By the Numbers in 1939
World Population
—
UK Life Expectancy
51.7 years
US Life Expectancy
53.0 years
Gold Price (per oz)
$33.56
Dow Jones Index
104
US National Debt
—
Sovereign Nations
56
How Much Did Things Cost in 1939?
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £580 | $4,500 |
| Average salary | £210 | $1,364 |
| Pint of milk | 2½d | $0.06 |
| Loaf of bread | 4d | $0.08 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s 1d | $0.33 |
| Pint of beer | 6d | $0.15 |
| Cinema ticket | 7d | $0.25 |
Technology and Inventions in 1939
The discovery of nuclear fission prompted Albert Einstein to write his famous letter to President Roosevelt warning of the potential for atomic weapons. Television broadcasting was suspended in Britain for the duration of the war. Nylon stockings went on sale for the first time, and helicopter development advanced with the Sikorsky VS-300.
- ● Einstein writes to Roosevelt warning of the potential for an atomic bomb
- ● Igor Sikorsky builds the VS-300, the first practical single-rotor helicopter
- ● Nylon stockings go on sale to the public for the first time in the US
- ● Pan American Airways begins the first regular transatlantic passenger air service
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