the oyster discussion has brought a question to mind,
what is the value of a Babbage quatloo, compared to a British Pound ,or a US Dollar in 1880 exchange rates?,
and are there any other denominations of money in New Babbage?
role playing in trade, or economic circles, would be much easer with that information.
We have discussed currency before, actually. But I don’t think Tenk got around to making decisions…
hmmm, so if a quatloo is worth about a pound then in modern excange rates its valued at 66.40 pounds,or if we use modern excange rates, since i cant find a rate for 1880,its worth $1.54Us and about $75 Us at moden value,
suprisingly at an 1880 market value of $2.50US per hundred for premium grade,oysters are not on the menu of most estabelishments in new babbage, even if they were available.
smiles sweetly and blinks dollar sign eyes
In early Victorian times in London, apprenticeship papers had clauses restricting the number of days on which the apprentice could be fed oysters. They were so cheap Masters were using them exclusivly as apprentice food!
Be aware, Tepic and the other urchins sell wonderfully fat mussles in season, while eating smaller ones themselves…….. The larger ones come from inside the Wall in the Clockhaven bay, the smaller ones from the outside of the wall…… Wonder where the sewage outlet is?
I remember a doco with Billy Connolly many years ago discussing life in 17th century Glasgow and how Claret was relatively cheap and of low quality at the time, and that the poor would get oysters out of the Clyde. He was cracking up at the idea that the poor wear eating oysters and drinking claret.
the quote for oyster prices was in the united States, i couldnt find a price in england, which having a conciderably greater coats line to land ratio, no doubt had more shoals available for oyster harvesting, now as to the quality of the oysters that would be the question.
oysters were fast food in era, popular to wrap up a night on the town like we would hit the Taco Bell late night window. when I moved to Norfolk va in 1984, I can remember shells used like gravel in parking lots. not like that anymore, of course.
my info is about oysters imported to san francisco from the east coast , so much like those from Owl Harber to New Babbage
Oysters were used as incentive to buy alcoholic drinks during the 1850’s. With each drink a number of free smoked oysters were provided. At the time, a typical dose for one drink was a gill, or four ounces of alcohol.