r/OldSchoolCool • u/dawidlijewski • 1d ago

1980s Successful Polish private farmer, 1980

Post image

Agriculture was never collectivized in communist Poland, so private farms could exist. Those lucky enough to have fertile soil and good market connections could earn very good money through hard work and smart investment decisions. This farmer owns a house, a car, a dishwasher, and a color TV, and could even afford vacations in Hungary.

https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/zmywarka-w-domu-rolnika-dotarlismy-do-bohatera-sesji-zdjeciowej-z-1980-roku-6457768192861825a

1.3k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/MrHydrochoerus 14h ago

A dishwasher?! Man, he must have been the richest private farmer (badylarz) in the whole voyevodship. I don't think I know anyone who has seen a dishwasher in 1980s in Poland, not to mention owning one.

A car and a color TV I get, even vacations abroad, but not a dishwasher.

2

u/Draak80 13h ago

Well, no. Dishwashers were not that expensive, but availability was poor because they were sold for export.

The same goes with Polonez. There were succesful farmers or local entrepreneurs (without political capital) that had western cars (Mercedes were popular) and a summerhouse in Mazury.

2

u/MrHydrochoerus 13h ago

Yeah, I know the problem wasn’t the price, it was the availability plus even being aware of possibility of owning one.

1

u/Draak80 12h ago

Awarness was there, we were not a 3rd world. For example, in Warsaw, you could buy many such secondhand, imported products on Różyckiego or Skra bazaar.

2

u/PolishNibba 12h ago

On Różyckiego you could get anything, even an AK and a bucket of ammo

2

u/Draak80 12h ago

Yes, especially shortly after collapse of Soviet Union.