In 1890 2 to 3 pounds per week was for the best skilled laborer woking 60 to 72 hours weekly.Most of that income would be spent on mere survival, a room or small apartment and 1000 calories per day. Today a skilled worker (if he is employed) in the US, working just 40 hour weeks makes 30 to 45K annually and would have a considerable amount of expendable income if he lived as frugally as his 1890 conterpart. Overall it is really very difficult to compare. I am sure some professions make much more money today than they would in 1890, teachers,scientists,law enforcement etc. Comparing the cost to have Holland build a similar gun today would seem to be the best method.