| Author |
Message |
    
David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 195
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 6:00 pm: |       |
I've been doing some reading on Alfred Blanchard, whose occupation the Times gives as "canvasser." Here's my question, which I feel stupid for asking: what is a canvasser? Checking the dictionary, I see that it's a term for pollster.
Does anybody know anything about the term "canvasser" and how it related to the period?
Dave |
Natalie Severn
Sergeant
Username: Severn
Post Number: 32
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2003 - 6:06 pm: | |
David I think its door to door salesman canvassing for business. |
Monty
Inspector
Username: Monty
Post Number: 476
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 6:40 am: | |
Dave,
Could also be someone who works with canvass.
Sails, clothing, painting (both art and domestic), cart coverings, awnings ect.
Monty
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David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 196
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 11:59 am: | |
Natalie and Monty, thanks for the feedback.
Monty, I also had the impression that canvassing had something to do with ships as well, like sail repair. But I was unable to find it used in connection with sailing, only with peddling and other door to door activity, as Natalie suggests. But they're 21st century American references, and I wasn't sure if the word had a different meaning in 19th century England.
Another thing to consider is that in 1888, Blanchard was living in Handsworth near Birmingham, which is where he was charged--this area is in the Midlands, a land-locked area? It seems like an unlikely abode for someone dealing in the sailing trade. For what it's worth, there are two Handsworths I found, but the other is near Sheffield and also not a port town.
Another term I've found in the census is "hardware traveller," which I also take to mean a peddler. Does it mean something different to either of you (or anybody)?
Natalie and Monty, thanks again--it's helpful to bounce questions around.
Best,
Dave
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John Savage
Detective Sergeant
Username: Johnsavage
Post Number: 124
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 12:23 pm: | |
Hi Monty/Dave
I think if this man had been employed in the shipping industry he would more likely be reffered to as a sailmaker. Hardware traveller, I would take to mean someone employed by a wholesaler to travel around retail shops selling the wears of the wholesaler. Today called a sales rep.
Regards,
John Savage |
David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 197
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 12:37 pm: | |
Thanks, John
So "hardware travellers," "commercial travellers," and "canvassers" are all similar professions. This is helpful information.
Cheers,
Dave |
Robert Charles Linford
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Robert
Post Number: 1486
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 05, 2003 - 1:30 pm: | |
Hi Dave
http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/agents/case11.html gives some amusing info about US canvassers of that period.
Robert |
David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 200
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 06, 2003 - 12:06 pm: | |
Thanks very much, Robert!
Dave |
Monty
Inspector
Username: Monty
Post Number: 477
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 4:04 am: | |
David,
Handsworth, Birmingham is the more commonly known one and it is indeed landlocked.
Its interesting to note that whilst it is landlocked Birmingham had/has an intricate system of canals and waterways. More than Venice I believe.
For what its worth.
Monty
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David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 201
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 9:24 am: | |
Hi, Monty
Thanks for that--I'm picturing gondolas now
Does anybody know a source I can check to see if an election was held in the Handsworth/Birmingham in late 1888? I know there's got to be something out there, but I haven't been able to find it.
I know that the Local Government Act had been passed earlier that year and wondered if there was a reason for a political canvasser to have been in the area. Just trying to narrow down what Blanchard's activities might have been--commercial or political (he seems to have been a salesman in 1881).
Dave |
Christopher T George
Inspector
Username: Chrisg
Post Number: 462
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 3:19 pm: | |
Hi, David:
I believe I am right in saying that while "canvasser" might apply to a commercial traveller, the British do often talk about "canvassing" in regard to elections, so you might be on the right track when you ask about possible elections in the Handsworth/Birmingham area in late 1888.
A Rootsweb site on period occupations lists "Canvasser for Photographer" -- in other words, I should think, a man who went round drumming up trade for an itinerant or locally based photographer. It also appears to be the case that the people who collected the census data could be termed "canvassers."
All the best
Chris |
David O'Flaherty
Inspector
Username: Oberlin
Post Number: 202
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 5:07 pm: | |
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the link. Yep, canvassing has a clear political connection, but it seems that a canvasser could have been soliciting for anything or anyone. There are references to 'hardware traveler' and 'commercial traveler' in connection with a couple of Albert Blanchards in the 1881 census. That seems to say he was some sort of sales rep (at least in 1881). But I don't think anything can be ruled out, so I thought it would be helpful to find it if there was a reason for a political canvasser to be in Birmingham at that time.
Strange that a man who implicated himself in the Ripper murders should give such a vague description of his business in Handsworth! Presumably, he was more specific with the authorities.
Cheers,
Dave |
Robert Charles Linford
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Robert
Post Number: 1523
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2003 - 5:50 pm: | |
Hi Dave
"Canvassing" certainly has political connotations. As far as I'm aware, though - not that I'm a great one for politics - the people who knock on folks' doors trying to sell their party's candidate, or the people who push election literature through folks' letterboxes, are local volunteers, being members of their local political parties - though at national level parties do employ PR men and suchlike.
So I just wonder if "political canvasser" would have been something that could have been termed a profession or occupation.
Robert |
Brad McGinnis
Detective Sergeant
Username: Brad
Post Number: 69
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 7:28 am: | |
Hi All,
According to the Webster-Cornwell Dictionary a "Canvasser" is one who applies pigments to a canvase in the style of Post Impressionism. Thought youd like to know...Brad.
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Christopher T George
Inspector
Username: Chrisg
Post Number: 463
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 9:41 am: | |
Hi, Brad
You wouldn't be trying to pull the canvas over our eyes, would you? Whoops, duck! 
All the best
Chris |
