The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's WorkPenny, Virginia
General
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work
Penny, Virginia
Women -- Employment
=316. Pens.= The inventor of Prince's Protean pen thinks a lady would do
well to act as agent for the sale of his pens. A man who was agent made
$3,000 a year, but he could not stand such exertion over a year. His pen
is so constructed as to furnish a flow of ink for ten consecutive hours.
It is very convenient in travelling, on account of the ink being in the
case. Physicians would find it very convenient. An agent would receive a
very good allowance; for instance, a $5 pen she would receive for $3;
one style of $4 pen for $2.50, and another style for $2.25. Mr. Snow, of
Hartford, an importer of steel pens, offers to pay $2 a day to all
agents who sell five gross of pens per day, at the list of prices
furnished, and at the same rate for any larger quantity.
=317. Sewing Machines.= H., manufacturer of low-priced sewing machines
in Newburyport, Massachusetts, desires to secure some local and
travelling agents. In his circular he says: "In order to ascertain who
would prove an efficient and reliable agent, we have concluded that each
applicant shall sell thirty days on commission; and after that time, if
he proves as before stated, and prefers it to a commission, we will pay
him a salary of from $30 to $80 a month, according to capabilities, and
travelling expenses. The commission allowed will be thirty-three and one
third per cent, on the machines sold." We know nothing of the merits or
demerits of the machine, but give it as a criterion by which to judge
what sewing-machine agents may expect in the way of remuneration. The
manufacturer of the universal hemmer, which can be attached to any
sewing machine, retails them at $2.50, but to agents a deduction is made
of seventy-five cents. (It probably costs ten cents apiece to make
them.) They require agents to buy what they wish to sell. It being a
cash business, they have few lady agents. Their agents confine
themselves to towns, on account of the time that would be consumed in
travelling through the country. At a manufactory of children's spring
horses, I saw a lady employed to sell the horses and make saddles for
them. Some she stitched by hand, and some quilted and stitched by
machine. She got $6 a week.
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