DÜSSELDORF. 
217 
and by kiosks located in convenient positions in the streets. Potatoes are 
bought by the “ Becher ” (or bowl), a measure containing 6g lb. For fuel the 
working classes use coal and briquettes. Coal is used almost exclusively for 
the cooking-stove ; it is bought either by the pailful, in the case of poor people, 
at a price of 2d. or 3<d. a pail, or by the hundred-weight, in which quantity it 
is delivered in the house at 11 \d. a cwt. For the heating-stove briquettes, 
which cost 10\d. per cwt., are largely used. 
The following were the predominant prices of various articles of common 
use paid by the working classes in October, 1905, and May, 1906. There was 
little change of price in the interval :— 
Predominant price. 
Commodity. 
Coffee ... ... ... per lb. 
Sugar :— 
Loaf ... 
White Granulated 
Bacon :— 
Fat 
Streaky 
Eggs :—■ 
Box per Is. 
Country 
Cheese :— 
Dutch per lb. 
Limburg 
Swiss 
Butter 
Margarine 
Potatoes ... ... ... per 7 lb. 
Flour,Wheaten (Household) ,, 
Bread (Rye) ... ... per 4 lb. 
Milk per quart 
Coal per cwt. 
Paraffin Oil per gallon. 
At October, 1905. 
At May, 1906. 
lid. 
2fd., 3d. 
2# 
9§d. 
lid. 
13 
11 
9|d. to lO^d. 
5&d. 
10£d- to lid. 
Is. 24d. to Is. %\d. 
7|d. 
2\d. to 3d. 
Hid. 
5\d. to öd. 
2$d. 
llid. 
9fd. 
lid. 
2|d., 3d. 
2# 
9|d. 
lid. 
17 
14 
94d. to IQid. 
5&d. 
10fd. to lid. 
Is. 2fd. to Is. 3fd. 
7# 
2|d. to 3d. 
llid. 
5\d. to öd. 
2#d. 
ll^d. to Is Ofd. 
9fd. to 9fd. 
The following comparative statement of prices has been extracted from the 
price lists of a “ multiple ” firm doing a large working-class trade 
Averaqe Retail Prices of certain Commodities in 1879, 1880, 1881, 1905, 1906, 
and 1907. 
Commodity. 
Coffee (roasted) :— 
1st quality 
Ordinary ... 
Wheaten flour :— 
Finest 
Seconds 
Rice :— 
Carolina 
Rangoon ... 
Margarine 
Bacon (smoked) 
Mett sausage (best) 
Cheese :— 
Dutch 
Limburg (common) 
Swiss 
Petroleum 
per lb. 
per 7 lb. 
per lb. 
per gallon 
I 
1879. 1880. 
1*. 7 d. 
9f d. 
la. 7f(7. 
la. Ifd. 
.3f (l. 
2 d, 
8p7. 
6f(7. 
7f(7. 
7f d. 
5 d. 
11 d. 
llid. 
la. 7d. 
Is. 
la. Id, 
la. Ifd. 
3f d. 
2(7. 
8f(7. 
6f(7. 
8\d. 
8f(7. 
5 d. 
Hid. 
1 Id. 
1881. 
la. Id. 
lid. 
la. Id. 
la. 2id. 
3f(7. 
2d, 
7 d. 
6fd. 
8f(7. 
8f(7. 
5 d. 
11 id, 
9f(7. 
1905. ! 1906. 
la. 3fd. 
8f(7. 
la. Ifd, 
10(7. 
3f(7. 
If d. 
S\d. 
8f(7. 
la. 
10f/7. 
l\d. 
la. 
8f(7. 
la. 5id. 
8f(7. 
la. lid. 
11&(7. 
3 Id. 
2d. 
8f(7. 
9^(7. 
9(7. to la. 
10(7. 
5£(7. 
1907. 
la. lid. 
9f¿. 
la. 3p7. 
la. lf(7. 
3f(2. 
2(7. 
It may be added that a system of discounts, corresponding to the 
“ check ” system known in England, exists in connection with the working-class 
trade. With each purchase above 2\d. a ticket is given entitling the buyer to a 
discount of about 5 per cent, when his tickets reach a certain amount, as a rule 
20s. This discount is returned in goods selected by the customer. 
2 E 
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