The Ford Barn

Commander Toasty · 09-27-2010, 10:28 AM

This weekend I was pouring in the routine 4.5 quarts - I follow the 500 mile schedule. I was thinking this Costco oil is quite reasonable, even given how much of it I use. Then I wondered ... How reasonable was it back in 1929?

Brings to mind a few questions that are out of my realm to answer:

How much was a quart of motor oil in 1929?

What does that translate into for today's dollar? I other words, if it was say ten cents a quart back then, how much is that ten cents now?

And working it backwards, how much are we paying adjusted back to 1929? So if it is three dollars a quart now, what would that have been in 1929?

Inquiring minds need to know!

Tom Wesenberg · 09-27-2010, 10:34 AM

In 1963 I was buying bulk oil for 10 cents a quart for my oil burning 1949 Plymouth. A buck for gas and 10 cents for oil was my usual gas station stop on Rice street in St. Paul.

modelAtony · 09-27-2010, 10:59 AM

1966 in Dallas ,tx. I was 17, the gas I used then was conoco ethyl .25 per gallon and I think oil was .25.

MikeK · 09-27-2010, 11:26 AM

The CPI index multiplier for 1929 is 17.1, so 10 cents would be $1.71. Of course, price indexes are highly subjective.

5window · 09-27-2010, 11:38 AM

Here's a converter you can use:

http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm

Of course, it also is relative to how much you earn. Using the 17.1 multiplier, Henry's wage of $5/day becomes $22,230 today. I would venture to say that most folks in the Model A "hobby" earn abit more than that.

Fred K-OR · 09-27-2010, 12:02 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have an old gas pump that I intend to restore, that has a licence tag on it dated 1955 and the price per gallon of gas was $.319.

Keith True · 09-27-2010, 12:09 PM

The first bulk oil I bought was in about 1977.My truck held 15 gallons,so it didn't make sense to buy anything but drums.It was an even $55.per barrel then for 15-40 Rotella,plus a $10.barrel charge.As of this morning that same barrel of oil is $537.No barrel charge but a $10.EPA charge.In 2000 it was $202.Hydraulic oil was $102.in 2000,this morning it is $337.I have always used Rotella in everything except Harleys.Up into the early 80's anti-freeze was $99.95 a barrel.I don't know what it is now,I get it by the barrel from the junkyard for free and run it through a recycler.The machine tells me what chemicals to add and how much.I always seem to run out of motor oil and hydraulic oil at the same time,and I have to come up with a big nugget.

RichardW · 09-27-2010, 07:12 PM

I have a piece of paper here that a friend gave me a while back. It is "Selling Schedule Motor Lubricants" Prices effective June 21st,1932.
I don't have a scan of it but here is an example:
Texaco Motor Oil "E" (S.A.E. Viscosity No. 30)
Bulk-Retail 1.00,Dealer .55,
30 gal drum-1.05/.60,
1 5 gal can-4.50/3.40.
Does this help answer your question?
I also use an on-line inflation calculator that I find interesting and usually pretty accurate.

http://www.halfhill.com/inflation.html

09-27-2010, 10:28 AM	#1
Commander Toasty Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Grass Valley, CA Posts: 86	Any accountants out there? This weekend I was pouring in the routine 4.5 quarts - I follow the 500 mile schedule. I was thinking this Costco oil is quite reasonable, even given how much of it I use. Then I wondered ... How reasonable was it back in 1929? Brings to mind a few questions that are out of my realm to answer: How much was a quart of motor oil in 1929? What does that translate into for today's dollar? I other words, if it was say ten cents a quart back then, how much is that ten cents now? And working it backwards, how much are we paying adjusted back to 1929? So if it is three dollars a quart now, what would that have been in 1929? Inquiring minds need to know!

09-27-2010, 10:34 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Any accountants out there? In 1963 I was buying bulk oil for 10 cents a quart for my oil burning 1949 Plymouth. A buck for gas and 10 cents for oil was my usual gas station stop on Rice street in St. Paul.

09-27-2010, 10:59 AM	#3
modelAtony Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: lafayette,la Posts: 459	Re: Any accountants out there? 1966 in Dallas ,tx. I was 17, the gas I used then was conoco ethyl .25 per gallon and I think oil was .25.

09-27-2010, 11:26 AM	#4
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: Any accountants out there? The CPI index multiplier for 1929 is 17.1, so 10 cents would be $1.71. Of course, price indexes are highly subjective.

09-27-2010, 11:38 AM	#5
5window Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisburg,PA Posts: 938	Re: Any accountants out there? Here's a converter you can use: http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm Of course, it also is relative to how much you earn. Using the 17.1 multiplier, Henry's wage of $5/day becomes $22,230 today. I would venture to say that most folks in the Model A "hobby" earn abit more than that.

09-27-2010, 12:02 PM	#6
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Any accountants out there? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have an old gas pump that I intend to restore, that has a licence tag on it dated 1955 and the price per gallon of gas was $.319. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

09-27-2010, 12:09 PM	#7
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,023	Re: Any accountants out there? The first bulk oil I bought was in about 1977.My truck held 15 gallons,so it didn't make sense to buy anything but drums.It was an even $55.per barrel then for 15-40 Rotella,plus a $10.barrel charge.As of this morning that same barrel of oil is $537.No barrel charge but a $10.EPA charge.In 2000 it was $202.Hydraulic oil was $102.in 2000,this morning it is $337.I have always used Rotella in everything except Harleys.Up into the early 80's anti-freeze was $99.95 a barrel.I don't know what it is now,I get it by the barrel from the junkyard for free and run it through a recycler.The machine tells me what chemicals to add and how much.I always seem to run out of motor oil and hydraulic oil at the same time,and I have to come up with a big nugget.

09-27-2010, 07:12 PM	#8
RichardW Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Deer Park, Texas Posts: 100	Re: Any accountants out there? I have a piece of paper here that a friend gave me a while back. It is "Selling Schedule Motor Lubricants" Prices effective June 21st,1932. I don't have a scan of it but here is an example: Texaco Motor Oil "E" (S.A.E. Viscosity No. 30) Bulk-Retail 1.00,Dealer .55, 30 gal drum-1.05/.60, 1 5 gal can-4.50/3.40. Does this help answer your question? I also use an on-line inflation calculator that I find interesting and usually pretty accurate. http://www.halfhill.com/inflation.html