Add from 1955 The Farmer mag

Found this in the 1955 "The Farmer magazine. Thought it was unique since you can still buy a new fridge that is similar for the same price today.

Indeed. That sounds like a small fortune in 1955 dollars. What did the average car cost then?

The biggest difference is that the 1955 Frig may still be working and the one you buy today will die in ten years. The quality has gone down to keep the price where you can afford them.

If I do the math correctly according to the brochure I posted below you should have been able to get a 55 chev for about $2250.00

The only difference is, that fridge would still probably be working...

what are you going to add to that ad?

My aunt recently gave away her 1963 IHC freezer, still worked but started making funny noises. not gonna get that many years out of the replacement!

$299.95 in 1955 is $2,569.65 in todays dollars.

Looks like it comes stocked too!!

It's field ready...as some would say...LOL

Didjyall notice the "and trade" under the price? Go to the BBS and ask the salesperson to take your old fridge in trade!

"Indeed. That sounds like a small fortune in 1955 dollars. What did the average car cost then?"

On another site where folks were ranting about how short lived appliances are today, and why we cant buy a good one.

I told them about the Deepfreeze brand freezer we bought in 1948. It's a plain looking little 12CF chest type model that cost $425 in 1948 about 1/2 the price of a new 1948 car.
The refrigeration part has never given a moments trouble in 60+ years, although I have replaced lid seal and hinges / latch.
Using an inflation calculator I determined that would be almost $4000 today. I asked these guys, How many of you would pay $4000 for this little freezer if you saw it in the local big box store . Not many I bet.

I told them, that I suspect the reason we cant buy a good one anymore is that we walked past the good ones for too many years to buy cheaper priced junk, to the point that all anyone builds or sells anymore is low priced junk.

Holy Cow!!
I did not notice. My eyes aren't that sharp anymore.
But now looking closer, with the aid of glasses, I see $399.95!

That was a LOT of money in those days.

Wife just picked out a replacement for our frig - just under



































Wife picked out a replacement for our frig - almost $900... and it is nothing special - oh, it does have a ice maker!

Yes, that was a lot of money, but my folks said it was so worth it.
Rural electricity was being installed in our area in 47-48, everyone had their farms wired and bought 110v appliances in anticipation of having lights and appliances like the people in town. Mom told me what a magic moment it was when the power first was switched on in 1949.

The new refrigerator and home freezer started running, random lights came on where inquisitive kids or adults had left the switch on.

NOW!!! we could keep fresh food cool or frozen for the first time. We could put away the stinking dim kerosene lamps and use the incredibly bright 50 watt light bulbs at the flip of a switch.
We could now replace the gas engine on the washing machine with an electric motor so mom did not have to deal with gas oil mixing / starting and routing that flexible exhaust pipe outside to wash clothes.
We no longer had to haul the radio battery to town every week for the expensive 50 cent battery recharge, we could buy a new 110V radio or buy a battery eliminator power supply for our old battery radio. We no longer had to depend on wind or a cranky to start in winter gas engine to pump water, a simple little electric motor mow did that so reliably.

Yes the new wiring and appliances for their farm cost more than a new car, but it was so worth it.

A proper abbreviation for refrigerator is FRIDGE, Do not use the other word

In 1955 the lowest priced Ford was the two door 6cyl. business coupe at $1606.00, the Crown Victoria was $2302.00. A Country Squire station wagon was $2492.00. And, if you wanted to really live it up, a base priced Thunderbird was $2944.00. Makes you want to cry doesn't it?

When my parents passed away in 2002, their 1948 Frigidaire refrigerator was still working great. It needed to be re-enameled on the exterior, but other than that everything else was in great shape. Sure wish you could get QUALITY like that today.

Doc