Posted by Dave W on July 01, 2000 at 13:31:34 from dewaller.demon.co.uk:
Although most of the books don't make much mention of money, there are quite a few specific references in WDMTGTS. From the information given for the UK Retail Price Index at site http://www.crowsnest.co.uk/north/rpi.htm, it is fairly easy to convert these amounts, referenced in the mid thirties, into the amount of equivalent value for AD 2000.
The UK RPI for the mid thirties is given as about 5, and is about 170 for May 2000, both these being referenced to a value of 100 at January 1987.
From these values, my arithmetic gives the multiplier from then to now as about 34 times.
This gives the following values for various amounts mentioned in WDMTGTS:
Chapter 5 : phoning to Mrs Walker at Pin-Mill from a pub in Shotley, Roger says: "We'll have to be jolly quick or it'll be another twopence" (in my youth, pronounced as "tuppence"). This for a local off-peak call of two minutes.
Todays equivalent sum would be about 28 p, so the rate is similar to current UK call-box rates. This sum will also purchase a Mars bar or similar, which might explain Roger's concern.
Chapter 6 .. regarding the need to buy petrol : Jim emptied his trouser pockets. Half a crown, a shilling and a few coppers..
Todays UK equivalent is in the region of about 6 pounds. Jim seems to think this isn't enough for
both petrol and paraffin. Makes me wonder about the cost of fuel in those days, or maybe he's intending to buy several gallons of petrol.
Chapter 16.. "I've got two pounds and seventeen shillings in the Savings Bank," said Titty.
Todays equivalent UK sum would be a little under 100 pounds.
Chapter 24.."We shan't be long now," said Daddy. "A bob for whoever first sights the Cork." Roger, who had been on the very point of speaking, held out one hand and pointed ahead with the other.
Roger's prize amounts to about 1.70 UK pounds, so enough for a reasonable number of Mars bars...