low prices for a lot of decades, based on what was going on in the German economy was doing. Had the world wars never happened, a set of harmonicas would have cost the same as a saxophone many, many years ago. 

Dave


 
----- Original Message ----
From: bostonmoejo <bostonmoejo@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Fri, March 19, 2010 11:29:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Prices of Harmonicas

That's inflation!!!

When I was a kid (let's say 50 years ago) my mother would send me to the store with a dollar to get a loaf of bread, a half gallon of milk and a pack of Lucky Strikes (yeah in those days they'd sell cigs to a seven year old kid.) I got to keep the change which was enough to buy a candy bar for my brother and myself (that's two candy bars at a nickel each) Now you're lucky to be able to find a frickin' candy bar for a buck.

That's inflation!!!

I think my father was making about $8k a year then as a USPS letter carrier.

I remember my great-grandfather telling me that when he was young my great-grandmother (she handled the money) would save up a dollar so as to be able to purchase a barrel of flour (clearly a money saving bulk purchase) when he was trying to instill in me the value of a dollar.

That's inflation!!!

When I was in high school my friends and I would pool our money to put gas in whoever's Dads car we had that night. A couple of bucks worth of gas would allow use to drive around all night and not return the car with an empty gas tank.

That's inflation!!!

The Gibson A-1 mandolin that I bought for $300 in the early 70s would set me back $1500-$1800 today.

That's inflation.

My advise: buy as many Marine Bands (or mandolins) today that you can afford.

Bo in Boston



In a message dated 03/19/10 10:43:54 Eastern Daylight Time, mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx writes:
$43 at the local store for a Marine Band.  Insane that just a couple of years ago they were half the price for the same thing! 



Mike Fugazzi 
Vocals/Harmonica 
http://playingtheharmonica.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.myspace.com/niterailband 
http://www.youtube.com/user/NiteRail 
http://www.twitter.com/NiteRail 








________________________________ 
From: John Hegedus <johnhegedus@xxxxxxx> 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Fri, March 19, 2010 9:11:57 AM 
Subject: [Harp-L] Prices of Harmonicas 

It's crazy what harps cost these days. I could buy a nice Saxophone for what a set of harps cost. Sad but true...