Hey Mom, It’s The Fuller Brush Man!

By: John “Butch” Dale

Who was that knocking on the door in the 1950s and 1960s? Well, it’s a good bet that the little fellow dressed in a suit and tie was your friendly door-to-door salesman, and Lord knows there were at least two or three at our house every month of the year! I’ll wager many of you can remember those times when door-to-door salesmen were common.

The salesman who I remember showing up the most was the Fuller Brush man. He was a tiny little fellow, had his hair slicked back, and wore a suit and bowtie…perhaps the father of Pee Wee Herman. He carried a large briefcase, and usually had a couple of larger items under one arm. He was always very friendly, but also very persuasive, especially if my mother was the only one home and my Dad was working in the field or had gone to town. Of course, back in those days most women stayed at home, taking care of the household duties and raising the kids. The Fuller Brush fellow had all sorts of brushes for personal use and for cleaning, and Mom was a “soft touch.” She just couldn’t say no.

There were many other door-to-door salesmen who made regular visits to our house. The Encyclopedia Britannica salesman showed up constantly, even after Mom had turned him down several times. Encyclopedia Britannica was expensive, and Mom became disgusted with that pushy salesman, finally telling him not to show up again. Well, that didn’t work, so the next time he showed up, Dad happened to be home and met him at the door. He informed the salesman in no uncertain language that he had exactly one minute to leave our driveway! That salesman never showed his face again, but Mom couldn’t resist the next encyclopedia salesman…and we owned a new set of World Book encyclopedia in 1961. I will admit that they were quite handy for school assignments.

Another salesman who was successful was the Electrolux sweeper guy. There had already been salesmen trying to sell their vacuums…I think the Hoover and Kirby brands, but my mother had always wanted an Electrolux. One afternoon, the Electrolux guy showed up, carrying a vacuum and attachments. He was quite the salesman, as he demonstrated the sweeper by throwing some dust or dirt on the floor and sweeping it up…and soon Mom owned her first Electrolux sweeper. If I remember correctly, that was the same week she bought a gigantic Bible from another salesman. I think she was hoping that God would forgive her for spending too much for the Electrolux.

Some of the other salesmen who showed up peddled Tupperware, Avon cosmetics, pots and pans, magazines, women’s clothing, and other various products. They were very persuasive, and Mom just could not resist. One time a salesman knocked on the door, and Mom told me to tell him that she was not home… so that’s what I did, “My Mom told me to tell you that she’s not home.” Oh well…..

Through the years, many women entered the workforce to supplement the family’s income. The salesmen knocked on doors, but the housewives were at work. The emergence of large discount stores which carried a large selection of just about everything a person might need, at much lower costs, also spelled the doom of the door-to-door salesman. In the 1970s, women sold Tupperware and Avon, along with other products, to their friends, relatives, and neighbors at “parties” sponsored by the companies and district representatives. There are very few door-to-door salesmen today. Many people, especially in large metropolitan areas, simply will not open their doors to anyone because of the number of shady people and the amount of crime that takes place today. The Fuller Brush company filed for bankruptcy many years ago, and I believe most encyclopedias today are digital. Although many people still enjoy shopping in brick and mortar stores, a large percentage of sales now is done through the Internet. There are still a few door-to-door salesmen today…for instance the Schwan’s man, but most are just a memory of times gone by…a part of the good ol’ days we will likely never see again.

– John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 32 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.