Bargains 40 Years Ago

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 1

Bargains 40 Years Ago

Care for a brandnew Oldsmobile sedan for £375, or a sac suit for 44s 6d? These prices from what are referred to as the good old days are culled from a copy of the “Lyttelton Times” of May 21, 1926, which came to light during house alterations.

The newspaper was found inside the wall beneath a window frame that had been removed at the home of Mr A. C. Rhodes, 17 Leslie street, Upper Riccarton. Neatly folded, it was in good preservation, save for browning.

Mr Rhodes said that the paper must have been placed in the wall when the house was being built.

While there was little of big news in the 40-year-old newspaper, the lighting in express railway carriages was

being changed from gas to electricity, and it was reported that the Cambridge XI had found Macartney hard to play in its match with the Australians.

A feature story was made of a broadcast from Oakland, California, being picked up in Christchurch on 240 metres. The reporter did not like the “howling valves." Advertisements in old newsapers always provide interesting reading. House properties were commonly offered at deposits of £75 and £lOO, and one home “just over Edgeware road, three minutes from the 2Jd tram,” was priced at £lO5O. A Fendalton streamfrontage home was offered at £llOO, and another fiveroomed two-storey Fendalton house was on sale at £1550. A hotel advertised Gillie whisky at 10s a bottle. Beer was Is a bottle in those days, and 1916 French claret could be bought for 54s a case, or 4s 6d a pint.

Double-bed white blankets were offered at 33s 6d a pair and single at 21s 9d. Sale-price velour coats were £3 15s, with gabardine costumes at 39s 6d, and tweed ones at 755. Suits could be bought made-to-measure at £6* 6s, and men's Bedford cord trousers were 7s 6d.