Cigar Salesmen on the Road

 

(National Cigar History Museum) Cigar salesmen were men, generally age 17 to 50. A small percentage of them, perhaps as few as 500 over time, represented giant cigar factories, or their distribution arm.  Tens of thousands of other salesmen represented brokers, jobbers, distributers, wholesalers, and other friendly folks who supply your local retailers with the goods they sell to you.

Many cigar salesmen, with or without their employer’s permission, also sold notions, gum, razors, and the like. Some carried competitor’s goods, under the sure-to-make-a-sale theory. Some salesmen were independents, some on salary, some only on commission. Continued