My grandfather ordered his shells by the case well before the season. He favored 3's and 5's and 7 1/2's. If he had a good year he would order one 3, two 5 and three or four 7 1/2 he told me. If it was a lean year he might have to make due with what carried over, adding a few from the local hardware stores inventory. They came in by rail freight which is ironic because they would ship up a few ducks back on the same railway.
Back in those days the hardware store would break open a box and sell by the shell. Farmers might buy five shells to take a boy hunting. No need to spend too much money on shells for a boy. Times were different and money was tight. My grandmother brought in eggs to the A&P stroe, my aunt brought in butter and either took store credit or got paid cash end of the month by the store. Might have been 12 cents store credit per dozen or 10 cents cash. Again money was tight and there was a fairly active barter system still going on. Most things about the good old days are long forgotten, like long hard days of hard labor and very little cash.
Last edited by KY Jon; 12/28/16 12:34 PM.
