I am doing an historical presentation and I need to find food prices for around 1900, especially honey, white cane sugar, beet sugar, molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup.

Anyone have any ideas where I can find the info?

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), April 01, 2001

Answers

I know a few of the FOXFIRE books had a chapter or 2 on stores back then,, I remember that they did alot of barter,, since cash was scarce. I suppose that prices were pretty regional

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 01, 2001.

I have a records book from the early 1900's. Looks like most of the entries are for other items, like clothing (May 18, 1906...one pair shoes, $2.40, or April 4, 1910...one teapot, $.40) Maybe I can help with other info. if you want.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), April 01, 2001.

Go to your library and if they have a microfilm machine they will be able to order newspapers from that era by way of interlibrary loan.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), April 02, 2001.

There is an 1897 Sears catalog reproduction that would be just three years short of the time period you ask for. The ISBN #0-87754-045-4. It is published by Chelsea House Publishers.

It lists many foods available by mail order. Here are some of the specific prices you asked for.

Honey sold in tumblers holding one pound, $2.00 for a 2 dozen case, or $.20 each. In glass jars holding one pound, $2.25 for a 2 dozen case, or $.22 each. In glass jars holding two pounds, $3.50 for a one dozen case, or $.34 each. In glass jars holding three pounds, $4.90 for a one dozen case, or $.47 each.

Molasses prices vary a great deal according to quality. Black strap was $.13 per gallon in a 50 gallon barrel, and you got to keep the barrel. It was $.15 per gallon for a half barrel of 25 gallons. It was $.17 per gallon in 10 gallon kegs. It was $.50 per gallon when sold in two and a half gallon containers.

Maple Syrup varied also by quality. Very fine by the aforementioned barrel sizes, $.82 per gallon per barrel, $.87 per gallon per half barrel, $.97 per gallon in five gallon tins, $1.15 per gallon in one gallon tins, $.65 per half gallon tins, $.40 per quart.

For sugar, Sears stated that they carried it as an accomodation and charged no profit on it. The catalog further stated that they always sold it at the lowest importation price, therefore no catalog price was given at all for granulated, powdered, cubed, or brown sugars. I suppose all was cane sugar since it was imported. If you wanted to cook up your own cane sugar, a cane mill cost $16, while a portable evaporator sold for $14.63.

I've had a lot of fun looking at all of the old prices and goods. I think most all of you would enjoy looking at this reproduction catalog. It is also good for those of you that go to farm sales or antique shops and wonder what that "THING" might be used for.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 02, 2001.

Thank you everyone for your answers.

I do have that Sears catalog, but had forgotten all about it until mentioned here. I will certainly look at it.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), April 02, 2001.

Many libraries have, or can get, books designed for writers that have quite detailed info about various time periods. You could also check online to see if there are any writers' research link pages or what have you, based in your time period. Go to a regular writers' site (purely fictional names, but just for the gist - say for example Historical Romance Wrinting for Dummies or Mystery Writers Association of Timbuktu) and see where they tell you to go.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), April 05, 2001.