Does anyone remember the Sheiks?

[GOLDEN OLDIE]

Can anyone remember in the 50s there were some door to door salesmen who seemed to be Sheikhs with turbans on?

They would sell men's socks and pants from a suitcase and would give you a free gift of an ivory scarab?

[rubydazzler]

I remember the Indian pedlars. I doubt they were sheikhs but our one never gave out ivory scarabs either. He used to come round once or twice a year, similarly the French onion seller and the knive sharpening man, and the gypsies selling the flowers made from wood shavings and privet twig. Why was life in the 50s so much more varied and interesting than it is today?

 

I used to love standing at my mother's side when he opened the big leather suitcase on the back step ... it was full of pretty things ... mmmm, shiny!! No socks!

 

I think there's an old thread about it somewhere in the archives.

[DUFFEMS]

Now, before anyone starts a thread about pc'ism, this was in the 1950's when we all said what we thought and, bear in mind, we were all naive having never seen anyone other than Sheffielders. In the terraced yards where we lived people used to say, "The Arabs are here, get inside". This was a signal for everyone to go indoors and not answer the door as these "turban-headed" chaps were quite ruthless in their selling tactics to lone mums.

They had suitcases full of really gawdy coloured nighties/socks/blouses etc. in bright luminous colours such as pink, lime greeen, yellow just like the Teddy Boy socks of the era.

[Plain Talker]

I wonder if they could have been "Sikhs"?

[Steptoad]

I remember gypsies coming around in the 70's trying to sell us flowers freshly picked from our own garden.

[Plain Talker]

I remember a salesman coming to our door with a suitcase full of trantlements, I can't remember the name of the company, but they sold things like kitchen paraphernalia (trantlements) one thing I particularly remember was a leaf shaped thiong that was in cream plastic. I think it was a pot rest or something.

[jeffk]

could the name of the firm be betterware if so they are still going to this day

[mh01]

I remember a salesman coming to our door with a suitcase full of trantlements, I can't remember the name of the company, but they sold things like kitchen paraphernalia (trantlements) one thing I particularly remember was a leaf shaped thiong that was in cream plastic. I think it was a pot rest or something.

would that be thing or thong pt?

[Plain Talker]

would that be thing or thong pt?

 

thing, definitely... Thing! lol

 

I don't think it was betterware, that's not making any recognitions (though I am willing to be wrong). it wasn't Tupperware either.

[DUFFEMS]

I like the word "trantlements", it covers most things (unlike a thong which doesn't cover much at all really!).