Impulse Purchase

by Marvin T. Jones

In 1949, this 1936 Chevrolet is
about to see the last of T.W. Jones
and his second son, Howard.

During World War II, my father, T.W. Jones, was not allowed to enlist because he was a farmer and even small-land farmers were needed for food production. After finishing in the field for the day, Daddy went in to Cofield to cut hair. Since he was a boy, he always made extra money barbering.

Many farmers prospered while the war was going on. Many had money saved up because they couldn't buy anything (ever heard of a 1944 Chevrolet?). When 1946 came along, the shortages and rationing continued. Delaware Jones, both a friend and distant cousin, had a store for sale and my father bought it. He gave up hair cutting and loaned his chair to a friend who had just returned from Europe.

T.W. Jones General Merchandise started well with the soldiers flooding back into Cofield. Most were friends of T.W. and their new families needed the ever-expanding inventory that Daddy offered. With the shift of production from war to consumer items, the pressure was on for new purchases. A lot of folks had food, but what was wanted most of all were new cars. Less than three months after Pearl Harbor, car manufacturing was halted and now Americans wanted more cars than could be made. In 1947, T.W. put his name on the list at several car dealers for a car.

Two years later, a car dealer in Ahoskie called the store and told Daddy that a new car have arrive and he was on the top of the list. If he still wanted a car he could pay for it the next day. So with the remains of the 1936 Chevrolet that his father-in-law had owned, he appeared at the dealer the next morning. After leaving his name with a clerk at the counter, two men came in, one by one. Both knew each other, and the first one said he heard a new car had just arrived and he was wondering if he could get it. The second man said that he was there for the same reason. A minute later, a salesman came to the floor and called out, "Tupper Jones?"

Businesses then, including T.W. Jones General Merchandise, kept a supply of checkbooks from the two or three banks in the county. Personal checks were practically unknown and a holder of a bank account rarely carried a check in Hertford County. The salesman gave Daddy a blank check who filled out the amount of $1860.18. He was told to return in the late afternoon when the preparations were done.

Around 3pm in the his own store, T.W. started a conversation about cars with one of his friends, McKinley Reid. T.W. highnoted that if he could get a ride to Ahoskie, he'd buy a new Ford right then and there. McKinley, who hadn't seen a new car in a while, widened his eyes a little and said, "If you think you can get one just like that I'd take you. I'd like to see that."

At the dealer, Daddy was told that the undercoating was still damp and he should avoid dirt roads for a few hours. So he should drove the red '49 Ford to Cofield by way of Winton where the whole route was paved. 1958 Olsmobile was the next new car.

McKinley Reid

By 1951, T.W. and Claro Jones had
a '49 Ford, two
sons and a 2 year-old daughter