If all else fails, to obtain a price in 1928 dollars, just divide the 2001 price by 10.4. (For our friends in Great Britain, try dividing the 2001 price in pounds by 7.) However, clothing prices were perhaps lower than ours today, while some technologies probably cost more. The cheapest automobiles were probably less expensive.
Here is an online converter that will probably work on your browser. Again, only use it if you can't find a price here.
Do not be frightened by this long list; if you're trying to figure out a price, just use your browser's search function (in the menu) to look for a key word like "shirt" or "earring" and see if it finds anything. If you're still doubtful, just ask me (Julie--or Libby) and I'll let you know if there's a known price or not.
Known prices:
Astrigent ("Zanadu"): $0.75 (source 5)
Bath dusting powder (branded--ie. "Zanadu"; "Yardley"):
$1.00-$1.50 (source 5)
Bath salts: $1.00 (source 5)
Bedsheets: $1.00 (sale; 3-piece set) to $2.75 (4-piece set) (source 6)
Bed spreads: $1.49 to $2.19 (source 6)
Books like Wings, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Chickie,
Sally's Shoulders, and Lindbergh: ThThe Lone Eagle:
$0.79 (source 6)
Boys' (age 3 to 10, approx.) play suits: $0.98 ("Big Chief
play suit") to $1.98 ("Wild West" suit) (source
6)
Boys' (age 3 to 8, approx.) suits: 3 for $1.98 to $1.59 (sailor
suit) (source 6)
Boys' (age 2-12) union suits: 3 for $0.95 (source
6)
Boys' (age 6-16) blouses: 3 for $1.29 (source
6)
Boys' (age 6-16) golf knickers: $1.8_ (last number cut off) (source 6)
Boys' (age 6-16) shirts: $0.59 (source 6)
Boys' (age 6-16) suits: $2.85 to $5.98 (source
6)
Boys' (age 6-16) sweater and pants: $1.98 (source
6)
Boys' (age 6-16) trousers: $1.39 to $2.98
Boys' work shoes: $1.89 (source 6)
Brownie camera: $1.25 (source 3)
Candy bars: Generally $0.05 (source 7)
Children's Oxford shoes: $1.49 (source 6)
Cigarette case, lighter, and holder: $1.00 (sale) (source
6)
Compacts: $1.00 to $1.50 (source 5)
Comforters (for bed): $1.89 to $2.79 (source
6)
Console Radio: $72.50 (source 1)
Curtain set: $0.95 (source 6)
Deodorant powders: $0.33 to $0.63 (source 5)
Earrings (hoop): $0.85 (source 6)
Eastman camera (takes 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 size pictures): $1.00 (sale)
(source 6)
Fabric: Broadcloth: 4 yards for $0.89; Silk: 4 yards for $1.68-$4.95;
Plain Pongee: 4 yards for $0.69; "Tokio crepe": 10 yards
for $1.49 (source 6)
Face cream (jar): $0.75 ("Zanadu") to $1.90 (Marie Earle)
(source 5)
Face powder : $1.00 (source 5)
First-class postage stamp: $0.02 (source
2)
Fountain pen syringe (to fill it): $0.78 (source
6)
Garters: $0.40 (source 4)
Girls' (age 2-6) bloomers (sateen): 3 for $0.69
Girls' (age 2-6) dresses: $0.79 to $1.49 (source
6)
Girls' Mary Jane shoes: $1.49 to $1.69
Girls' (age 3?-6) pants dresses: 2 for $0.95 (source
6)
Girls' (age 6-14) bloomers (sateen): 3 for $0.89
Girls' (age 6-14) dresses: 3 for $1.79 to $1.98 (source
6)
Girls' (age 6-14) poke hat: $0.99 (source 6)
Girls' (age 6-14) union suits: 3 for $0.95 (source
6)
Girls' (age 14-20) dresses: $1.39 to $5.85 (party dress) (source 6)
Hair straightening comb: $0.39 (source 6)
Hair tonic ("Lay Smooth"): $0.29 (source
6)
Holy Bible: $1.00 (sale) (source 6)
Home barber set (scissors, comb, clipper): $1.89 (source
6)
Hot dog: $0.05 or $0.10
Imitation Pearl necklace: $1.00 (sale) (source
6)
Infants' (age 0-2) dress: 3 for $1.00 (source
6)
Infants' (age 0-2) diapers/rubber panties: 2 rubber panties and
6 diapers for $0.98 (source 6)
Infants' "slippers" (patent leather or calf): $0.95
(source 6)
Kotex sanitary napkins: $0.45 for a package of 12 (source 5)
Lavender perfume: $1.00 (source 5)
Lavender water: $1.00 (source 5)
Lipstick ("Zanadu"): $1.00 (source 5)
"Lucky Bank": $1.95 (source 6)
Lunchbox with thermos: $1.39 (source 6)
Men's athletic suit ("Collegiate set"--no-sleeved
shirt and pants with vertical stripes): $1.00 (source
6)
Men's "fancy leather belt": $1.49 (source
6)
Men's hat: $1.00 to $3.00 (felt) to $3.98 (Panama hat) (source
6)
Men's hose (socks): 3 for $0.25 to 3 for 1.00 (silk) (source
6)
Men's pants: $1.00 to $4.69 (jazz pants) (source
6)
Men's pocketwatches: $1.50 to $12.98 (source 6)
Men's pocketwatch chain: $0.89 (source 6)
Men's riding breeches: $1.59 to $2.59 (source
6)
Men's shirt: 2 for $1.65-$4.89 (Ties sometimes included) (source 6)
Men's shoes: $2.98-$4.55 (source 6)
Men's slipper (leather): $1.49 (source 6)
Men's "summer sandals": $2.45 (source
6)
Men's suit: $2.95 (summer suit) to $13.50 (4-piece Broadway sport
outfit) (source 6)
; $15.85 (source 1)
Men's sweater and knickers: $2.98 (source 6)
Men's union suits: 3 for $0.98 to $0.95 (source
6)
Men's work clothes: $0.95 (for overalls or jacket or khaki work
pants) (source 6)
Men's work shoes: $1.98 (source 6)
Men's wristwatch: $3.98 (source 6)
Model T Roadster: About $290.00 (source 4)
Napkins (6) and tablecloth: $1.29 (source 6)
Old English Lavender Soap: $0.35 each ($1.00 for three cakes) (source 5)
Pack of cigarettes: $0.10 (source 4)
Pearl ring: $0.89 (source 6)
Phonograph (portable; hand-cranked): $13.98 (source
6)
Pocketbooks: $1.00 (source 6)
Raccoon coat: $39.50 (source 1)
Razors (Gillette safety razors): $0.35 (2 handles and blades)
to $0.49 (shaving kit with military hair brush, razor and blade,
brush, and tube of cream) (source 6)
Record: $0.39 (source 1)
Rouge ("Zanadu"): $0.50 (source
5)
Salon skin treatment from Marie Earle: $3.50 (source
5)
Sachet: $0.25 (source 5)
Shampoo: $0.15 per cartridge (???) (source 5)
Silk scarf (men's or women's): $1.49 (source
6)
Steak Sandwich $1.25 (source 1)
Subway fare: $0.05
Table set: $1.25 (service for 6) to $2.49 (service for 5, with
napkins and tablecloth) (source 6)
Table cover (oilcloth): $0.89 (source 6)
Talcum powder (branded--ie. "Zanadu"; "Yardley"):
$0.25 to $0.50 (source 5)
Turkish towels: $0.25 to 8 for $1.00 (source 6)
Vanity box ("camera-style"): $2.48
Vanity set: $0.25 (compact case) to $1.89 (10-piece: mirror, brush,
powder case, tooth brush case, rouge case, etc.) (source
6)
"Water-Wave Combs" (for the ideal flapper hairdo;
set of 6): $0.21
Women's aprons: 3 for $0.79 to 2 for $1.00 (source
6)
Women's bandeaus: 3 for $0.39 (source 6)
Women's bloomers: $0.45 to $0.89 (source 6)
Women's chamises: 3 for $1.00 to $0.98 (source
6)
Women's "chic riding habit" (for outdoors-y things;
has knickers and a short-sleeved suit coat): $1.49 (source
6)
Women's coats (summer?): $1.00 ("Coolie" coat) to $3.95
(wool velour) to $4.98 (satin) (source 6)
Women's corslettes (to reduce the appearance of the hips): $0.79
to $1.49 (source 6)
Women's dresses: $1.00 to $6.98 (silk crepe) to $8.98 (silk crepe
for "stout models") (source 6)
Women's hats: $1.00 to $1.98 (source 6)
Women's hose: 4 for $1.00 to $1.98 (source 6)
Women's night gown: 2 for $0.89 to $1.39 (source
6)
Women's pumps: $1.97 ("bargain pump")-$4.39 (source
6)
Women's "sanitary outfit" (goes with/alternative to
Kotex): $0.89
Women's "Sateen Smock": $1.00 (source
6)
Women's slippers: 2 pairs for $0.89 (source 6)
Women's slips: $0.43 to $1.59 (source 6)
Women's shoes in general: $1.00 (sale) to $1.19 to $4.39 (source 6)
Women's union suits: $0.45 to 3 for $1.39
Women's wristwatch: $5.98 (source 6)
Young men's union suits: 2 for $0.69 (source
6)
Source 1: The
Years 1926 to 1928 (PDF)
Source 2: Information
Please: 1928
Source 3: No.
0 Brownie
Source 4: American
Cultural History - Decade 1920-1929
Source 5: Ad*Access
Source 6: The
Costumer's Manifesto: Bernard-Hewitt & Co. Summer 1928 Apparel
Sale Catalog
Source 7: Nearly
everything you wanted to know about Peter Paul