JULY 17, 1940

WEDNESDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1940
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $8,324,276 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $0.30
Median_Home_Price: $4,000.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.18
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.09
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $0.30
First_Class_Stamp: $0.03
Milk_Price_Avg: $0.55
Top Movies From 1940
1 Boom Town
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Boom Town
2 The Great Dictator
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The Great Dictator
3 Rebecca
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Rebecca
4 North West Mounted Police
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North West Mounted Police
5 Strike Up the Band
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Strike Up the Band
6 Northwest Passage
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Northwest Passage
7 Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
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Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
8 The Fighting 69th
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The Fighting 69th
9 Santa Fe Trail
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Santa Fe Trail
10 Kitty Foyle
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Kitty Foyle
The Grapes of Wrath
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The Grapes of Wrath
The Shop Around the Corner
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The Shop Around the Corner
His Girl Friday
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His Girl Friday
Pinocchio
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Pinocchio
Waterloo Bridge
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Waterloo Bridge
Virginia City
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Virginia City
My Favorite Wife
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My Favorite Wife
My Little Chickadee
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My Little Chickadee
Our Town
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Our Town
Boys of the City
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Boys of the City
The Ghost Breakers
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The Ghost Breakers
Dr. Cyclops
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Dr. Cyclops
The Thief of Bagdad
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The Thief of Bagdad
The Mortal Storm
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The Mortal Storm
Too Many Husbands
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Too Many Husbands
The Blue Bird
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The Blue Bird
The Invisible Man Returns
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The Invisible Man Returns
All This, and Heaven Too
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All This, and Heaven Too
Beyond Tomorrow
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Beyond Tomorrow
Road to Singapore
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Road to Singapore
Black Friday
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Black Friday
Gone with the Wind
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Gone with the Wind
Ninotchka
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Ninotchka
Of Mice and Men
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Of Mice and Men
Allegheny Uprising
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Allegheny Uprising
Remember?
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Remember?
A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol
July 17, 1940 Trivia
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The Story of July 17, 1940

On July 17, 1940, British miners made headlines as they voted against a proposal to oust Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who had faced criticism for his appeasement policies towards Nazi Germany.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of July 1940

Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.

1 Photocopier (Xerography)
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Photocopier (Xerography)
2 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Concept
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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Concept
3 Jet Engine Flight Demonstration
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Jet Engine Flight Demonstration
4 Synthetic Detergent
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Synthetic Detergent
5 Mass-Produced Nylon Stockings
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Mass-Produced Nylon Stockings
6 Proximity Fuse
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Proximity Fuse
7 Electronic Fire Control System
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Electronic Fire Control System
8 Polyurethane Foam
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Polyurethane Foam
9 Early Speech Recognition Machine
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Early Speech Recognition Machine
10 Automatic Anti-Lock Brakes Concept
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Automatic Anti-Lock Brakes Concept

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON July 17, 1940

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Miners Reject Ban on Chamberlain. Impact: If the miners had succeeded in ousting Chamberlain, it might have created a domino effect leading to a more aggressive British stance in WWII, possibly altering the outcome of major battles. Perhaps we would have been forced to sing a different tune in history classes!. Fact: Fun fact: Chamberlain is often remembered as the poster boy for 'peace in our time,' which ironically became a phrase used to describe just how wrong he was. Who knew appeasement could be so... popular?.
  • Headline: Italy Claims Gains in Kenya. Impact: This military maneuver might have given Italy a false sense of superiority, leading them to overextend themselves in Africa. Who knew that a 200-mile stretch could stretch their ambitions too thin?. Fact: Despite Italy's claims, the British continued to insist they weren't losing. Perhaps they were just really good at denialβ€”or they had a great PR team!.
  • Headline: PLATFORM IS READY; Full Agreement on the Foreign Policy Plank Is Reached FIRM AGAINST WAR Wheeler Group Satisfied, but Proviso for Private Aid to Allies Is Seen. Impact: This agreement probably set the stage for a lot of diplomatic back-and-forth, leading to tense conversations that would make even the most seasoned negotiators want to pull their hair out. Who knew foreign policy could be a soap opera?. Fact: A firm stance against war... until you realize that 'private aid' is just code for 'we'll send help, but not too much help!'.
  • Headline: CANADIAN IN BRITISH POST; Toronto Mining Leader to Aid in Aircraft Production. Impact: This appointment likely paved the way for a cross-pollination of mining and manufacturing expertise, leading to innovations that would make future aircraft lighter and more efficient. Mining might not be as boring as it seems!. Fact: From mining to aircraft? Who knew one could go from digging in the dirt to soaring through the sky? Talk about career advancement!.
  • Headline: GETS CANADIAN COMMAND; General G.R. Pearkes Succeeds McNaughton as Division Chief. Impact: General Pearkes taking command likely shifted military strategies in the Canadian Active Service Force, which could have influenced several key battles. History has a funny way of choosing leaders.. Fact: General Pearkes: the man, the myth, the legend. Because nothing says leadership like stepping into someone else’s shoes and hoping they fit!.
  • Headline: Marks 40th Year With Bank. Impact: Celebrating 40 years at a bank likely inspired a wave of loyalty and dedication that would make future employees question their own commitment. Or maybe just plan their escape.. Fact: 40 years? That’s impressive! Or terrifying. Depends on whether you enjoy the smell of old money and the sound of pens scratching on paper!.
  • Headline: DR. W.G. HINSDALE, EXPERT ON ESKIMOS; Authority on Their Culture, Who Found Prehistoric Site Near Syracuse, Is Dead PHYSICIAN FOR 54 YEARS Former Member of University Faculty Belonged to the New York State Indian Board. Impact: Dr. Hinsdale's passing marked the end of an era in cultural anthropology, leaving a gap that would take years to fill. His contributions to understanding indigenous cultures will echo through time.. Fact: Dr. Hinsdale was an expert on a culture that continues to be underrepresented. His work reminds us that every story has a voiceβ€”if only we choose to listen..

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1940, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1940
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,941

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)

Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1940
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1940
$0.69
2025 dataset value
$147,887

Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman #1
Batman #1
$2,220,000
Flash Comics #1
Flash Comics #1
$1,500
Green Lantern #1
Green Lantern #1
$150,000
Detective Comics #38
Detective Comics #38
$42,000
All Star Comics #3
All Star Comics #3
$2,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Lone Ranger Frontier Town
Lone Ranger Frontier Town
$150.00
Red Ryder BB Gun
Red Ryder BB Gun
$250.00
Sorry!
Sorry!
$30.00
Paper Dolls
Paper Dolls
$35.00
Microscope Kit
Microscope Kit
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 Card
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 Card
$800
Superman Gum Cards
Superman Gum Cards
$800
G-Men and Heroes of the Law
G-Men and Heroes of the Law
$11.00
1940 War Gum Cards
1940 War Gum Cards
$1,500
1940 Play Ball Baseball Cards
1940 Play Ball Baseball Cards
$3,000