Lyle, I would also try Ebay; I have purchased many old farm, household, and equipment catalogues, and you can usually find quite a selection from various dates. 

Linda Hylkema, RPA
Santa Clara University

>>> "Lyle E. Browning" <[log in to unmask]> 07/30/10 12:05 PM >>>
I'm working on a set of sites dating from the Reconstruction Era to the early electricity period (1865-1940) in tobacco country. The literature on the subject refers to average incomes per year in various places but never mentions the costs of basics, staples and/or farm machinery. Could someone point me in the direction of compiled information that has staple prices and income figures (cost of a loaf of bread, pound of butter, average yearly income, etc.) for that time period? Also, has anyone compiled farm equipment prices for that time period on a yearly or decade basis?

Thanks in advance,

Lyle Browning, RPA