Ralph's weekly salary of $62.00...

[The Great One]

In the episode "Brother Ralph" Alice reminds Ralph that his $62-a-week salary doesn't go very far. Also, in "Finders Keepers" we learn that Norton's weekly salary is $80. I was wondering if anyone knows if these figures are accurate as to what bus drivers and sewer workers were being paid in the 50's. My thought is that a bus driver would be making more that a sewer worker and that a bus driver's salary would provide for a decent living. I'm no expert so I could be wrong. Can anyone post some info as to what the facts are about this topic?

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by The Great One

In the episode "Brother Ralph" Alice reminds Ralph that his $62-a-week salary doesn't go very far. Also, in "Finders Keepers" we learn that Norton's weekly salary is $80. I was wondering if anyone knows if these figures are accurate as to what bus drivers and sewer workers were being paid in the 50's. My thought is that a bus driver would be making more that a sewer worker and that a bus driver's salary would provide for a decent living. I'm no expert so I could be wrong. Can anyone post some info as to what the facts are about this topic?

Nobody has any info that they could share? I know what I'll do! I'll go ask Ralph about it.

[T-Greg]

I tried to find something online, but came up blank....as far as which paid more, I'd think a bus driver would. I believe sewer worker is considered unskilled, just like a garbage collector. "Leak out?...You're salary couldn't drip out!"

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

....as far as which paid more, I'd think a bus driver would. I believe a sewer worker is considered unskilled, just like a garbage collector.

I feel the same way about it but in the Honeymooners it does state Norton's salary as being bigger than Ralph's which got me wondering how accurate their paychecks are when compared to what bus drivers and sewer workers were actually being paid in the 50's.

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by The Great One

I feel the same way about it but in the Honeymooners it does state Norton's salary as being bigger than Ralph's which got me wondering how accurate their paychecks are when compared to what bus drivers and sewer workers were actually being paid in the 50's.

In the case of Norton and Ralph, it always seemed that Norton got the breaks, and seldom had problems on the job. Ralph always seemed to have some gripe about his job. (1) When to ask for a raise (2) promotions, and being passed over (3) dealing with the aggravation of people on his bus (4) his boss..."that dirty bum"..

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

In the case of Norton and Ralph, it always seemed that Norton got the breaks, and seldom had problems on the job. Ralph always seemed to have some gripe about his job. (1) When to ask for a raise (2) promotions, and being passed over (3) dealing with the aggravation of people on his bus (4) his boss..."that dirty bum"..

You bring up a good point and even Norton's apartment was better than Ralph's.

[Bill S.]

If I'm not mistaken, in some of the earlier Lost Episodes, Ralph's salary was $42.50 a week. I seem to recall that "Your salary couldn't even drip out" joke being used several times.

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

If I'm not mistaken, in some of the earlier Lost Episodes, Ralph's salary was $42.50 a week. I seem to recall that "Your salary couldn't even drip out" joke being used several times.

Talk about slave labor! You can't even fill up your gas tank with $42.50 today.

[powbangzooom]

My nieghbor drove a city bus in NY from 1970-1992. His starting pay was $8.00 per hour. When he left it was $18. He said they currently earn about $25.Check out this website: www.measuringworth.com
It allows you to do "scientific figuring" and play with numbers. As a trade, I would say that a sewer worker would make less money. My father in law works for the city sewer and only makes about $10 per our. And that's a union job. This is in florida, so the wages are probably more in NY.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

Talk about slave labor! You can't even fill up your gas tank with $42.50 today.

LOL! No wonder Ralph always used to say to Alice, "You treat me like a work horse, a slave..."

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by powbangzooom

My nieghbor drove a city bus in NY from 1970-1992. His starting pay was $8.00 per hour. When he left it was $18. He said they currently earn about $25.Check out this website: www.measuringworth.com
It allows you to do "scientific figuring" and play with numbers. As a trade, I would say that a sewer worker would make less money. My father in law works for the city sewer and only makes about $10 per our. And that's a union job. This is in florida, so the wages are probably more in NY.

Thanks for posting your message. This is the kind of information I was looking for.

[powbangzooom]

Check out the lost episode "One Big Happy Family". There is a key discrepancy for Ralph’s income. Base don the numbers given in this episode, I have come to the conclusion that Ralph made $79.69 per week. When he subtracted his deductions of $983.65 from his total earnings he came up with $3160.12. Therefore, he must have made about $2.00 per hour. On a side note, the amount of earnings over $600 is the amount in which you have to file a tax return. I’m not sure what it is today, mat be 12-15k? Let me know what you discover because I am very interested.
Thanks & happy holidays!

[VIDEOWACK]

However, in TV Or Not TV Alice says to Ralph: "Ed Norton makes the same salary you do and you know what they've got?"

[powbangzooom]

I noticed that Norton had 80 dollars cash when they set out to buy the candy store, because he just got paid. That seems strange, didn't they take out taxes first? May be he claimed twelve dependants because of all the 14 accounts he had on time. he he

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by powbangzooom

Check out the lost episode "One Big Happy Family". There is a key discrepancy for Ralph’s income. Base don the numbers given in this episode, I have come to the conclusion that Ralph made $79.69 per week. When he subtracted his deductions of $983.65 from his total earnings he came up with $3160.12. Therefore, he must have made about $2.00 per hour. On a side note, the amount of earnings over $600 is the amount in which you have to file a tax return. I’m not sure what it is today, mat be 12-15k? Let me know what you discover because I am very interested.
Thanks & happy holidays!

There seems to be many discrepancies when it comes to the amount of Ralph and Norton's salary. The writers should have taken greater care in maintaining the facts.