1934 - 1936 Group of Letters from a Travelling Fine Silverware Salesperson Working for the International Silver Co. Pacific Coast Div. With Accounts in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Utah

(Americana - Manuscript - California - 20th Century Business History)

Published by Not Published, California, 1934

About this Item

Group of 8 letters; sent from silverware salesperson Chauncey G. Nichols to his wife - who is in Great Neck, Long Island NY, at first - and later moves to California - and then back to New York; written from various hotels on their letterhead and in their imprinted envelopes, including the Los Angeles Biltmore, the U.S. Grant in San Diego, the Olympic Hotel in Seattle Washington, the Hotel Benson in Portland Oregon and finally, with the return to the East coast, the Hotel Adelphia in Philadelphia, PA; the first letter containing a 3-page International Silver Co. Pacific Coast Division Route List with day-by-day typed information on Nichols' schedule - date, city, state, which hotels - at which he would be for mailing and telegraphic contact; all the letters very clearly hand-written in ink and of several pages, giving details of the struggle to make sales, earn commissions, names of clients and businesses, appointments and success or failure - this all interspersed with family information - preparing for the move of the family to California - via bus, train or automobile and the pluses and minuses of each mode - money & budgeting, children, pets, great devotion and love between the partners and a few other family details - notice that Nichols give his wife that she should not pack the 'still' - that it was no longer required (Prohibition having been repealed by this time); with a few portrait photographs laid-in; envelopes with postal cancellations, most sent via airmail with stamps intact; some wear and soiling to envelopes; letters and photos in very good condition and an interesting group of business history from the depression era; ".The International Silver Company was formed in 1898 by various independent New England silversmiths that joined themselves together to form a company that became the world's largest manufacturer of silverware.International Silver Company and its factories were active in the whole Meriden-Wallingford area becoming possibly the larger center for silver craftsmanship in the US. The peak of the production was reached in the late 1930s." (from the Silver Collection website information on the company); Barbour, Meriden Silver, Rogers, Wilcox, Forbes, American Silver were all part of this consortium at one time. Seller Inventory # 22838

Bibliographic Details

Title: 1934 - 1936 Group of Letters from a ...

Publisher: Not Published, California

Publication Date: 1934

Binding: Broadside

Condition: Very Good

Edition: Manuscript