WOW! We all know how the cost of living has spiralled over the years, but how about this?

Scots journalist-writer Gordon Irving, of Glasgow, was surfing the vintage books section of the worldwide web this week when he chanced on a little book "The Devil on Wheels," which tells the story of Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the bicycle inventor, from Dumfriesshire.

It was the same paperback Gordon wrote 54 years ago, published by Dinwiddies of Dumfries, at the then going rate of half-a-crown, the equivalent of two shillings and sixpence, in old LSD money.

Now a leading New York bookshop, Barnes and Noble, - just one copy left - is offering it for the sum of $21.70 (twenty-one dollars, 70 cents U.S.). That's equal to £14, a whopping 112 times its cost back in 1946.

No wonder Irving, an internet addict, is surfing the net for more vintage surprises.

Kirpatrick MacMillan was a blacksmith nicknmamed "The Devil on Wheels". Back in June, 1842, MacMillan sped into Glasgow at 8 m.p.h. and, surrounded by an excited crowd, knocked over a little girl in the Gorbals. He was thrown into jail and released the next day.

The magistrate fined the 29-year-old country lad, the first person in the world to ride on two wheels without touching the ground, a massive five old Scots shillings.

Now, just work out what that fine would be today? I bet they never thought of clamping his devilish machine!

For you internet addicts who want to learn more about the famous Gordon Irving, you can read all about him on our Writers Page!!