A Lesson on Inflation

From a 1963 article in the Advertiser-Democrat on the early history of Ripley & Fletcher Company, it states: "There were two styles of Fords in those days - touring and tourabout, or roadster. The 1909 Ford was a gleaming vehicle, having a powerful four-cylinder motor, no doors, brass trimmings, carbide lights and bulb horn."

"In 1911, doors were added. The Model A appeared in 1928 and 1932 saw the start of eight-cylinder units. An example of the economy of those Model A's is borne out by the fact that a brand new one was purchased for $500.00, driven nineteen years and sold for $150.00."

In DEALER WORLD, March, 1981, a publication for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers and dealership managers, an article states: "While going through some old records recently, James Bryant, Sales Manager for Ripley & Fletcher Company, Ford dealership in South Paris, Maine, got a lesson in once-upon-a-time inflation rates and a look at how some sales were consummated in Ford dealerships years ago.

"Invoices recording the sale of two new Ford Touring Cars provided Bryant's education. The first car was sold in 1917 by Ripley & Fletcher for $415.30. As part of the deal, the customer got to trade in a horse valued at $150.00. The invoice for the second sale, made six years later in 1923, shows an annual inflation rate back then of about 1-1/3 percent. The second touring car was sold for $448.22, a price increase of just $32.92 in six years." (Editor's note: Bryant says Ripley & Fletcher was established in 1909 and has operated from the same building, with a few changes, for all these years. He closed his letter with this postscript: "We had to have the horse laid away last year.")

I hope you enjoy the story.

Don