Brent wrote;
> So, a top quality mitre saw cost over 3 days wages and about three times as
> much as a jointer.
> 

Your math works out but doesn't take into account that every carpenter
didn't have to buy one. The modern day tailed miter cutting thingie
prolly costs about 3 days wages also. These type of tools are owned by
the contractor not the crew. A 4 to 6 man crew with 2 miter devices per
crew sounds about right then and now. Crew provide their own handtools,
Boss provides the bigger stuff. The more things change, the more they
stay the same.

Tom Corey