Tell me about the 1950's

[mnrivrat]

First gun bought for me was a Model 511 Remington. (used for $8) It was deadly medicine for the small game that feed us along with the big garden. The first shotgun I bought was an exposed hammer side by side. Paid $5 for it but never liked it and sold it for $10 .
Bounty on Jack rabbits helped pay for shells. The local Web gas station would sell them by the each if you didn't have enough for a whole box.
Local Gambles Hardware store was the place to buy guns. Pheasants would group up in the winter and it was nothing to see flocks of 50 or more . We didn't waste shells on frogs, caught them by handand, ate the legs deep fried. These are the regular small frogs so we ate the bone and all.

There were some gun shows and a nice fancy Kentucy rifle could be had for around $100. My first high power was a surplus 1903 still in cosmoline for which I paid $25 for. Used ones were $15 to $20. I bought my first handgun from a local police dept for $15 as they had purchased new guns in 357 magnum. I had my choice of a Colt Police Positive, or a Smith & Wesson M&P , both 38 Spl.

No electricity until I was 5 years old and then no indoor plumbing until I was 16 . Melt snow on bath day during the winter and haul systern water up with a rope and bucket during the rest of the year. Long galvanized metal tub set up in the haulway for baths. Being the youngest I had to go last into the same bath water that the day started with. A little fresh hot water added. Radio was the main intertainment - Lone Ranger or Captain Midnight.

 

[Sport45]

I opened this expecting a thread about S&W 1950's. Entertaining reading though. I was born in '60 and can relate to some of it. We lived in the country. Mom made every shirt I owned (except t-shirts) until I was out of high school. Guns were just starting to be forbidden in the HS parking lots in the student's cars. The faculty could still have them in their vehicles if I remember right.

 

[Sam Cade]

I have a copy of Moynihan's Family and Nation in which he gives a median income of $8,500 in 1953.

You are correct I was one collum over in my book

 

[Tim the student]

Guns were just starting to be forbidden in the HS parking lots in the student's cars.

Jeez, I graduated in 96 and we kept guns in our cars. Not against any law, nor any rule that I was aware of. Plenty of faculty knew we had them. We would talk about going hunting right after class got out to the teachers.

 

[Shear_stress]

Originally Posted by BLACKHAWKNJ

I have a copy of Moynihan's Family and Nation in which he gives a median income of $8,500 in 1953.

You are correct I was one collum over in my book

Median family income in 1953 was $4233 in 1953 dollars ( http://www2.census.gov/prod2/popscan/p60-018.pdf). This is the equivalent of $34106.76 in 2010 dollars.

Median household income in 2009 was $49777 ( http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb10-144.html ).

Tax rates in 1953 for an income of $4233 in 1953 would be 27% (head of household) to 24.6% (married filing jointly).

Tax rates in 2009 for an income of $49777 would be 25% (head of household) to 15% (married filing jointly).

http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/fed_individual_rate_history-20110323.pdf

And, as Cosmoline mentioned, the top tax rate in 1953 was 92% for earners of $300000 or more, the equivalent of $2417204.93 in 2010 dollars. Anyone advocating for such a rate nowadays would be run out town on a rail.

The 50s were a lot of things to a lot of people but, as Sam Cade pointed out, the notion that we earned more and were taxed less then is bogus.

 

[JohnBT]

It didn't take much to live because there wasn't much to buy. Most houses and cars didn't have AC and most tvs were b&w. Most families only had one car. Hi-fidelity systems were mostly mono and there were no cable bills, cell phones or computers to upgrade.

The tv dinner was introduced by Swanson in 1953 and sold for less than a buck, but didn't have a dessert included until 1960. Fast food consisted of tv dinners, Campbell soup and frozen fish sticks.

Sure, a little McDonalds hamburger was only 15 cents, but Ray Kroc didn't even start the chain until April 15, 1955 and they took years to spread. (I used to work for them. Made $1.15 an hour in 1966.)

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I was born in 1953. My parents built a new house(3 bedroom,1 bath) for $6000 total. Dad bought shotgun shells individually,most every store sold ammo and would "break a box".

 

[Claude Clay]

ua learned at ur pappies knee and though compared to today, everything cost less--money than was much more dear.
ua also had to chooses from that which was handed down, that which ua fixed up or saved up for. ua didn't practice a brick a week; a box of shells brought home 47 squirrels or rabbits or your brother ( dang, but he had to be a better shot than you...) got the rifle next week.
people thought things out and worked out their thoughts till they got it workin right for them. no whining about a bad trigger or the sights suck--ua learned to do with what ua had.

today, well...i don't feel up to talking about the embarrassment of choices and excuses 'that i need one thats shaped this way or feels that way'...and the thoughtless actions of today excused by saying that 'he never taught us about that'. well, ever occur to you to sit yourself down and think on it for yourself? not a rant...over

-----------------
todays choices are good if one has the knowledge to know what it is they need and know it when they see it. and the quality of many firearms in affordable price ranges now is +good.
but the seemingly never ending search for what is 'perfect for me' vs if ua just would take the time to work with whatyou already have in front of ua...ua might find that perfect is not necessary; a practiced hand with what you have and it is working just fine. and fine is all you ever needed; perfect is for the gods.
with many of the laws today i am in favor of some formal training. the many of us city dwellers do not have a knee to learn from. so training may take from you some time and money but it may save your life and certainly more than pay for itself if you ever have to defend yourself in court.

 

[SwampWolf]

The 50s were a lot of things to a lot of people but, as Sam Cade pointed out, the notion that we earned more and were taxed less then is bogus.

What isn't bogus is that most families in the fifties got by just fine on the paycheck of one breadwinner (almost always, the father. No "house dads" back then). The idea of both parents working just to make ends meet (a family earning stratagem that is not only acceptable today but, for many, expected) was just not countenanced by prideful fifties folk.

 

[Claude Clay]

was just not countenanced by prideful fifties folk.

took the yuppies to make the change ( for the worse)

 

[Shear_stress]

What isn't bogus is that most families in the fifties got by just fine on the paycheck of one breadwinner (almost always, the father. No "house dads" back then). The idea of both parents working just to make ends meet (a family earning stratagem that is not only acceptable today but, for many, expected) was just not countenanced by prideful fifties folk.

I wasn't making a value judgement, just countering an inaccurate statement that bordered on wishful thinking. In fact, I would like to see a return to 50s-style thriftiness instead of the credit-heavy, rock-bottom price-driven, instant gratification-seeking attitudes we have now.

What's sad and ironic is that attitudes that, as you said, weren't countenanced by the adults of the 50s were wholeheartedly embraced by so many of their children--many of whom would grow up to form the "me" generation.

 

[badt00d]

Good reading! I remember shooting in the alleys in the middle of town-late 60's, early seventies, nobody cared-small town, a lot of farms, everybody had a gun or two, wasn't a big deal.

 

[Blu Max]

I was born during "The Big One" (WWII) and grew up in the late 40's and 50's.

My first gun was a Red Ryder BB gun that I used in the back yard to shoot tin cans. Kind of a "primer" in gun safety and handling. My parents got it as Christmas present for me.

Then when I was about 12, I graduated to a Crossman .22 air rifle, again a present from my folks. Oh how I loved that gun! I lived in town and my cousin lived in the country about 8 miles from my house. On the weekend I would take a sack lunch, put my air rifle across the handlebars of my bike and ride to his house, stopping to pick up a tin of pellets for $1.00 at a hardware store on the way. I can only imagine what a teen of today would attract in the way of LOE attention making the same trip!! We shot ground squirrels and birds. Nobody complained if a couple of kids were walking the fields and shooting "varmints".

Then the "BIG TIME"! I saved up and bought a .22 Winchester model 190 with a scope at Montgomery Wards. By that time my parents had bought a piece of land (40 acres) in the foothills. Dad had a Jeep, I was 15 1/5 (Legal age then!) and had my drivers license. Weekends I would take the Jeep and drive all over the Sierras and the 40 acres shooting birds, squirrels, jack rabbits and any other small game I could find! I bought the gun with my own paper route money, drove to the store and bought it with no adult present.

Did that until I heard the call of "girls". That pretty much ended the weekend shooting trips by myself.

In those days there was only the need of $$$$ for pretty much anyone to buy any gun without the need of DROS, FFL and COE (California requirement).

I was never a deer hunter but have always enjoyed shooting.

Today, I have an 03FFL and collect guns. I presently have 60 in my collection. My Grandson is slated to inherit my collection and at 16, he has his Eagle Scout Badge, just graduated from High School and has a full ride scholarship to Fresno State majoring in engineering.

He can field strip every gun I have and knows as much as me or more so
about each one!

Unfortunately he will never be able to enjoy the freedom I had at his age to openly carry any firearm.

And the Beat goes On!

 

[natman]

New? Nope. But I can buy one of the aforementioned JC Higgins Model 50s for about $300.

Yep. The biggest bargain in guns anywhere because gun snobs won't touch them since it has "Sears" on the barrel. Good, all the more for the true aficionado.

 

[oneounceload]

Yep. The biggest bargain in guns anywhere because gun snobs won't touch them since it has "Sears" on the barrel. Good, all the more for the true aficionado.

And what gun "snobs" would that be?

Sears also had AyA make some nice SxS for them as well

 

[Sport45]

The biggest difference I notice between now and when I was growing up is that back then we all ate our meals around the same table and talked to each other.

 

[JohnBT]

We were allowed to have the tv on just once during a meal. We had an early supper that July day in 1969 and watched the moon landing.

In 1955 my grandparents gave me a BB rifle, cleaning kit and wire wall rack for Christmas. I was only 5 and at first I couldn't work the lever my myself.

John

 

[wingman]

As an old timer I've enjoyed this thread, i grew up in the 40/50's started shooting at 5 with a sears bolt 22, hunting squirrels and rabbits at 9 alone. For my 9th birthday dad purchased a winchester 94 cost $49, had a super nice walnut stock and deep bluing. Age of 12 friends would get together to go down to the town dump to shoot rats( I used the sears bolt) local law would see us walking through town give us a wave.

After the shoot we stopped off at the filling station for coke 5 cents at the time. Most of the fathers were WW2 vets tough hard guys but fair they treated us like men and we were expected to act as such.

I worked all summer when I was 14 to purchase a high standard pump from sears I believe it cost $44 many squirrels/fell to that gun,oh yeah I ordered it myself via snail mail order blank, postal driver delivered it to me in his pick up truck with a big grin,guns were consider fun tools, you know what never seen or heard a kid in my area using a gun in anger or even speak of it..

Yep, we progressed in terms of medical care, electronics, yet we've failed in public education,morals, values,etc. Certainly would be nice if we could have retained some of the prior years common sense along with advancements, but sadly as population has doubled in my life time it brings more challenges.

 

[Ala Dan]

We had a bottling company [BB Botling), and a ice cream company [Superior
Ice Cream] in town; neither of which is here today. BB Bottling offered the
flavored type soda's (strawberry, grape, orange, peach, lime, etc); while the
ice cream company had 'bout 26 different flavors of ice cream. At the Super
Sandwhich Shop on US 11 [near present day Midfield], you could even get a
peanut butter malt; too go with their world famous B-BQ~!

Televisions of the day were either Philco or Admiral; and all with black and
white picture only. Transistor radios were also becoming popular, with the
local AM stations being WVOK (The Mighty 690), WSGN (610), and WYDE
(850). Pets were a big part of my early childhood, having a dog or cat; or
both most of my life (and I still so~!) Good friends and Happy Times were
had by all.

At 18, I left "the village" for bigger and better things - "Uncle Sams" U.S.
Army on November 9th, 1965. After my tour ended, I returned to the old
homestead, only to find out that my girlfriend had married someone else.
So, off to college I went -seeking fame and the good fortune of finding
another LOVE. Well, on Thanksgiving weekend of 1968, I did just that;
and I married my bride (Charlotte) on 13 December 1968. I reached out
of state for this one, as her home was Sevierville, Tennessee. And you all
wonder why I am a Tennessee VOL~!

 

[natman]

And what gun "snobs" would that be?

Sears also had AyA make some nice SxS for them as well

Anybody who would pass up such a fine rifle for the low price they command today.

I didn't have anyone specifically in mind.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

local AM stations being WVOK (The Mighty 690), WSGN (610), and WYDE
(850).

How well I remember Joe Rumore (and sound man Curly) on WVOK and Duke Rumore(Joe's brother) on WYDE.

 

[Ala Dan]

Sound Man Curly

that would be non other than Mr. Curly Fagan, himself~!

 

[xfyrfiter]

Born in 52, but the west and southwest US did not catch up with the rest of the country till the mid to late 60's. First rifle was a bb gun for Christmas 1957, dad shot a hole in the coffeepot that morning LOL ,guns, bows, and knives were very common, and everyone was expected to know how to shoot your supper and be able to get it ready for mom to cook. I still own my first 22 learned to shoot it at 7. Man alive how things have changed, very few for the better.

 

[Romeo 33 Delta]

I have too many really good memories of growing up in a small, Wisconsin town of mostly German and Dutch ancestry. One hardware store that sold guns and ammo. Two mom and pop grocery stores, a dry goods store, shoe store and a genuine "cobbler" ... an old Dutch guy. A bakery that made the best sweet rolls and bread this side of heaven and a creamery that bottled and delivered it's own milk, right to your door, in glass bottles (still have a couple to remember those days). My dad's shop was in between these two ... always liked stopping there on the way home from school. Grab a sweetroll or some ice cream, depending on how you felt ... just don't ruin your appetite for supper! There was a hometown bank, two doctors and a dentist, a dry goods store, a couple of restaurants, a Gamble's store, a meat market and "social center" of town just might as well have been the bar-restaurant-bowling alley or maybe our drug store that had a real,live soda fountain and our post office. There were 3 good sized manufacturing plants in town as well that were all heavy on machinists so there were some highly skilled folks there and a shoe factory too. We also had a canning factory that did peas, lima beans, corn and in late summer, shipped crates of apples from their own orchard. (They used to store these apple crates outside one of the out buildings across a small field from where we lived ... and as a right of passage, EVERY new bunch of kids coming up would build "forts" and caves inside this big pile ... must have been 30 feet wide X 80 long X 25 high ... and we'd be in there with CANDLES! GEEEZ ... and NOBODY ever set anything on fire!!!!!) There was also a bulk oil/gas distributor right near our house ... must have been over 100,000 gallons of stuff there ... would have wiped out the whole block if it went up ... and I NEVER lost a night's sleep over the possibility.
We had a propane distributor, a lumber yard, a couple of feed mills, maybe 8 mom and pop gas stations ... full service, mind you, and at least that many bars and 4 churches, Catholic, Methodist and 2 Lutheran.

Life was more than good, all my friends/school mates were born in 44/45 and
financially, everybody was just about in the same boat. I could go on for hours because my memory of those days is as clear as if it were yesterday. When I was 10, I got a Marlin 81DL for Christmas ... still have it and still shoot it! A year or so after I got my Marlin, I bought a High Standard Dura-matic and a holster at our hardware store and Rose who waited on me never even called and checked with my folks. So here I am at 13, a pistol on my hip and a rifle slung over my shoulder, a couple of boxes of ammo in my pockets, a canteen, some hot dogs and matches taking a hike out to a lime stone quarry about 3 miles out of town to spend the day shooting and NOBODY driving down the road paid you "NO NEVERMIND"!

Since those golden days, I've gone on to school, fought in Vietnam as a Combat Infantryman, got married (still am), worked in my chosen profession, retired and got old and just a little crippled ... but my heart just soars when I think back to the time when I was an 8 to 14 year old boy, growing up when and where I did, when I was ... KING OF THE WORLD!

If there is a Twilight Zone, what I would wish for is to fall asleep on a Friday night and wake up on a sunny, summer Saturday somewhere between 1952 and 1959. Where I could hit the ground running at 8AM and ride bikes, play cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, watching the crews working at the Sugar Beet Loader, filling Hopper Cars on the siding, going over to the Canning Factory to watch all the activity there, hanging around the railroad station, listening to the station master sending on his telegraph, watching and STANDING NOT 3 FEET from a big, black, steel monster known as a 4-6-4 Baltic F6 as she switched a couple of box cars, to explore everything and everywhere ALL DAY LONG and not come home until supper time and NOBODY was worried where you were because everyone knew who was who's kids so you were always safe. Then, after supper, go out and play until it was dark. Then go home, go through the "bath night" ritual and off to bed. And when I awake the next morning ... I'll have another really vivid memory of another wonderful summer's day ... except for that odd-looking Box Elder bow and arrows that are mysteriously leaning against the wall in the corner of my bedroom .....

 

[Dnaltrop]

My Old man still relishes his memories of shooting .22's in the high school Gym.

If you missed the trap, you got to dig the bullet out of the bleachers.

That really condenses the 180 our country has taken, I'd expect the police to be called if I even shared that story on school grounds today.