1929 Used plane price list

[barnbstormer]

Here is a partial (the original is very long) price list and IDs of used aircraft being offered by Curtiss Wright Flying Services, for used planes they have/had at their various airports all around the country, in 1929. It even has the registration numbers.There is evan a Spartan, for TulsaBoy

[barnbstormer]

Responding to Andrew King, and the boys working on the Bridgeport restoration..

There are a number of original letters and promotional materials, mentioning the Bridgeport Base of The Curtiss Wright Flying Service sites. Including a 3-page fold-out National map with all kinds of Curtiss Wright Flying Service info, and Bridgeport is marked with their red star. You may already know this, but the 1929 manager of Bridgeport's Curtiss Flying Service Base, had the unusual name of Seabury B. Waring.
This is all from the portion of the Curtiss Wright original Company archival files, that are in the file cabinets here.

[Cherrybomber13]

Are there any photographs from Bridgeport?

[The Inspector]

Since the average yearly wages in 1929 were in the $1300.00 range, even the cheapest airplane on the list would be about equal to Joe Lunchbox buying a 5 year old CESSNA 172 today.

[Cherrybomber13]

So inflation isn't that bad your saying?

[old iron]

I am curious about the Ireland biplane, as I have never heard of it. Are there any that survive?

[The Inspector]

IRELAND built a number of pusher amphibs. Think biplane Lake Renegade with a Warner or J-6 pushing. Details and some pictures are found in AEROFILES.com

[The Inspector]

So inflation isn't that bad your saying?

"only $99 down, and $99 a week-FOREVER!!!"

[tulsaboy]

I see that Spartan! One of the earliest C3 models. And kinda pricey, too! The first few C3 biplanes were equipped with a Siemens-Halske radial that didn't produce much power. I would think that even in 1929, $1750 would have been a hard sell. Now I would just die to have that airplane here in Tulsa. If extant, it would be the single oldest extant Spartan. There are no known survivors from that earliest run of C3s.
kevin

[barnbstormer]

As I continually cross-reference, all these various archival documents (and establish connections and I.D.s for planes & people) you get a feel for what "vintage' dollars could purchase at the time. The $12,000 ireland flying boat is fairly staggering, at the price of some 8-10 Homes at the time, when some workers (according to Original 1920's and 1930's Aviation company paybooks..) were only making around $20 for a 50-60 hour week, and eligible for 1/2 cent an hour raises!