100 years ago !

[Trueoo7]

Came across some interesting facts in an article I was reading:

In 1907, the average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years of age.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
90% of all U.S. doctors had no college education.
The two leading causes of death in the U.S. were: pneumonia and tuberculosis.
The American flag had 45 stars: Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted yet.
Florenz Ziegfield introduced his famous Ziegfield Follies.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
More than 95% of all births in the U.S. took place at home.
A loaf of bread cost 5 cents. A gallon of milk cost 31 cents. A car cost $500. A house cost $4,500. And finally a gallon of gas cost 20 cents.

Just food for thought !!

[jdean]

Here in Texas a gallon gas still cost only 28 cents in 1967. Not much inflation for gas during those 60 years!

[BlueRooster]

Its like gas going from 2.00 to 2.80. More than you think. About 30%

[trularin]

I purchased gas at $.19 per gallon during a gas war. Three gas stations going at it, each on a corner of an intersection.

One thing not mentioned was; a person could walk from Maine to California and NO one would give a poop.

[Dwight]

When I got out of the Army in 1968 I was paying 34 cents for Exxon gas. My Dad asked why I paid so much for gas when I could drive a couple of blocks and buy it for 32 cents.
Dwight

[will butterwort]

we built a new outhouse and would do way with the old . So, at that age knowing all things and matter I took a five gallon can of gas poured it down the hole, poured me a fuse out about 20 feet and struck a match--started with fire all around me---standing in fire,quickly burned and then---boom--****house went up--planks flying ever which way fire ball 50 feet up, hounddogs took off barking, cows took off, folks came running out of the house to see ---what some days---gas about 15 -18 cents a gallon. Heck, we burned brush piles with it and something called distillate, we ran in john deere tractors. Bought by the hundreds of gallons, was so cheap.Good old days my butt, I like in the house throne, warm in winter, pull handle and whoosh--gone.Will-alabama

[Ron61]

Will,

I loved the old out house story. Sure brought back some memories of some of the things I did when I was a kid. I remember using the old hand pumps that had the 5 gallon glass tops and you pumped the gas up into them and then gravity fed it into the hose to put into the car. I would buy $1 worth of gas and drive half the night.

Ron

[Art Burtt]

We had a fire in our bathroom ,but we got it out before it got ot he house!

[CobraDan]

I remember traveling with my Dad and running into a gas price war dropping the price to 15 cents a gallon and they would give you a 6 pack of drinking glasses free for stopping in, plus they pumped the gas cleaned your windshield and checked the oil.

[undy]

My dad celebrated his 2nd birthday in 1907..

[Ron61]

Dan,

Those were the days when service station meant that. I remember collecting the Hot Wheel type cars they used to give out with each $5 worth of gas. Now they won't even come out of the building to talk to you while you fill up. Except in Oregon where it is illegal for you to pump your own gas and I think there is one other state that is still that way.

Ron

[427sharpe]

Do you guys remember all the crap Gulf used to give away? I still have a little 1:18 scale P1075 look-a-like and a book with stickers from all 50 states that have the state emblem, motto, etc on them. I sure don't remember the gravity pumps or exploding outhouses ( ), but it does seem like they were better times. My kids face things daily we never dreamed of. I guess we call that progress.

[will butterwort]

was in california in 1997 and could buy leaded gas at pump. Can you still buy leaded gas there?Will-alabama

[will butterwort]

i can still remember those old glass pumps Ron is talking about. Could see the gas --make sure you got 5 gallons, or 10. Daddy was born 1904 in very rural alabama, when about tenyo. ,dad and older brother heard a car coming ,freightened boys picked up two big rocks a piece jumped behind bush ready to fight that thing ,scared to death of it.Well, it went on by peacefully,had folks they knew riding in it--recognized them, so they didn,t have to fight it.Big news at supper table that night. Will-alabama

[Trueoo7]

I believe New Jersey is the other state where you're not allowed to pump your own gas.