commision traveller

[tjtree]

could anyone tell me what a commission traveller is please

[ITBookworm]

A traveller seems to be an old name for a travelling salesman. I would guess that a commission traveller will be a salesman that is paid a commission on what they sell.

[tjtree]

thank you

[stanmapstone]

Most likely a commercial traveller, who sold goods, or took orders for goods, on production of samples, generally by calling on the consumers as a representative of his/her firm, and worked usually on a commission basis, or on a small salary and commission. They usually operated in particular districts, displaying samples to prospective buyers in their shops.


Stan

[tjtree]

thank you stan I do like to know  what  I can about my ancestors 

[jbml]

Agree with the others.

Essentially there were two types of "travellers" ... those who were paid a salary, and those who were on commission.

In one episode of Dad's Army, there is a scene where Fraser meets Mainwaring's brother in a compartment of a railway carriage. Mainwaring's brother introduces himself as a "traveler" and offers Fraser a pull of his hip flask. When Fraser takes a rather long pull, he grabs it back saying "I'm not travelling in whisky" (in other words "this is my personal supply, not my tasting sample").