M-254725-P.H. RICHERT

OK, two in a row! This probably won’t be too long (though I’ve been known to ramble, once I get going.) I will also use a visual aid, a jpeg of the letter that is the inspiration for the post.

This letter is from the Richert Family Collection, a fancy name for all the correspondence that was never thrown out, just passed on to surviving relatives. Most families might have a piece of furniture or another tangible item from previous generations, but we are lucky to have a substantial amount of family correspondence. Unfortunately, the 19th century stuff is mostly in handwritten Old German script and might as well be a CIA code.

But this letter is later and type written. Really just an average day piece of mail answering a query by my great-grandfather. But, it is 85 years old and answers a question that would be asked today. Why did you raise my rates?

Business being business, the answer was simple. You made a claim against the policy. Something you would hear today. Change the date and the amount and this letter could have been sent yesterday. And those are two of the aspects of the letter that I find so fascinating.

The age of the letter is really nothing special. Obviously, many business models that exist today, have their roots going back centuries. Finding a letter less than a hundred years old duplicating a modern practice (rather, proving that what they do today, they did years ago) shouldn’t be a surprise.

But I think it is a great reminder, especially when there is a familial connection. This a snapshot into history, made more real because the players are related and you can put yourself in their place ─ my grandfather wrecked the family car and my great-grandfather’s insurance went up.

The amount is humorous and also a great lesson in inflation. I can’t think of anyone today filing a claim for $21.75, no matter WHAT their deductible policy. Hell, that’s not even enough to cover dinner at T. Applechiligan’s.

Clearly, in 1931, it was enough to make a claim and have the insurance company raise your rates as a result. We often hear about the cost of an apple or what one made in a day. Expenses, and unplanned expenses are also a great insight into inflation and the cost of living in past years.

The letter also shows how we’ve been complaining about our insurance rates for years.