So that is about $3k in todays money you had laying around and could risk. Are you sure you are well attuned what is within the reach of the common man?

It took me a while to save up the money. I had an entry level salary at Boeing, which was an average salary for a newly minted engineer.

I also had an ancient car and a cheap apartment, and didn't spend money on booze.

Average new car prices were $14,000 in 1982. I bought my car for $800. So yeah, I'd say investing $1,000 was well within common man finances.