Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: sales

J. M. Trout Owner and operator of fire sand quarries. Also loam beds. Landisville, Penna. G. H. Thomas, western sales agt., Latrobe, Penna. Pluck Print. David Bachman Landis, who designed and printed this business card, wrote about J. M. (Jacob M.) Trout (1858-1935) and his father, Jacob S. Trout, in " Mineral Deposits and Works of the Hempfields ," an artilce that appeared in the Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society , v. 8, no. 8 (June 3, 1904), p. 247: " . . . Jacob S. Trout discovered a valuable bed of silica or 'fire' sand, in 1870. Experiments with this sand demonstrated its superior value in the construction of furnaces and the manufacture of steel and iron. Mr. Trout shortly after opened a large trade for his sand, and regularly shipped from Landisville station many carloads of it to the great works of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, at Steelton, and other steel and iron works in Central Pennsylvania. . . . Since the death of Jacob S. Trout, in the year 1893, his son, J. M. Trout (who resides in the village of Landisville at the present time) has taken up the silica sand business and has been shipping thousands of tons to different iron workers, as far West as Chicago, Ill., and East to Massachusetts." Compare the wiry borders in the design of this card with those used in the return address on an envelope for Charles S. Frantz, Graduate Ophthalmic Optician, Watchmaker, and Jeweler, Lancaster, Pa.

A large sale bill printed by D. B. Landis, Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I believe that the Catherine Baker who held this sale was probably the same person identified as Catharine W. Kauffman Baker (1835-1912). She was the mother of Nora K. Baker Landis (1858-1910), who was the first wife of D. B. Landis. In 1908, Catharine Baker was 73 years old, and she passed away four years later. Public Sale on Saturday, October 17, 1908 The undersigned will sell at public sale, on the premises in the village of Landisville, East Hempfield Township, Lancaster, Co., Pa., the following described household and kitchen furniture, to wit: 1 Bed and bedstead, 2 Bedsteads, bed spring, wardrobe, 2 washstands, large Starling Double heater and pipe, Oil stove, 2 sideboards, organ, centre table, 1-2 doz. chairs, 4 rockers, hall rack, 1 chest, 1 heavy walnut chest, wood chest, refrigerator, bench, quilting frame, mirrors, Brussels, ingrain, hall and stair carpets, stair rods, lamps, chandelier, rubber handle knives and forks, glassware, 2 wash bowls and pitchers, 2 feather ticks, feather bolsters, bed clothing, boxes, baskets, books, fruit jars, lard stand, lantern, ironing stand, iron kettle, brass kettle, pale fence, and a variety of articles not enumerated. Sale to commence at 1 o'clock p.m., on Saturday, October 17th, 1908, when terms and conditions will be made known by Jonas L. Minnich, auct., Henry H. Koser, clerk. Catherine Baker. Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pa.

This vinegar valentine is a postcard that was addressed to H. W. Booser, 13th Street, Harrisburg, Pa. The card was postmarked first in Lewisberry, Pa., and then a second time in Harrisburg, Pa., on Feb. 14, 1908. Although the postcard was sent anonymously with no message or signature, it's possible that the recipient recognized the sender by the postmark or through the handwriting of the address. As it turns out, Harry W. Booser lived at 121 N. 13th Street in Harrisburg, and he worked as a salesman, so the vinegary humor of the card was apparently directed at him. The Salesman His motto is still do or die And he nags you until you must buy. His line is complete And his nerve hard to beat But sometimes he goes on the fly. Signs, etc., in illustration: Office. This is our busy day. Samples. This way out. 85% discount to jobbers. Expense account.

A sale bill for an auction that took place on December 19, 1885, at the Greenawalt House, which was a hotel located in Elizabethtown , Pennsylvania. I like the exclamatory combination of "Cattle and Apples!" Cattles and Apples! Keller & Alwine's Sale. Saturday, Dec. 19, 1885, The undersigned will sell at the Greenawalt House, in the borough of Elizabethtown, a lot of choice cattle, consisting of 10 fresh cows and springers, 10 head dry cows, 7 fine stock bulls, and a few fat cattle. Also a lot of choice apples and a number of sleighs, buggies, etc. 60 days' credit will be given. Sale to commence at 12 o'clock M. Keller & Alwine. H. Waidman, auc. Chronicle Print, Elizabethtown, Pa.

A broadside advertisement by a grocery store owner in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. The "WAR," of course, refers to World War I (1914-1918). War Has Not Advanced the Prices of Our Goods! We can save you money on any small order. Our prices are way down, for cash. We guarantee our goods to be all fresh and right weight. 8 bars Oak, Leaf, Lenox, or Star Soap, .25 10 bars Large Size Soap, .25 Elastic Starch, .09 Cow Brand Soda, per lb., .03 1-2 Barley, per lb., .03 1-2 A No. 1 Early June Peas, Parson Brand, per can, .06 A No. 1 Brand Sweet corn, .07 A No. 1 Brand Tomatoes, .06 1-2 None Such Mince Meat, .09 Roman Sweet Chocolate, lb., .04 1-4 Bird Gravel, per box, .04 Good Brooms, two for .25 Fine Cut Tobacco, per lb., .25 Fresh, Full Cream Cheese always on hand. Look at our prices! Don't you think that it pays you to buy at the Tunkhannock Cash Store? Our shoe department.--Men's, boys', and children's shoes. Also ladies' and misses' shoes, and Oxford ties. We are selling them at bottom prices. And dry goods! Come in and leave your order at our place, and if you cannot come yourself send someone, and we will deliver you our goods for the prices we advertise them at. Remember the place, at the old National Bank Building, Tunkhannock, Pa. Goods delivered to any part of the city, Morris Malkinson, prop'r.

A small sale bill from 1919. Public Sale of Saddler Supplies! The undersigned will sell at public sale at the Franklin House, Schaefferstown, Pa., on Saturday evening, June 28, 1919, the following, to wit: Front gear, collars, hams, halters, bridles, traces, bits, sweat pads, harness pads, fly nets, snaps, rings, buckles, whips, rosetts, hooks, curry combs, halter chains, harness dressing, Holling Shead's Gall Cure, oils, dog collars, scrap leather, and many other articles not mentioned. Sale to commence at 7 o'clock p.m., conditions made known by J. M. Edwards. The Root Job Press, Cocalico, Pa., P.O. at Reinholds Sta., Pa.

"Let me cry your next sale and get the money. My prices are right. J. H. Markle, auctioneer and notary public. Lock box 44, Hanover, Pa. Spangler, 113 Locust St., Hanover. Pa."

"Peter Spath's Livery, Sale, and Exchange Stables. Horses, carriages, and buggies supplied on short notice. Prices reasonable. Office rear of Central Hotel, Dillsburg, Pa. T.C.W." According to an entry on the Find A Grave site, Peter Spath (1840-1920) emigrated from Germany at the age of 16, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1881, and worked as a blacksmith. As his business card (above) indicates, he also ran a stable in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania . The back of Spath's card (below) lists the distances from Dillsburg to other nearby towns in Pennsylvania.

Distance in miles from Dillsburg to other nearby towns in Pennsylvania. For more information, see the front of this business card: Peter Spath's Livery, Sale, and Exchange Stables, Dillsburg, Pa. Table of Distances Franklintown - 2 Big Dam - 4 Bermudian - 6 East Berlin - 14 Clear Spring - 4 Latimore - 8 York Springs - 8 Heidlersburg - 12 Idaville - 13 Biglerville - 18 Bendersville - 18 Churchtown - 6 Boiling Springs - 7 Mt. Holly - 12 Carlisle - 12 Mechanicsburg - 8 Shepherdstown - 5 Lisburn - 12 Lewisberry - 12 Siddonsburg - 5 Rossville - 9 Wellsville - 7 Mt. Top - 5 Dover - 14 York - 22 Mt. Royal - 11 Gettysburg - 22 Harrisburg - 14 Hanover - 22

The front of this advertising trade card for the Desbecker-Block Tailoring Company (above left) depicts a traveling salesman (note the "Samples" case in front of him) who's the "man on the spot" (or at least the man on an oversized playing card). The punning pants piece on the back of the card (above right) was widely circulated in newspapers and magazines as early as 1892. It often appeared under the title, "A Boy's Essay on Pants," with an explanation about an unidentified "boy in Wichita schools" who was "suspended for reading the following essay on 'pants.'" The same pants rant and illustration was also published as a postcard. Desbecker-Block Tailoring Co., Buffalo, N.Y. Tailors to all America. Samples. We've a man on the spot. He takes your measure--we do the rest. You'll find him at the store of J. T. Loucks, local agent, Hvoca, N.Y. (over). Pants are made for men not for women. Women are made for men not for pants. When a man pants for a woman and woman pants for a man they are a pair of pants. Such pants don't last. Pants are like molasses--they are thinner in hot weather and thicker in cold. Men are often mistaken in pants; such mistakes are breeches of promise. There has been much discussion whether pants is singular or plural. Seems to us when men wear pants it is plural and when they don't it is singular. Men go on a tear in their pants and it is all right. When the pants go on a tear it is all wrong. If you want to make pants last make the coat first. (over).

"Hirschl & Bendheim, 419 N. 4th St., St. Louis, Mo., sole agents, 'Missouri Meerschaum,' cob pipes. Manufactured only by H. Tibbe & Son., M'f'g Co. No. 3. No. 7. Patent. Will call about August 31st. Solomon Hirschl." A postal card addressed on the other side to: "Messrs. H. Stern Jr. & Bro., Milwaukee, Wisc." Postmarked: "St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 23, 1893." Solomon Hirschl sent this to announce his sales call in advance of his trip from St. Louis to Milwaukee. This type of "advance card" was typical--see the Cigar History Museum's Salesmen’s Advance Cards for some other interesting examples. A Wikipedia search reveals that the Missouri Meerschaum Company (formerly H. Tibbe & Son) is still in business today and is the "world's oldest and largest manufacturer of corncob pipes."

Original caption: "I am pushing on the lines. Will show you a full line of samples about...." With written additions: "I am pushing on the lines. Will see you about next Saturday if plans pan out O.K. Shall I bring a trunk? Store's not open Sat., so if you come home, come to end of line, [or?] phone from square." A salesman normally would have used a postcard like this to notify potential customers when he'd arrive at their location to show them samples of his merchandise, but instead the sender of this card has altered the message to arrange a time to meet a friend or relative.

"Labor Day Novelties. Picnic needs, auto supplies, and holiday goods. September, 1922." A store sign that advertised special Labor Day sales in 1922.

How can you resist? Send your card in today! "I will start you with this complete selling outfit. Mail this card for full particulars. Get my big surpise offer. . . . Try this business--you run no risk. . . . M. G. Roth, president, Ho-Ro-Co Mfg. Co. Here's your chance to make money--mail this card today."

A vintage real photo postcard advertising a now old-fashioned type of washing machine. "Good Morning, Sir: Do you want to know how to make money? It is easy, if you know how. I made and sold washers for 25 years. Many dealers have made big money with my washer. You failed to do much with it. May I help you? All my experience is at your service and will make money for you. Do you want it? Yours for success, J. H. Knoll, Reading, Pa."

"Looking for an order." Although I don't know for certain, I suspect that this real photo postcard may have been created by a salesman for use in communicating with customers.

"I'll be there soon. And say, I've the best you've seen yet. Wait till I tell you--Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha! How to jinger up your trade. Competition. Samples. A. C. No. 6. Copyright 1907. Published by K-Win, Chicago." Unused "advance card." Salesmen, or "commerical travelers" as they were called in the early twentieth century, sent postcards like this in advance of their trips in order to notify merchants when they expected to arrive in town. They traveled by train with heavy trunks or "sample cases" (like the one that the fellow here is riding on) containing their wares, and many hotels offered "sample rooms" where they could display their merchandise. By the way, I suspect that "jinger up" was intended to sound the same as "ginger up," so a salesman who sent a card like this was offering to liven up or spice up the recipient's business.

"To the keeper of my heart. Price net to agents, twenty for 15 cts. Agents charge 25 cents."