Before 1930, what are some common things that were sold door to door?

Question

I always think of encyclopedias, life insurance and vacuum cleaners, but what else was sold door to door? Is there any documentation or desciption of what the life of a door-to-door salesman was like in the 1920's?
Thanks a bunch!

And was there any regional variation? I am especially interested in door-to-door selling in the south.

Answer 1

clothing
jewelry
perfumes

Answer 2

In the 20s, people usually had a lotta extra money on their hands, & so salesmen usually catered to demands for household appliances, which back then were a blessing, not a necessity.

They included toaster ovens, ice boxes [the predecessor of the refrigerator], cameras, vacuums, & gimmicks like the "state-of-the-art" meat slicer-dicers & whatnot [there were a LOT of cheap gimmicks back then]. In a way, door-to-door sales were the thing that infomercials replace in our present day! lol

Many things were sold also that catered to women, because they were usually the one to stay home & therefore answer the door, so purfume, cosmetics & all that good stuff is included as well.

Answer 3

Fuller Brush. There is a movie called Door to Door with William Macy. Great movie. Set in the 50s or 60s. Filmed in B.C. I love this movie. Whoops! I forgot Avon, Sarah Coventry{maybe that was later]

Answer 4

Brushes

Answer 5

I'm not sure when Avon started but I know it was around that time.

Avon
Milk (i.e. "the milkman")

That's really all I can think of.

Answer 6

vacuum cleaners--carbolic soap --wooden clothes pegs and candles

Answer 7

cleaners, soaps, chocolates.

RRRR