 | OF THE STREET-SELLERS OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES. London Labour and the London Poor, volume 1 |  |
OF THE CHEAP JOHNS, OR STREET HAN-
SELLERS.
This class of street-salesmen, who are perhaps
the largest dealers of all in hardware, are not so
numerous as they were some few years ago — the
Excise Laws, as I have before remarked, having
interfered with their business. The principal
portion of those I have met are Irishmen, who,
notwithstanding, generally "hail" from Shef-
field, and all their sales are effected in an attempt
at the Yorkshire dialect, interspersed, however,
with an unmistakeable brogue. The brogue is
the more apparent when cheap John gets a little
out of temper — if his sales are flat, for instance,
he'll say, "By J — s, I don't belaive you've any
money with you, or that you've lift any at home,
at all, at all. Bad cess to you!"
There are, however, many English cheap
Johns, but few of them are natives of Sheffield
or Birmingham, from which towns they inva-
riably "hail." Their system of selling is to
attract a crowd of persons by an harangue after
the following fashion: "Here I am, the original
cheap John from Sheffield. I've not come here
to get money; not I; I've come here merely
for the good of the public, and to let you see
how you've been imposed upon by a parcel of
pompous shopkeepers, who are not content with
less than 100 per cent. for rubbish. They got
up a petition — which I haven't time to read to
you just now — offering me a large sum of money
to keep away from here. But no, I had too much
friendship for you to consent, and here I am,
cheap John, born without a shirt, one day while
my mother was out, in a haystack; consequently
I've no parish, for the cows eat up mine,
and therefore I've never no fear of going to the
workhouse. I've more money than the parson
of the parish — I've in this cart a cargo of useful
and cheap goods; can supply you with any-
thing, from a needle to an anchor. Nobody can
sell as cheap as me, seeing that I gets all my
goods upon credit, and never means to pay for
them. Now then, what shall we begin with?
Here's a beautiful guard-chain; if it isn't sil-
ver, it's the same colour — I don't say it isn't
silver, nor I don't say it is — in that affair use
your own judgment. Now, in the reg'lar way
of trade, you shall go into any shop in town,
and they will ask you 1l. 18s. 6d. for an article
not half so good, so what will you say for this
splendid chain? Eighteen and sixpence with-
out the pound? What, that's too much! Well,
then say 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10 shillings;
what, none of you give ten shillings for this
beautiful article? See how it improves a man's
appearance" (hanging the chain round his neck).
"Any young man here present wearing this chain
will always be shown into the parlour instead
of the tap-room; into the best pew in church,
when he and — but the advantages the purchaser
of this chain will possess I haven't time to tell.
What! no buyers? Why, what's the matter
with ye? Have you no money, or no brains?
But I'll ruin myself for your sakes. Say 9s.
for this splendid piece of jewellery — 8, 7, 6, 5,
4, 3, 2, 1 — a shilling, will anybody give a shill-
ing? Well, here 11d., 10d., 9d., 8d., 7d., 6½d.,
6d.! Is there ever a buyer at sixpence? Now
I'll ask no more and I'll take no less; sell it or
never sell it." The concluding words are spoken
with peculiar emphasis, and after saying them
the cheap John never takes any lower sum. A
customer perhaps is soon obtained for the guard-
chain, and then the vendor elevates his voice:
"Sold to a very respectable gentleman, with
his mouth between his nose and chin, a most
remarkable circumstance. I believe I've just
one more — this is better than the last; I must
have a shilling for this. Sixpence? To you,
sir. Sold again, to a gentleman worth 30,000l.
a year; only the right owner keeps him out
of it. I believe I've just one more; yes,
here it is; it's brighterer, longerer, strongerer,
and betterer than the last. I must have at
least tenpence for this. Well then, 9, 8, 7, 6;
take this one for a sixpence. Sold again, to
a gentleman, his father's pet and his mother's
joy. Pray, sir, does your mother know you're
out? Well, I don't think I've any more, but
I'll look; yes, here is one more. Now this
is better than all the rest. Sold again, to a
most respectable gentleman, whose mother keeps
a chandler's shop, and whose father turns
the mangle." In this manner the cheap John
continues to sell his guard-chain, until he has
drained his last customer for that particular
commodity. He has always his remark to make
relative to the purchaser. The cheap John
always takes care to receive payment before he
hazards his jokes, which I need scarcely remark
are ready made, and most of them ancient and
worn threadbare, the joint property of the whole
fraternity of cheap Johns. After supplying his
audience with one particular article, he intro-
duces another: "Here is a carving-knife and
fork, none of your wasters, capital buck-horn
handle, manufactured of the best steel, in a
regular workmanlike manner; fit for carving in
the best style, from a sparrow to a bullock. I
don't ask 7s. 6d. for this — although go over to
Mr. — , the ironmonger, and he will have the
impudence to ask you 15s. for a worse article."
(The cheap Johns always make comparisons as
to their own prices and the shopkeepers, and
sometimes mention their names.) "I say 5s.
[Description: 915EAF. Page 327.]
article that'll almost fill your children's bellies
by looking at it, and will always make 1 lb. of
beef go as far as 6 lb. carved by any other knife
and fork. Well, 4s., 3s., 2s., 1s. 11d., 1s. 10d., 1s. 9d., 1s. 8d., 1s. 7d., 18d. I ask no more, nor
I'll take no less." The salesman throughout
his variety of articles indulges in the same jokes,
and holds out the same inducements. I give
a few.
"This is the original teapot" (producing
one), "formerly invented by the Chinese; the
first that ever was imported by those celebrated
people — only two of them came over in three
ships. If I do not sell this to-day, I intend
presenting it to the British Museum or the
Great Exhibition. It is mostly used for making
tea, — sometimes by ladies, for keeping a little
drop on the sly; it is an article constructed
upon scientific principles, considered to require
a lesser quantity of tea to manufacture the
largest quantity of tea-water, than any other
teapot now in use — largely patronised by the
tea-totallers. Now, here's a fine pair of bellows!
Any of you want to raise the wind? This is a
capital opportunity, if you'll try. I'll tell you
how; buy these of me for 3s. 6d., and go and
pawn them for 7s. Will you buy 'em, sir? No!
well, then, you be blowed! Let's see — I said
3s. 6d.; it's too little, but as I have said it, they
must go; well — 3s.," &c. &c. "Capital article
to chastise the children or a drunken husband.
Well, take 'em for 1s. — I ask no more, and I'll
take no less."
These men have several articles which they
sell singly, such as tea-trays, copper kettles,
fire-irons, guns, whips, to all of which they
have some preamble; but their most attractive
lot is a heap of miscellaneous articles: — "I
have here a pair of scissors; I only want half-
a-crown for them. What! you won't give 1s.?
well, I'll add something else. Here's a most
useful article — a knife with eight blades, and
there's not a blade among you all that's more
highly polished. This knife's a case of instru-
ments in addition to the blades; here's a cork-
screw, a button-hook, a file, and a picker. For
this capital knife and first-rate pair of scissors
I ask 1s. Well, well, you've no more con-
science than a lawyer; here's something else
— a pocket-book. This book no gentleman
should be without; it contains a diary for every
day in the week, an almanack, a ready-reckoner,
a tablet for your own memorandums, pockets to
keep your papers, and a splendid pencil with a
silver top. No buyers! I'm astonished; but
I'll add another article. Here's a pocket-comb.
No young man with any sense of decency
should be without a pocket-comb. What looks
worse than to see a man's head in an uproar?
Some of you look as if your hair hadn't seen a
comb for years. Surely I shall get a customer
now. What! no buyers — well I never! Here,
I'll add half-a-dozen of the very best Britannia
metal tea-spoons, and if you don't buy, you
must be spoons yourselves. Why, you perfectly
astonish me! I really believe if I was to offer
all in the shop, myself included, I should not
draw 1s. out of you. Well, I'll try again.
Here, I'll add a dozen of black-lead pencils.
Now, then, look at these articles" — (he spreads
them out, holding them between his fingers to
the best advantage) — "here's a pair of first-
rate scissors, that will almost cut of themselves,
— this valuable knife, which comprises within
itself almost a chest of tools, — a splendid pocket-
book, which must add to the respectability and
consequence of any man who wears it, — a pocket-
comb which possesses the peculiar property of
making the hair curl, and dyeing it any colour
you wish, — a half-dozen spoons, nothing inferior
to silver, and that do not require half the usual
quantity of sugar to sweeten your tea, — and a
dozen beautiful pencils, at least worth the
money I ask for the whole lot. Now, a
reasonable price for these articles would be
at least 10s. 6d.; I'll sell them for 1s. I ask
no more, I'll take no less. Sold again!"
The opposition these men display to each
other, while pursuing their business, is mostly
assumed, for the purpose of attracting a crowd.
Sometimes, when in earnest, their language is
disgusting; and I have seen them, (says an in-
formant), after selling, try and settle their differ-
ences with a game at fisticuffs: but this occurred
but seldom. One of these men had a wife who
used to sell for him, — she was considered to be
the best "chaffer" on the road; not one of them
could stand against her tongue: but her lan-
guage abounded with obscenity. All the "cheap
Johns" were afraid of her.
They never under-sell each other (unless they
get in a real passion); this but seldom happens,
but when it does they are exceedingly bitter
against each other. I cannot state the language
they use, further than that it reaches the very
summit of blackguardism. They have, however,
assumed quarrels, for the purpose of holding a
crowd together, and chaff goes round, intended
to amuse their expected customers.
"He's coming your way to-morrow," they'll
say one of the other, "mind and don't hang
your husbands' shirts to dry, ladies, he's very
lucky at finding things before they're lost; he
sells very cheap, no doubt — but mind, if you
handle any of his wares, he don't make you a
present of a Scotch fiddle for nothing. His
hair looks as if it had been cut with a knife and
fork."
The Irishmen, in these displays, generally
have the best of it; indeed, most of their jokes
have originated with the Irishmen, who complain
of the piracies of other "cheap Johns," for as
soon as the joke is uttered it is the property of
the commonwealth, and not unfrequently used
against the inventor half an hour after its first
appearance.
A few of them are not over particular as to
the respectability of their transactions. I recol-
lect one purchasing a brick at Sheffield; the
brick was packed up in paper, with a knife tied
on the outside, it appeared like a package of
[Description: 915EAF. Page 328.]
John" made out that he bought them as stolen
property; the biter was deservedly bitten. A
few of the fraternity are well-known "Fences,"
and some of them pursue the double calling of
"cheap John" and gambler — keeping gambling
tables at races. However the majority are
hard-working men, who unite untiring industry
with the most indomitable perseverance, for the
laudable purpose of bettering their condition.
I believe the most successful in the line have
worked their way up from nothing, gaining ex-
perience as they proceeded. I have known two
or three start the trade with plenty of stock, but,
wanting the tact, they have soon been knocked
off the road. There is a great deal of judgment
required in knowing the best fairs, and even
when there, as to getting a good stand; and
these matters are to be acquired only by prac-
tice.
In the provinces, and in Scotland, there may
be 100 "cheap Johns," or, as they term them-
selves, "Han-sellers." They are generally a most
persevering body of men, and have frequently
risen from small hawkers of belts, braces, &c.
Their receipts are from 5l. to 30l. per day, their
profits from 20 to 25 per cent.; 20l. is con-
sidered a good day's work; and they can take
about three fairs a week during the summer
months. "I have known many of these men,"
a man well acquainted with them informs me,
"who would walk 20 miles to a fair during the
night, hawk the public-houses the whole of the
day, and start again all night for a fair to be
held 20 miles off upon the following day. I
knew two Irish lads, named — , and I watched
their progress with some interest. Each had
a stock of goods worth a few shillings; and
now each has a wholesale warehouse, — one at
Sheffield, in the cutlery line, and the other at
Birmingham, in general wares."
The goods the han-seller disposes of are mostly
purchased at Sheffield and Birmingham. They
purchase the cheapest goods they can obtain.
Many of the han-sellers have settled in various
parts of England as "swag-shop keepers." There
are two or three in London, I am told, who have
done so; one in the Kent-road, a large concern,
— the others I am not aware of their locality.
Their mode of living while travelling is rather
peculiar. Those who have their caravans, sleep
in them, some with their wives and families; they
have a man, or more generally a boy, to look
after the horse, and other drudgery, and some-
times at a fair, to hawk, or act as a button
(a decoy), to purchase the first lot of goods put
up. This boy is accommodated with a bed made
between the wheels of the cart or wagon, with
some old canvas hung round to keep the weather
out — not the most comfortable quarters, perhaps,
— but, as they say, "it's nothing when you're
used to it." The packing up occurs when
there's no more chance of effecting sales; the
horse is put to, and the caravan proceeds on
the road towards the next town intended to visit.
After a sufficient days' travel, the "cheap
John" looks out for a spot to encamp for the
night. A clear stream of water, and provender
for the horse, are indispensable; or perhaps the
han-seller has visited that part before, and is
aware of the halting-place. After having re-
leased the horse, and secured his fore-feet, so
that he cannot stray, the next process is to look
for some crack (some dry wood to light a fire);
this is the boy's work. He is told not to despoil
hedges, or damage fences: "cheap John" doesn't
wish to offend the farmers; and during his tem-
porary sojourn in the green lanes, he frequently
has some friendly chat with the yeomen and
their servants, sometimes disposes of goods, and
often barters for a piece of fat bacon or potatoes.
A fire is lighted between the shafts of the cart,
— a stick placed across, upon which is suspended
the cookery utensil. When the meal is con-
cluded, the parties retire to bed, — the master
within the caravan, and the boy to his chamber
between the wheels. Sometimes they breakfast
before they proceed on their journey; at other
times they travel a few miles first.
Those who have children bring them up in
such a manner as may be imagined con-
sidering their itinerant life: but there are very
few who have families travelling with them;
though in most cases a wife; generally the
children of the "cheap John" are stationary,
either out at nurse or with relatives.
Some of the "cheap Johns" have wagons
upon four wheels, others have carts; but both
are fitted up with a wooden roof. The proprie-
tor invariably sleeps within his portable house,
both for the protection of his property and also
upon the score of economy. The vans with
four wheels answer all the purposes of a habi-
tation. The furniture consists of a bed placed
upon boxes, containing the stock in trade. The
bed extends the whole width of the vehicle,
about 6 ft. 6 in., and many generally extend about
5 ft. into the body of the van, and occupies the
farthest end of the machine from the door, —
which door opens out upon the horse. The
four-wheeled vans are 12 ft. long, and the two-
wheeled carts 9 ft. During business hours the
whole of the articles most likely to be wanted
are spread out upon the bed, and the assistant
(either the wife or a boy) hands them out as the
salesman may require them. The furniture, in
addition to the bed, is very scarce; indeed they
are very much averse to carry more than is really
necessary. The pail, the horse takes his corn and
beans from (I don't know why, but they never
use nose-bags,) serves the purpose of a wash-
hand basin or a washing-tub. It is generally
painted the same colour as the van, with the
initials of the proprietor painted upon it, and,
when travelling, hangs upon a hook under the
machine. They mostly begin with a two-
wheeled machine, and if successful a four-
wheeler follows. The tables and chairs are the
boxes in which the goods are packed. A tea-
kettle and saucepan, and as few delf articles
as possible, and corner-cupboard, and these
comprise the whole of the furniture of the van.
[Description: 915EAF. Page 329.]
fire-place similar to those the captains of ships
have in their cabins, but in the two-wheeled
carts fire-places are dispensed with. These are
mostly brass ones, and are kept very bright;
for the "cheap Johns" are proud of their van
and its contents. They are always gaudily
painted, sometimes expensively; indeed they
are most expensive articles, and cost from 80l. to 120l. The principal person for making
these machines is a Mr. Davidson of Leeds.
The showman's caravans are still more ex-
pensive; the last purchased by the late Mr.
Wombwell cost more than 300l., and is really a
curiosity. He termed it, as all showmen do
— the living wagon; viz. to live in — it has par-
lour and kitchen, and is fitted up most hand-
somely; its exterior presents the appearance of
a first-class railway-carriage. The front exterior
of the van during the trading operations of the
"cheap Johns," is hung round with guns, saws,
tea-trays, bridles, whips, centre-bits, and other
articles, displayed to the best advantage. The
name of the proprietor is always prominently
displayed along the whole side of the vehicle,
added to which is a signification that he is a
wholesale hardwareman, from Sheffield, York-
shire, or Birmingham, Warwickshire, and some-
times an extra announcement.
"The original cheap John."
I do not know any class of men who are
more fond of the good things of this life than
"cheap John;" his dinner, during a fair, is
generally eaten upon the platform outside his
van, where he disposes of his wares, and inva-
riably consists of a joint of baked meat and
potatoes — that is where they can get a dinner
baked. As little time as possible is occupied
in eating, especially if trade is good. At a hill
fair (that is where the fair is held upon a hill
away from a town), a fire is made behind the
cart, the pot is suspended upon three sticks,
and dinner prepared in the usual camp
fashion. The wife or boy superintends this.
Tea and coffee also generally find their way to
their table; and if there's no cold meat a plentiful
supply of bacon, beef-steaks, eggs, or some-
thing in the shape of a relish, seem to be with
"cheap John" indispensable. His man or
boy (if John is unmarried) appears to be upon
an equality with the master in the eating depart-
ment; he is not allowanced, neither has he to
wait until his superior has finished. Get it over
as quick as you can seems to be the chief ob-
ject. Perhaps from the circumstance of their
selling guns, and consequently always having
such implements in their possession, these men,
when they have time on their hands, are fond of
the sports of the field, and many a hare finds
its way into the camp-kettle of "cheap John."
I need not say that they practise this sport with
but little respectful feeling towards the Game-
laws; but they are careful when indulging in
such amusement, and I never heard of one get-
ting into a hobble.
During the winter (since the "cheap John"
has been obliged to become a licensed auc-
tioneer), some of them take shops and sell their
goods by auction, or get up mock-auctions. I
have been told by them that sometimes its a
better game than "han-selling."
The commencement of the "cheap John's"
season is at Lynn in Norfolk; there is a mart
there commencing 14th February, it continues
fourteen days. After this, there is Wisbeach,
Spalding, Grantham, and other marts in Nor-
folk and Lincolnshire; which bring them up to
Easter. At Easter there are many fairs — Man-
chester, Knott Mill, Blackburn, Darlington,
Newcastle, &c., &c. The "cheap Johns" then
disperse themselves through different parts of
the country. Hill-fairs are considered the best;
that is cattle-fairs, where there are plenty of
farmers and country people. Hirings for ser-
vants are next to them. It may appear curious,
but Sheffield and Birmingham fairs are two of
the best for the "cheap John's" business in
England. There are two fairs at each place
during the year. Sheffield, at Whitsuntide and
November; Birmingham, Whitsuntide and
September. Nottingham, Derby, Leeds, New-
castle, Bristol, Glasgow — in fact, where the
greatest population is, the chances for business
are considered the best, and if I may judge
from the number of traders in this line, who
attend the largest towns, I shonld say they suc-
ceed better than in smaller towns.
If we calculate that there are 100 "cheap
Johns" in London and in the country, and they
are more or less itinerant, and that they each
take 4l. per day for nine months in the year, or
24l. per week; this amounts to 2,400l. per week,
or about 90,000l. in nine months. Supposing
their profits to be 20 per cent., it would leave
18,000l. clear income. Say that during the
winter there are seventy-five following the busi-
ness, and that their receipts amount to 15l. each
per week, this amounts to 3,500l. additional;
and, at the rate of 20 per cent. profit, comes
to 700l., — making throughout the year the
profits of the 100 "cheap Johns" 25,000l., or
250l. a man.
The "cheap Johns" seldom frequent the
crowded thoroughfares of London. Their usual
pitches in the metropolis are, King's-cross, St.
George's-in-the-East, Stepney, round about the
London Docks, Paddington, Kennington, and
such like places.
| OF THE STREET-SELLERS OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES. London Labour and the London Poor, volume 1 | |