What did transportation cost a man back 100 years ago?

[PocketThunder]

What did transportation cost the average man back 100 years ago?  I'm sitting at my desk surfing craigslist for a newer vehicle, preferably a 4 door truck for my family of 5, my daily driver 97 Mercury Mystique (Misty, because all my cars have stripper names) will need replacing someday and everything seems to have 100,000 miles on it for $10k or more and if I want something with lower miles I have to step up to the $20,000 range.  And forget about buying new, I don't have $30,000 for a new truck.  Much less $40,000 for the one I want all speced out. 

So I got to wondering, we live in a time where cars are pretty much a necessity for everybody to get to and from work.  Did travel to and from work cost the average man the same proportion of his salary 100 years ago?  Or did everyone usually live within a couple miles of where they worked.  I would imagine most or more people were farmers and lived where they worked.  Or people lived in the town where they worked.  It just seems like a $400 car payment for 5 years is a bit ridiculous.  But then I'll spend $515 to have my bendix calipers rebuilt in my Charger so I can drive it 1,000 miles this summer! Haha

How much was the average maintenance on a horse and buggy back in the day?

Paul

[71ChallengeHer]

Some hay and a shovel ? 

[Troy]

I think everything was closer. People who lived in cites didn't own transportation (and many still don't today). Actually, most of the world is still like that - we Americans love our cars!

Troy

[Brock Samson]

  Kinda' on topic,.. a couple Mos. ago I used the exact same Specs. I used in 2000 that finally ended up in my purchase of my Chrysler fully optioned 300M to shop for a new 300C replacement and the figure had jumped almost $11,000 for a comparable purchase. from $31K to 42K, I don't really think you can use that as a backtrack baseline though...

[Cooter]

You have to remember back in the day, people drove junk piles and alot of 'em were FORCED to work on their own cars...I can still hear mama talkin' bout grandaddy taking the family car, a 1941 Plymouth, Mustard yellow, down in the driveway for an inframe overhaul. He had parts scattered everywhere..The car was well worn out when he even bought it...

Mama didn't get a "newer" car until she was in college, a 1957 Chevy she got used (Worn out)..Today, people are spending huge money on cars that only cost that much cause we HAVE to have things like A/C, Nav. systems, DVD palyers for the kids, Power windows, seats, heated seats, power heated mirrors, Back-up alarms, I-pod docs, GPS, twenty power outlets in the ash tray, Pick -up trucks that don't tow/haul anything cause the owners want to "feel safe" in todays traffic by driving this huge, gas guzzling SUV, etc...I still drive a Busted, worn out, POS, Subaru with over 500,000 miles on it, and it rattles, cold in winter, hot as hell in summer, leaks water, rusted beyond all comprehension, needs axles, clutch, engine rebuild, won't pull a hill without going to 2nd gear and WOT...

I ain't got no $500/month car payment though..Only time I spend THAT kinda money is on my house....Now, you could say for that money I either have one helluva cheap house, or you got one helluv-an expensive car..You chose...

BTW: I can still remember when I was bitchin' bout a Corvette costing $40K.....And THAT was rediculous then...

[moparstuart]

You have to remember back in the day, people drove junk piles and alot of 'em were FORCED to work on their own cars...I can still hear mama talkin' bout grandaddy taking the family car, a 1941 Plymouth, Mustard yellow, down in the driveway for an inframe overhaul. He had parts scattered everywhere..The car was well worn out when he even bought it...

Mama didn't get a "newer" car until she was in college, a 1957 Chevy she got used (Worn out)..Today, people are spending huge money on cars that only cost that much cause we HAVE to have things like A/C, Nav. systems, DVD palyers for the kids, Power windows, seats, heated seats, power heated mirrors, Back-up alarms, I-pod docs, GPS, twenty power outlets in the ash tray, Pick -up trucks that don't tow/haul anything cause the owners want to "feel safe" in todays traffic by driving this huge, gas guzzling SUV, etc...I still drive a Busted, worn out, POS, Subaru with over 500,000 miles on it, and it rattles, cold in winter, hot as hell in summer, leaks water, rusted beyond all comprehension, needs axles, clutch, engine rebuild, won't pull a hill without going to 2nd gear and WOT...

I ain't got no $500/month car payment though..Only time I spend THAT kinda money is on my house....Now, you could say for that money I either have one helluva cheap house, or you got one helluv-an expensive car..You chose...

BTW: I can still remember when I was bitchin' bout a Corvette costing $40K.....And THAT was rediculous then...

amen

[ITSA426]

But a hundred years ago where would you want to go?

[68X426]

How much was the average maintenance on a horse and buggy back in the day?

Practically nothing, just hard work. Nearly one-half of the country was agrarian and rural (farmers, small towns, etc.) and knew which end of a horse was which. Very cost efficient lifestyle but lots of hard work.

The half of the country that lived in cities dealt with manure and urine in unbelievably poor conditions. There was a livery stable on every other street corner. You paid people to do the horse work. Or, for most city dwellers, you just did not travel because you couldn't afford the horse.

All not particularly healthy or cost efficient. Bicycles put a dent in the economy of horses. Then along came mass transit in the cities and it liberated the masses, and was more cost efficient for the average man. Eventually the advancing wealth of the country made cars relatively cheap.

That trend has reversed. Sure cars are better but they have lost the relative cost advantage.

There are some great history books on the 1880-1920 period and the way Americans lived with the horse economy. Can't remember titles at the moment, but look for books from Lewis Mumford about life in the cities vs. rural living.

[68X426]

But a hundred years ago where would you want to go?

Haven't you heard: "Go West Young Man Go West" ?

Millions of folks migrated West looking for oppotunity, long before the Dust Bowl and long after the Gold Rush.

Horses, oxen, walking. People went places.

[GPULLER]

Didn't you watch "Little House on the Prairie" after school?  If Laura needed something from the general store she walked.  If the whole family need to go to town Charles harnessed up the horses, hooked up the wagon and they all went to town, that was maybe once a month.  When they got home he took the harness off the horses, slapped them on the ass and ran out to the pasture.
They didn't have to take 5 year old Billy to soccer practice and 12 year old Jimmy to a baseball tournament 200 miles away.  The kids stayed home and worked.  They raised corn, oats, hay so they had feed for the horses. Back then horses were treated better than family members.

WOW...I sound like my dad...

[PocketThunder]

How much was the average maintenance on a horse and buggy back in the day?

Practically nothing, just hard work. Nearly one-half of the country was agrarian and rural (farmers, small towns, etc.) and knew which end of a horse was which. Very cost efficient lifestyle but lots of hard work.

The half of the country that lived in cities dealt with manure and urine in unbelievably poor conditions. There was a livery stable on every other street corner. You paid people to do the horse work. Or, for most city dwellers, you just did not travel because you couldn't afford the horse.

All not particularly healthy or cost efficient. Bicycles put a dent in the economy of horses. Then along came mass transit in the cities and it liberated the masses, and was more cost efficient for the average man. Eventually the advancing wealth of the country made cars relatively cheap.

That trend has reversed. Sure cars are better but they have lost the relative cost advantage.

There are some great history books on the 1880-1920 period and the way Americans lived with the horse economy. Can't remember titles at the moment, but look for books from Lewis Mumford about life in the cities vs. rural living.

Ya i do remember seeing pictures of how the poor people lived in New York at the turn of the century.  a dozen poeple holed up in a trashy apt with disease in the air.

[PocketThunder]

Didn't you watch "Little House on the Prairie" after school?  If Laura needed something from the general store she walked.  If the whole family need to go to town Charles harnessed up the horses, hooked up the wagon and they all went to town, that was maybe once a month.  When they got home he took the harness off the horses, slapped them on the ass and ran out to the pasture.
They didn't have to take 5 year old Billy to soccer practice and 12 year old Jimmy to a baseball tournament 200 miles away.  The kids stayed home and worked.  They raised corn, oats, hay so they had feed for the horses. Back then horses were treated better than family members.

WOW...I sound like my dad...

Oh hell ya!  Pepin, WI is just down stream of where i lived when i was a kid in Maiden Rock, WI durring grade school, everyday after the 1 hour bus ride home from school it was 4:00pm just in time for Little House on the Prairie.  My Dad walked a few miles to school from the farm and back.  So ya i guess the answer to my own question is that everyone stayed relatively close to home and didnt go much farther than a few miles in a day.  The last time we moved out here to the burbs i tried to get a house within 2 miles from my work but there was nothing in my price range.  I'm at 9 miles now so i could bike that in about 45 minutes.  I'd have to stud my tires for winter though!

[Silver R/T]

I think everything was closer. People who lived in cites didn't own transportation (and many still don't today). Actually, most of the world is still like that - we Americans love our cars!

Troy

exactly. I came from Ukraine and only rich can afford to drive a car there. Even average workers have to work most of their life to earn a new car, but then they can't afford gas to drive it.

[MoparManJim]

Back a hundred years ago with be when the big ship sank! They still had cars back around then also. Maybe you should have said 150 years ago   

Back in the time where cars was not around yet, people had to use horses to get around with. If someone was going on a trip that was far away, like 150 miles or alittle more. The family's would tell there guys they would see them in around afew weeks when they got back. Because when walking or riding a horse it took alittle while to make some miles.. and for a horse going a long distance travel, they had to I think take breaks. So to us with cars that would only take maybe afew hours to get to a 150 mile location, to them it took more then a day to do for them.

Also back then they didn't have any kind of engines that they was trying to beef to so off to the others with also or trying to make the engine go faster then what it was originally intended for either. All they had was foot power things and aminals to help them do there work and be there cars, wagons was there trucks back then. At least one thing they didn't have to worry about was getting flag on the wagons as they had metal wrapped around the wood circle and no rubber!   

Now for fuel, all they had to do was lead the horse to a truf with water in or a stream, give the horse grass, oats or anything they would eat. 

[Brock Samson]

 I have read that at the turn of the 20th century, horse manure in the streets of towns and especially cities was a really big problem though nowadays it's mostly on the internets, and I have also read that up in till the 20th century it was fairly rare for regular folks to travel much beyond 30 miles from their homes in their entire lifetimes, which of course were usually limited to about 40-50 years at best.  To travel much or live long lives you really had to be pretty wealthy.
Walking you can manage about 12-15 miles per day so 30 miles was a two day journey.
 

[Brock Samson]

BTW PT< you want a truck specificly?.. cause you mention replacing the Misty but say you want a truck all Speced out.
i think it's a buyers market with many more sellers then buyers. seems your budget is well within the ball park for buying a lower mileage vehicle... how about some more details, I bet we can help you find the deal of your dreams, you know how we love to shop for cars and trucks here... 
I'd love to have a new Ram BTW! 

[PocketThunder]

BTW PT< you want a truck specificly?.. cause you mention replacing the Misty but say you want a truck all Speced out.

Ya a truck, i used to have one, 1989 Dodge Ram W250, then sold it because the 10 mpg just wasnt cutting it.  Now i'm getting tired of borrowing the neighbors trailer everytime i need to haul something and pulling it wiht the mini-van.  But i'm not in a position to buy a truck right now.  Just like to look and keep an eye out for whats available and the trend i'm seeing is what i mentioned above. 

[bull]

Didn't you watch "Little House on the Prairie" after school?  If Laura needed something from the general store she walked.  If the whole family need to go to town Charles harnessed up the horses, hooked up the wagon and they all went to town, that was maybe once a month.  When they got home he took the harness off the horses, slapped them on the ass and ran out to the pasture.

Once in a while Pa had to go all the way to Mankato and it was like a two-day journey. Probably, what, 80 miles. Remember when he took Ma to Mankato for their 2nd honeymoon and he couldn't get any because she was too worried about the girls. Poor Charles.

[PocketThunder]

Remember when he took a train with Mary all the way to Chicago to represent the farmers in his area at a Grange Convention and he quickly learned about being paid off by the railroads to get his vote.  Marys boyfriend lived there and worked for the newspaper.  She thought he was the one till she found out he had some side action in town.   Ah the more things change the more they stay the same.

[GPULLER]

Once in a while Pa had to go all the way to Mankato and it was like a two-day journey. Probably, what, 80 miles. Remember when he took Ma to Mankato for their 2nd honeymoon and he couldn't get any because she was too worried about the girls. Poor Charles.

Be 81 miles from Walnut Grove to Mankato if they went Hwy 14.  If they took Hwy 71 south 13miles to Hwy 30 then into Mankato it would have been 90 miles.  Sure it all depended on weather and road construction   

[Todd Wilson]

People didnt go very far. Most stayed on the farm and worked. Others walked or rode horses or bikes. I believe Dodge Brothers machine shop was known for bicycles.   Early days of the automobile really started the ball rolling but not everyone had a car. Roads were not that good and the cars not real fast.  If you had to travel a long ways you got on the train.   As roads improved and cars improved  people started going further. Didnt commercial airline service really come about int he 50's.  Ike got the interstate highway system going. Technology got better,roads got better,cars got better.................and here we are today.  I look around in my old town and can see small buildings in some of the older neighborhoods. Those were old grocery stores back in the day. People walked a few blocks to the store.  At one time my house was within a half a block of a small store and a block and a half from another bigger grocery store. I remember the bigger store being open when I was a kid. Now we all travel to big super centers and malls where its all at. 80 years ago it would have been an all day trip to go to the location where our mall and MalWart is at now.


Its funny  you really cannot grasp the way it was in the old days until you ride in an old vehicle. then you will understand why it took days to travel a distance some do twice a day now on a commute.


todd

[Mike DC]

                                               
3 generations ago:  
Cars cost $5000 to buy, cost $500 to repair or straighten out, and were on the road for 50,000 miles.

2 generations ago:
Cars cost $10,000 to buy, cost $1000 at the shop, and were on the road for 100,000 miles.  

1 generation ago:
Cars cost $20,000 to buy, cost $2000 at the shop, and on the road for 200,000 miles.

Present day:
Cars cost $30,000 to buy, $3000 at the shop, on the road for 300,000 miles.



Progress?

[Brock Samson]

A familial generation is defined as the average time between a mother's first offspring and her daughter's first offspring. The generation length is 25.2 years.   according to wikipeidia.

We also generally accept that the length of a generation was closer to 20 years in earlier times when humans mated younger and life expectancies were shorter in earlier times when humans mated younger and life expectancies were shorter.  according to ancestry.com.

however according to www.bibletime.com:
  it's "Using 70 as the length of a generation..."

[PocketThunder]

                                 
3 generations ago:  
Cars cost $5000 to buy, cost $500 to repair or straighten out, and were on the road for 50,000 miles.

2 generations ago:
Cars cost $10,000 to buy, cost $1000 at the shop, and were on the road for 100,000 miles.  

1 generation ago:
Cars cost $20,000 to buy, cost $2000 at the shop, and on the road for 200,000 miles.

Present day:
Cars cost $30,000 to buy, $3000 at the shop, on the road for 300,000 miles.



Progress?

 

They all cost about $0.11 per mile to operate.  I dont see any progress in that example.  

[learical1]

                                 
3 generations ago:  
Cars cost $5000 to buy, cost $500 to repair or straighten out, and were on the road for 50,000 miles.

2 generations ago:
Cars cost $10,000 to buy, cost $1000 at the shop, and were on the road for 100,000 miles.  

1 generation ago:
Cars cost $20,000 to buy, cost $2000 at the shop, and on the road for 200,000 miles.

Present day:
Cars cost $30,000 to buy, $3000 at the shop, on the road for 300,000 miles.



Progress?

 

They all cost about $0.11 per mile to operate.  I don't see any progress in that example.  

Is that Eleven cents adjusted for inflation?