$19.60 for how much work - what was it per hour/day/year?

29 cents for a packet of smokes works out to be about $7.50, given 25l of petrol is now about $33 (~$1.30). Not much different to now given the tax added on top of your cancer sticks

the real "pocket" value of things in that era is interesting - like going to a different country and looking at the price of a McDonalds meal - shows the real currency value - In UK a meal is about 6 pounds, in Japan, it's about 600 yen, USA is about $6, and same here...

I guess I should look up the actual inflation figures

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

That $19.60 would have been per WEEK Simon.
In 1963 my 1st year F&M apprentice rate was £8-7-6d, ie $17.50/WEEK.

Money went a lot further though. In 1962 my 1st job paid £6/week (cash).
I used to pay Mum £2, bank £2 and live for a week on the other £2.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

amazing stories, i love hearing these, i can't help but laugh at them haha

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Deluxe

$114.80 per week in 1992 as an electrical apprentice in a Steel works. Five times better for 22 years difference.

Adult apprentice in the NT will earn approx. 70k + these days.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

was thinking that, but it didn't add up where Davo said his S was over a years salary at $2469 - $19.60 a week is just over a grand a year, so the S was 2.5 years pay!

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

When I was in Uni running a Mini I was earning $4 working Saturdays _ I spent $1 (a tankfull) on petrol over the weekend and it took another tank to get to and from Uni all week - An ex-girl friend down the street paid me $1 a week to take her to and from Uni ( would have cost her $3.50 a week on the bus/tram) so she was happy and I got free running for the week.

I joined the Army Reserves (CMF) and the twice yearly cheques came in time to pay rego and Uni fees.

I failed my Pharmacy Registration Exam 1 week before I got married so on the strength of my Pharmacy Degree I got a job at Glaxo Australia for $6300 pa - the HR manager when he rang to tell me I had the job quizzed me on how I would handle such a large jump in income _ I said look mate if I had passed my registration exam I would be on $7800 pa - that shut him up

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

[quote="Wombat"]

I failed my Pharmacy Registration Exam 1 week before I got married

see that's what happens when you play around with women they distract you

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Research is the difference between speculation and investment. Anyone who copys some one else will always be second
www.minisprintgt.com

Bought my first Mk1 Cooper S for $1200 in 1988. British racing green. It was sitting on someone front lawn in Hamilton Vic. Its original engine was gone and replaced with a 1071. It use to love to rev. Bought a Mk2 S in 1990 for $3000 from a car yard in Warragul. My biggest regret was selling the Mk1 to pay for the restoration of the Mk2.
The Mk1 was sold as a roller to Noel Hulbert?? in Melb, and the 1071 ended up being supercharged and being fitted to a Sports Sedan owned by Richard Lightfoot.

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Member VMCI #19

I was on $160p/w as a 1st yr electrical engineer in 1997.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

Yeah it got better, and then the resource boom kicked in...

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.