Note by James R. Martin, Ph.D., CMA
Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida
Cost Accounting Standards Main |
Government Contracting Main
This is a short discussion of a handy book for taxpayers titled The Pentagon Catalog: Ordinary Products at Extraordinary Prices.1 Some of the items mentioned include:
A $640 toilet seat.
A $37 screw.
A $285 screwdriver.
A $7,622 coffee maker.
A $387 flat washer.
A $469 wrench.
A $214 flashlight.
A $437 tape measure.
A $2,228 monkey wrench.
A $748 pair of duckbill pliers.
A $74,165 aluminum ladder.
A $659 ashtray.
A plain round nut $2,043.
A $240,000,000 airplane.
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1 Cerf, C. and H. Beard. 1986. The Pentagon Catalog: Ordinary Products at Extraordinary Prices. Workman Pub Co.Related summaries:
Mohr, C. 1984. Military price on coffee cited as $7,622. The New York Times (September 20): Section A, p. 27. (Summary).