By the Numbers in 1934
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
51.4 years
US Life Expectancy
52.7 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$26.34
Dow Jones Index
62
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
56
How Much Did Things Cost in 1934?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £520 | $3,800 |
| Average salary | £180 | $1,115 |
| Pint of milk | 2d | $0.05 |
| Loaf of bread | 3d | $0.08 |
| Dozen eggs | 11d | $0.28 |
| Pint of beer | 5d | $0.15 |
| Cinema ticket | 6d | $0.20 |
Technology and Inventions in 1934
Radar was secretly being developed in Britain by Robert Watson-Watt. Streamlined diesel trains like the Burlington Zephyr revolutionised rail travel. The Dust Bowl accelerated mechanised farming debates. Nylon was being developed in DuPont laboratories.
- ● Percy Shaw invents cats' eyes road reflectors in Yorkshire, revolutionising night driving
- ● The Burlington Zephyr makes its record-breaking streamlined diesel train run
- ● Enrico Fermi bombards uranium with neutrons, laying groundwork for nuclear fission
- ● Wallace Carothers at DuPont creates the first true synthetic fibre, a precursor to nylon
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