Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, October 15, 1946. The Golden Age of War Surplus

Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, October 15, 1946. Death of Hermann Göring: On the day of his scheduled execution, Hermann Göring committed suicide with a poison capsule.  He asked for Lutheran last rights beforehand...

Of course, a huge war had just been fought.

Surplus was available at Cooks.

War surplus is a fond memory of my childhood.  I'm sure I've noted that before.  Some World War Two surplus was still around a good twenty years and more after the war, mixed in with later surplus, all of which could be found at the War Surplus store in the Sandbar district of Casper.  Some of it really useful stuff too, like the stuff in the Max Cook's ad. Some, however, like helmets and leggings, not so much.

I cross posted this item over to a Reddit sub, where somebody made this interesting observation:

This makes modern surplus prices seem reasonable (except maybe the wool socks... I love me some wool socks)... left column is 1946 price, right column is 2026 equivalent.

Bausch & Lomb 9x30 binoculars (plus federal tax)	$42.50	$682
U.S. Navy Arctic-style jacket	$10.95	$176
2-in-1 Army sleeping bag	$39.50	$634
Single sleeping bag	$22.50*	$361
Army hunting knife	$3.95	$63
Army surplus hunting boots	$9.45	$152
Pendleton wool shirts	$7.50–$9.25	$120–$149
Wool hunting socks, per pair	$0.70	$11
Pendleton wool blanket	$9.95	$160
Waterproof hunting coat	$11.95	$192
Hunting pants, from	$4.25	$68
Fleece-lined sweat shirt	$1.45	$23
Reversible hunting cap	$1.45	$23
New Army compass	$2.88	$46
Air mattress, 31x72	$20.60	$331

Those prices are really hard to figure.

I still favor, I'd note, a lot of military gear.  I do in part because I'm cheap, and in part, because it's durable.