Born in 1946
Turns 80 in 2026 · 80th birthday gifts
80th birthday gifts for someone born in 1946
1946 Front PageTheir name. The news from their year.Unframed from $51.50Add their name
Their birth chartThe sky as astrology reads it, cast for one birth.Unframed from $51.50
The Years We Were BornThe whole family, together in years.Unframed from $51.50
Our Story timelineTheir life, told in your words.Unframed from $51.50
Front Page: New Zealand edition. The year is filled in; add their name in the editor. “Your name” is a placeholder. Light news is selected. A new keepsake, not an original newspaper.
BACK TO 1946 · New Zealand
A little history to go with their gift.
The University of Pennsylvania revealed ENIAC, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life reached cinemas, and The Best Years of Our Lives examined veterans’ return. The records capture new computing and two films focused on family, work and life after war.
What happened in 1946?
Derby County settled the final after extra time
Derby County beat Charlton Athletic 4-1 after extra time to win the 1946 FA Cup final at Wembley.
The Ashes resumed after wartime interruption
England returned to Australia for the Ashes after the wartime break, and Australia won the 1946-47 contest three matches to nil.
Petra and Betz took Wimbledon singles titles
Yvon Petra won the men's singles, and Pauline Betz claimed the women's title at Wimbledon in 1946.
George Robson won the Indianapolis 500
George Robson won the 1946 Indianapolis 500, the first running of the race since 1941.
Firsts and new ideas
ENIAC made electronic computing public
The University of Pennsylvania revealed ENIAC on 14 February 1946, presenting a room-sized electronic calculator built from thousands of vacuum tubes.
Raytheon patented microwave cooking
A Raytheon patent carried radar-era microwave research toward food preparation, although the large commercial Radarange followed in 1947.
Number ones and music in 1946
Chart positions belong to the country and chart named in each record.
Dolly Parton Was Born In Tennessee
Dolly Parton was born in Tennessee on January 19, 1946, and later became a country music star.
A Zanzibar birth before the Queen legend
Farrokh Bulsara, later known as Freddie Mercury, was born on Zanzibar in 1946.
Prices and everyday money in 1946
New Zealand figures in the money of the time. Units and sources matter: these are not today's prices.
| Item or measure | Then | Unit and source |
|---|---|---|
| Butter (New Zealand reference market) | 1s 6d | per lb. New Zealand Parliament; Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand |
| Bread, 2 lb. loaf | 5¾d per 2 lb. loaf | 2 lb. loaf New Zealand Government; digitised by Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand |
| Milk (fresh), quart | 6¾d per quart | quart New Zealand Government; digitised by Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand |
| Award minimum wage, baker | £6 1s. 8d. | per week; 40 hours National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past archival publication |
Planning the birthday
Someone born in 1946 turns 80 in 2026. Before their birthday they are one year younger. Choose the birth year for the print; add the full date in the editor if you know it.
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