Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T17:51:25.631Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Relative Prices in the Nineteenth Century*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2011

Dorothy S. Brady
Dorothy S. Brady
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Never in history has man successfully invented a device, an instrument, a machine, or a structure without creating a demand for performance far beyond the capacity of the original design. The acceptance of an innovation starts a continuous stream of improvements in the product or in its manufacture that leads to larger, more powerful, or more efficient models; and the widespread diffusion of a product almost automatically implies the evolution of a broad range in the dimensions of serviceability. The increase in the size of the product is an important aspect of industrial growth. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, very few sailing vessels of 300 tons were produced in American shipyards. When the clipper ships were finally outmoded, the largest were at least ten times that size. The first American-made steam engines before 1810 included some that were large for the time, around 100 horsepower. By 1865, engines of 1,000 horsepower were in use, and by 1880 the size had been increased to 4,000 horsepower.

Type
Articles
Information
The Journal of Economic History , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , June 1964 , pp. 145 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © The Economic History Association 1964

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Adams, T. M.Prices Paid by Vermont Farmers for Goods and Services and Received by Them for Farm Products, 1790–1940. Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station; Bulletin 507, February 1944.Google Scholar
2.Bezanson, Anne, Gray, Robert D., and Hussey, Miriam. Wholesale Prices in Philadelphia, 1784–1861, Part II. Series of Relative Monthly Prices. (“Industrial Research Studies in Price History,” XXX.) Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1937.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Bezanson, Anne et al. Wholesale Prices in Philadelphia, 1852–1896—Series of Relative Monthly Prices. (“Industrial Research Studies in Price History,” XXXVI.) Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1954.Google Scholar
4.Coxe, Tench.A Statement of the Arts and Manufactures of the United States for the Year 1810. Philadelphia, 1814.Google Scholar
5.Massachusetts, Bureau of Statistics of Labor. Sixteenth Annual Report, August 1885. Boston, 1885.Google Scholar
6.Massachusetts, Bureau of Statistics of Labor. Thirty-first Annual Report, March 1901. Boston: State Printers, 1901.Google Scholar
7.Massachusetts, Secretary of State, Statistical Tables Exhibiting the Condition and Products of Certain Branches of Industry in Massachusetts, for the Year Ending April 1, 1837. Boston, 1838.Google Scholar
8.Massachusetts, Secretary of State. Statistical Tables Exhibiting the Condition and Products of Certain Branches of Industry in Massachusetts, for the Year Ending April 1, 1845. Boston, 1846.Google Scholar
9.Massachusetts, Secretary of State. Statistical Tables Exhibiting the Condition and Products of Certain Branches of Industry in Massachusetts, for the Year Ending June 1, 1855. Boston, 1856.Google Scholar
10.Massachusetts, Secretary of State. Statistical Tables Exhibiting the Condition and Products of Certain Branches of Industry in Massachusetts, for the Year Ending May 1, 1865. Boston, 1866.Google Scholar
11.U.S. Census Bureau, Tenth Census of the U.S., 1880. “Special Reports. Statistics of Wages in Manufacturing Industries with Supplementary Reports on the Average Retail Prices of the Necessaries of Life and on Trades Societies and Strikes and Lockouts,” by Joseph D. Weeks. Washington, 1886.Google Scholar
12.U.S. Census Bureau. Tenth Census of the U.S., 1880., “Report on the Ship Building Industry of the United States,” by Henry Hall. Washington, 1885.Google Scholar
13.U. S. Congress, House. Executive Document No. 20, Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1849. Part I, Arts and Manufactures. Washington, 1850.Google Scholar
14.U. S. Congress, Senate. Committee on Finances Report No. 1394, Wholesale Prices, Wages and Transportation, by Mr. Aldrich. Washington, 1893.Google Scholar
15.U. S. Congress, Senate. Committee on Finance, Report No. 986, Retail Prices and Wages, by Mr. Aldrich. Washington, 1892.Google Scholar
1.Baldwin Locomotive Works. History of the Baldwin Locomotive. Philadelphia: The Company, 1913.Google Scholar
2.Banning, , William, , and Hugh, George. Six Horses. New York: Century Co., 1930.Google Scholar
3.Bishop, J. Leander. A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860, Vols. II and III. (3rd edition.) Philadelphia, 1868.Google Scholar
4.Bolles, Albert S.Industrial History of the United States. Norwich, Connecticut, 1881.Google Scholar
5.Brock, Alanc ST. H.A History of Fire Works. London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1947.Google Scholar
6.Chapelle, Howard I.History of American Sailing Ships. New York: W. W. Norton Company, 1935.Google Scholar
7.Clark, Victor S.History of Manufactures in the United States. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1929.Google Scholar
8.Cobbett, William. A Year's Residence in the United States of America. London, 1828.Google Scholar
9.Cummings, Richard O.The American Ice Harvests, A Historical Study in Technology, 1800–1918. Berkeley and Los Angeles: The University of California Press, 1949.Google Scholar
10.Cummings, Richard Osborn, The American and His Food, A History of Food Habits in the U. S. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1940.Google Scholar
11.Cutler, Carl C., Greyhounds of the Sea, The Story of the American Clipper Ships. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1930.Google Scholar
12.Depew, Chauncey M. (ed.). One Hundred Years of American Commerce. New York, 1895.Google Scholar
13.Dick, Everett. The Sod House Frontier, 1854–1890. New York: D. Appleton Century Company, 1937.Google Scholar
14.Henry Disston and Sons. The Saw in History. Philadelphia: The Company, 1916.Google Scholar
15.Dredge, James. The Pennsylvania Railroad, Its Origin, Construction and Maintenance. New York, 1879.Google Scholar
16.Dunbar, Seymour. History of Travel in America. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1915.Google Scholar
17.Freedley, Edwin T.Philadelphia and Its Manufactures. Philadelphia, 1858.Google Scholar
18.Fearon, Henry Bradshaw. Sketches of America. London, 1818.Google Scholar
19.Finley, Ruth E.The Lady of Godey's. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1931.Google Scholar
20.Flint, Charles et al. One Hundred Years Progress of the United States. Hartford, Connecticut, 1872.Google Scholar
21.Gibb, George S.The Saco-Lowell Shops, Textile Machinery Building in New England, 1813–1849. (“Harvard Studies in Business History,” 16.) Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1950.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Greeley, Horace (ed.). The Great Industries of the U. S. Hartford, Connecticut, 1872.Google Scholar
23.Harper, & , Burtas. The First Century of the Republic. New York, 1871.Google Scholar
24.James, Arthur E.Chester County Clocks and Their Makers. West Chester, Pennsylvania: D. Edwards Biehu, 1942.Google Scholar
25.James, Arthur E.The Potters and Potteries of Chester County. West Chester, Pennsylvania: D. Edwards Biehu, 1945.Google Scholar
26.Jerome, Chauncey. History of the American Clock Business for the Past Sixty Years. New York, 1860.Google Scholar
27.Johnson, Lawrence A.Over the Counter, Country Storekeeping in America, 1620–1920. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Turtle Co., 1961.Google Scholar
28.LaGrange, Helen. Clipper Ships of America and Great Britain. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1936.Google Scholar
29.Langdon, William Chauncy. Everyday Things in American Life, 1607–1776. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1954.Google Scholar
30.Langdon, William Chauncy. Everyday Things in American Life, 1776–1876. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1941.Google Scholar
31.Mease, James. Picture of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 1831.Google Scholar
32.Meyer, B. H. (ed.). History of Transportation in the United States before 1860. Washington: Carnegie Institution, 1917.Google Scholar
33.Passer, Harold C.The Electrical Manufacturers, 1875–1890. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1953.Google Scholar
34.Ringwalt, J. L.Development of the Transportation of the United States. Philadelphia, 1888.Google Scholar
35.Rittenhouse, Jack D.American Horse Drawn Vehicles. Los Angeles: The Author, 1953.Google Scholar
36.Taylor, Bayard. Eldorado, or Adventures in the Path of Empire. (Reprinted, with Introduction by Robert Glass Clelland.) New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1949.Google Scholar
37.Thurston, Robert H.History of the Growth of the Steam Engine. New York, 1886.Google Scholar
38.Weeks, Lyman Horace. History of Paper Manufacturing in the U. S. 1690–1916. New York: Lockwood Trade Journal Company, 1916.Google Scholar
39.White, George S.Memoir of Samuel Slater (2d edition.) Philadelphia: 1836.Google Scholar
1.Atwood, DanielT. Atwood's Country and Suburban Houses. New York, 1882.Google Scholar
2.Beecher, Catherine E., and Stowe, Harriet Beecher. The American Woman's Home. New York, 1870.Google Scholar
3.Bullock, John. The American Cottage Butlder, a Series of Designs from $200 to $20,000. New York, 1854.Google Scholar
4.Chase, A. W.Practical Recipes. Ann Arbor Michigan, 1867. 5. Chase, C. T. A Manual on School Houses and Cottages for the People of the South. 1863.Google Scholar
6.Downing, Andrew Jackson. Designs for Cottage Residences. New York, 1846.Google Scholar
7.Downing, Andrew Jackson. Designs for Cottage Residences. New York, 1857.Google Scholar
8.Downing, Andrew Jackson. Rural Essays. New York, 1853.Google Scholar
9.Downing, Andrew Jackson. The Architecture of Country Houses. New York, 1851.Google Scholar
10.Dwyer, C. P.Economic Cottage Builder. New York, 1856.Google Scholar
11.Field, M.City Architecture; on Designs for Houses, Stores, Hotels. New York, 1853.Google Scholar
12.Force, William Queron. The Builder's Guide, 1820–1880. Washington, 1851.Google Scholar
13.Holly, Henry Hudson. Holly's Country Seats. New York, 1863.Google Scholar
14.Hussey, F. C.Home Building, New York to San Francisco. New York, 1875.Google Scholar
15.Palliser, Palliser & Co., Architects. Palliser's Model Homes. Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1878.Google Scholar
16.Riddell, JohnArchitectural Designs for Model Country Residences. Philadelphia, 1864.Google Scholar
17.Sloan, Samuel. The Model Architect. Philadelphia, 1854.Google Scholar
18.Spitzli, Alfred. A Manual for Managers, Designers, Weavers. West Troy, New York; 1881.Google Scholar
19.Wheeler, Gervaise. Homes for the People. New York, 1867.Google Scholar
20.Wheeler, Gervaise. Rural Homes. New Orleans, 1854.Google Scholar
21.Woodward, George E. and Wheeler, F. W.. Woodward's Country Houses. New York, 1865.Google Scholar
1.American Agriculturist. New York, 1857.Google Scholar
2.American Farmer. Baltimore, 1824.Google Scholar
3.Atwater, W. W.The Vermont Directory and Commercial Almanac for 1860. Rutland, Vermont, 1860.Google Scholar
4.Americana Review, “American Advertising, 1800–1900.” Scotia, New York: Myron Johnson, n.d.Google Scholar
5.Americana Review, “Locomotive Advertising.” Scotia, New York: Myron Johnson, n.d.Google Scholar
6.Antiques Magazine. New York: 1946–1950.Google Scholar
7.Compiler's List, A Visiting and Shopping Directory. New York, 1880.Google Scholar
8.Cultivator (later, The Country Gentleman). Albany, New York, 1834–36, 1838–41.Google Scholar
9.Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly. New York: 1857–1866.Google Scholar
10.Godey's Magazine. New York: 1830, 1856–59.Google Scholar
11.Harper's Illustrated Weekly. Boston: 1857–90.Google Scholar
12.Holley, O. L.New York State Register for 1843. Albany, 1843.Google Scholar
13.Norton's Literary Register. New York, 1852, 1853.Google Scholar
14.Paxton's Philadelphia Directory and Register. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
15.Philadelphia Almanac and General Business Directory for the Year 1848. Philadelphia, 1848.Google Scholar
16.Scientific American. New York, 1857–59.Google Scholar
17.Williams, Edwin. New York Annual Register for the Year of Our Lord 1830. New York, 1831. Ibid, for 1834, 1836, 1837.Google Scholar
1.Atwater Kent Museum, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
2.Deerfield Historical Museum, Deerfield, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
3.Franklin Institute, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
4.Hagley Museum, Wilmington.Google Scholar
5.Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
6.Smithsonian Institution, Washington.Google Scholar
7.Walker Museum, Fairlee, Vermont.Google Scholar
1.Cambridge Scientific Instrument Co., Circular and Price List. Cambridge, 1882.Google Scholar
2.Codman and Shurtleff, Illustrated Catalog of Surgical and Dental Instruments. Boston, 1859.Google Scholar
3.Morris Fund Collection (in the Library of the Franklin Institute). Hardware, locomotives, machinery, mills, pumps, steam engines, waterwheels, windmills.Google Scholar
4.Pike's Illustrated Catalog of Optical, Mathematical and Philosophical Instruments. New York, 1848, 1856.Google Scholar
5.Queen, James W. & Co., Catalog of Mathematical, Optical, Philosophical and School Apparatus and Furnishings. Philadelphia, 1856, 1868, 1871, 1878, and 1882.Google Scholar
6.Sargent & Company, Illustrated Catalog of Hardware. New York & New Haven, 1880.Google Scholar
7.Seeley Brothers, The Averill Paint Catalog. New York, Boston, Chicago, 1882.Google Scholar
8.Spitzli, A. and A. F., An Illustrated Catalog of Instruments. Troy, New York, 1881.Google Scholar
1.Brown and Sharpe Co., sales records (Purdue University), 1869–99.Google Scholar
2.Irving, J. Washington, and Leiper, B. M., account books, 1863–99.Google Scholar
3.Lippincott and Company, account books, 1809–19, 1880–85.Google Scholar
4.Krauss, J., farm account books, 1810–15.Google Scholar
5.Pennsylvania General Hospital, day books, 1809–40.Google Scholar
6.Trotter, Nathan, and Company, account books (Baker Library, Harvard University), 1821–60.Google Scholar
7.Westown School, account books, 1833.Google Scholar
8.Wetherill and Brother, account books, 1809, 1830–60.Google Scholar