THE YEAR 1949: George Orwell's book “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is published. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is established. The Lucky Lady II completes the first non-stop circumnavigation flight on March 2nd after 94 hours and 1 minute. The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb. A 6.75 Richter scale earthquake in Ecuador kills 6000 and destroys 50 towns. RCA Perfects a system for broadcasting color television. The Berlin Blockade officially comes to an end on May 12th, and the airlift ends on September 30th. The First Polaroid camera is sold for $89.95. The Geneva Convention is ratified, providing an agreement on the treatment of prisoners. The first Volkswagen “beetle” is sold in the US. The Federal Republic of Germany is officially founded The world's first commercially available computer The Ferranti Mark 1 is released. The Republic of China / Taiwan on the island of Formosa comes into being. Average Cost of a new house $7,450.00 Average wages per year $2,950.00 Cost of a gallon of gas 17 cents Average Cost of a new car $1,420.00 Minimum Hourly Wage Rate 70 cents per hour