By the Numbers in 1938
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
51.7 years
US Life Expectancy
53.0 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$32.11
Dow Jones Index
95
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
56
How Much Did Things Cost in 1938?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £570 | $4,300 |
| Average salary | £200 | $1,299 |
| Pint of milk | 2d | $0.06 |
| Loaf of bread | 4d | $0.09 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s | $0.32 |
| Pint of beer | 5d | $0.15 |
| Cinema ticket | 7d | $0.25 |
Technology and Inventions in 1938
Nuclear fission was discovered by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, though its significance would only become clear in the coming years. Ballpoint pens were patented by Laszlo Biro, and nylon stockings were about to transform the hosiery industry. Television sets were becoming available commercially in Britain.
- ● Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann achieve nuclear fission of uranium in Berlin
- ● Laszlo Biro patents the modern ballpoint pen in Hungary
- ● DuPont begins manufacturing nylon toothbrush bristles, the first nylon product
- ● Chester Carlson makes the first xerographic (photocopier) image
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