Part 129
_Street-Sellers of Crackers and Detonating-Balls._
55 trays, at 2_s._ each; stock-money for 55 vendors, at 1_s._ 6_d._ each 9 12 6
_Street-Sellers of Lucifer Matches._
200 boxes, at 6_d._ each; stock-money for 200 vendors, at 6_d._ each 10 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Cigar-Lights._
Stock-money for 100 vendors, at 6_d._ each 2 10 0
_Street-Sellers of Gutta-Percha Heads._
30 boxes, at 1_s._ 6_d._ each; stock-money for 30 vendors, at 1_s._ each 3 15 0
_Street-Sellers of Fly-Papers and Beetle-Wafers._
Stock-money for 50 vendors, at 1_s._ each 2 10 0
_Street-Sellers of Poison for Rats._
Stock-money for 25 vendors, at 2_s._ 6_d._ each 3 2 6
MISCELLANEOUS.
_Street-Sellers of Walking-sticks._
Stock-money for 35 vendors, at 5_s._ each 8 15 0
_Street-Sellers of Whips._
Stock-money for 30 vendors, at 15_s._ each 22 10 0
_Street-Sellers of Pipes (Tobacco)._
Stock-money for 4 vendors, at 5_s._ each 1 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Snuff-Boxes, Tobacco-Boxes, &c._
15 stalls, at 4_s._ each; stock-money for 15 vendors, at 10_s._ each 10 10 0
_Street-Sellers of Cigars._
Stock-money for 100 vendors, at 10_s._ each 50 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Sponge._
50 baskets, at 1_s._ each; stock-money for 50 vendors, at 5_s._ each 15 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Wash-Leathers._
Stock-money for 200 vendors, at 2_s._ 6_d._ each 25 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Spectacles and Eye-Glasses._
Stock-money for 35 vendors, at 5_s._ each 8 15 0
_Street-Sellers of Dolls._
20 stalls, at 4_s._ each; 30 baskets, at 3_s._ 6_d._ each; stock-money for 50 vendors, at 10_s._ each 34 5 0
_Street Lot-Sellers._
50 boxes, at 1_s._ 6_d._ each; stock-money for 50 sellers, at 2_s._ 6_d._ each 10 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Roulette Boxes._
2 baskets, at 3_s._ 6_d._; stock-money for 2 vendors, at 1_l._ each 2 7 0
_Street-Sellers of Rhubarb and Spice._
4 boxes, at 6_s._ each; stock-money for 4 vendors, at 10_s._ each 3 4 0
_Rat-Catchers._
20 belts, at 3_s._ 6_d._ each; 25 cages, at 1_s._ each; 25 pair of ferrets, at 2_s._ 6_d._ per pair; keep for 25 pair of ferrets, at 4_d._ per pair weekly 8 5 10
_Street-Sellers of Combs._
50 stalls, at 3_s._ each; 50 boxes, at 3_s._ 6_d._ each; stock-money for 50 vendors, at 2_s._ 6_d._ each 22 10 0
_Street-Sellers of Money-Bags._
Stock-money for 50 vendors, at 2_s._ each 5 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Coat-Studs._
70 boxes, at 1_s._ 6_d._ each, stock-money for 70 vendors, at 2_s._ 6_d._ each 14 0 0 ------------------ Total amount of capital 2,833 13 4
INCOME OF THE STREET-SELLERS OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES.
METAL.
_Street-Sellers of Hardware._
There are at present 100 hardware sellers, trading in London, &c.; half of them, I am assured, may be said to take on an average from 20_s._ to 25_s._, weekly the year through; a quarter take 15_s._, and the remaining quarter from 7_s._ 6_d._ to 10_s._ Calculating an average receipt of 15_s._ each per week, throughout the entire class, men, women, and children, we find there is annually expended in street-sold hardwares 3,900 0 0
_Cheap Johns._
If we calculate that there are 6 “Cheap Johns” in London throughout the year, and that they each take 4_l._ per day for nine months in the year, or 24_l._ per week; this amounts to about 5,000_l._ in nine months. Say that during the winter or the remaining 13 weeks of the year, their receipts are 15_l._ each per week, this amounts to upwards of 1000_l._ additional, thus making a gross annual outlay with these dealers of 6,000 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Cutlery._
Reckoning there are 30 men who are engaged regularly in the sale of cutlery, and that the average takings of each are about 15_s._ weekly, this gives a yearly expenditure in the street-trade of cutlery 1,170 0 0
_Blind Street-Sellers of Tailors’ Needles._
There are now 6 men engaged in selling needles at the several tailors’ shops, and calculating their average daily receipts to be 2_s._ 6_d._ or 15_s._ a week each, we find that the annual takings of the whole are 234 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Metal-Spoons in Publichouses._
From the best information I can arrive at, the number of metal-spoon hawkers is 20, each of whom take upon an average 16_s._ weekly, thus showing a yearly expenditure in the street-sale of spoons of 832 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Jewellery._
I am informed that there are at present 500 persons engaged in the street sale of jewellery, and calculating a weekly profit of 10_s._ 6_d._, and a receipt of 18_s._ per individual, we find expended in the street-trade 23,400
_Street-Sellers of Card-Counters._
If there be, on the year’s average, only two street-sellers disposing of “Jacks” and earning 9_s._ a week,--to earn which the receipts will be about 20_s._,--we find expended in the streets on these trifles annually 104 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Medals._
An intelligent man, familiar with the trade, and who was in the habit of clubbing his stock-money with two others, so that they might buy a gross of medals at a time, calculated that 15 medal-sellers were engaged in the traffic the year through, and earned, upon medals alone, 6_d._ a day each, to clear which they must take 6_s._ 6_d._ weekly, giving a yearly outlay of 253 10 0
_Street-Sellers of Rings and Sovereigns for a Wager._
One of this class, who is “up to all the dodges of the trade,” informed me that there were only 6 men working the rings and sovereigns now in the streets, and that the average takings of each might be about 12_s._ weekly, thus showing a yearly expenditure of 187 4 0
_Street-Sellers of Children’s Gilt Watches._
Calculating that 25 persons now vend watches for twelve weeks in the year and that each clears 8_s._ weekly, taking 24_s._, we find yearly expended in London streets on these toy watches 360 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Tin-Ware._
If we calculate an average receipt, per individual, of 10_s._ weekly: we find, reckoning 100 sellers, a yearly expenditure on tins, bought in the street, of 2,600 0 0
_Swag-Barrowmen._
Calculating that 100 of these traders are, the year round, in London (some are absent all the summer at country fairs, and on any favourable opportunity), and that each takes 2_l._ weekly, we find thus expended in the streets of London, in a year, no less than 10,400 0 0
_Sellers of Dog-Collars, Key-Rings, &c._
Reckoning 12_s._ weekly taken by 12 men, there is expended yearly in the streets upon dog-collars 374 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Tools._
There are at present 40 men engaged in selling tools throughout the metropolis and they each average about 15_s._ weekly. This gives a yearly outlay of 1,560 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Crockery and Glass-Wares._
According to the best calculation there are 380 vendors of crockery and glass-wares, and the average takings of each may be said to amount to 10_s._ weekly, so giving an annual expenditure in the streets of 9,880 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Spar-Ornaments._
In this trade I am informed that there are now 12 men, 9 of whom are assisted by their wives, and that in the summer months there are 18. Their profits are about 15_s._ per week on an average of the whole year. What amount of money may be expended by the public in the street-purchase of “spars” I am unable definitely to state, so much being done in the way of barter; but assuming that there are 14 sellers throughout the year, and that their profits are cent. per cent., there would appear to be laid out in the streets every year on these articles, about 1,000 0 0
_Street-Sellers of China-Ornaments._
There are, I am informed, about 30 persons in this trade. If we calculate the receipts at 10_s._ weekly (a low average considering the success of some of the raffles), we find yearly expended in the streets in these ornamental productions 780 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Stone-Fruit._
Supposing that there are 6 persons selling stone-fruit in the streets through the year, and that each earns 9_s._ weekly (one man said 7_s._ 6_d._ was the limit of his weekly profits), we find 140_l._ received as profit on these articles, and calculating the gains at 33 per cent., an outlay of 420 0 0
TEXTILE.
_Packmen and Duffers, or Hawkers of Soft Wares._
I am told by a London hawker of soft goods that the number of his craft, hawking London and its vicinity, as far as he can judge, is about 120. In this number are included the Irish linen hawkers. I am also informed that the fair trader’s profits amount to about 20 per cent., while those of the not over-particular trader range from 80 to 200 per cent. In a fair way of business it is said the hawker’s takings will amount, upon an average, to 7_l._ or 8_l._ per week; whereas the receipts of the “duffer,” or unfair hawker, will sometimes reach to 50_l._ per week; at 7_l._ per week each, the gross takings will amount to 43,680 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Small Ware, or Tapes, Cottons, Laces, &c._
From the best data at my command, I believe there are not fewer than 500 individuals selling these wares in London. Their weekly receipts do not appear to average more than 6_s._ each, hence the expenditure on these articles will amount to 7,800 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Lace._
100 persons in this trade may be said each to take 10_s._ 6_d._ weekly, the profit being about cent. per cent.; hence the annual sum expended in the streets in lace and similar commodities is 2,730 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Japanned Table-Covers._
Calculating that 15 street-sellers each take 25_s._ weekly the year round--one-half being the profit, including their advantages in bartering and raffling--we find there is expended yearly upon japanned table-covers, bought in the streets 975 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Braces and Belts._
500 brace-sellers are said to clear 5_s._ a week each on those articles alone, and estimating the profit at 33 per cent., it shows a street expenditure of 26,196_l._, and calculating one-eighth less for belts, we find that the annual outlay in the streets on braces and belts is 29,470 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Hose._
A few pairs of women’s stockings are hawked by women, and sold to servant-maids; but the trade in these goods, I am informed, including all classes of sellers--of whom there may be fifty--does not exceed (notwithstanding the universality of the wear) the receipt of 6_s._ weekly per individual, with a profit of from 1_s._ 4_d._ to 2_s._; thus there is an aggregate expenditure yearly of 800 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Waistcoats._
There are sometimes no waistcoat-sellers at all; but generally two, and not unfrequently three. The profits of these men are 1_s._ on a bad, and 2_s._ 6_d._ on a good day. As, at intervals, the street-sellers dispose of a sleeve-waistcoat (waistcoat with sleeves) at from 4_s._ 6_d._ to 6_s._, we may estimate the average earnings in the trade at 5_s._ per market day, or 10_s._ in the week; assuming their profits to be 33 per cent., this shows an annual outlay of 312 0 0
CHEMICAL.
_Street-Sellers of Blacking._
There are at present 230 vendors of blacking in the London streets. 210 of these sell cake and liquid blacking, each taking 6_s._ weekly, while the 20 others “work” the Mews with a superior kind of blacking, taking 15_s._ each; thus there is a yearly expenditure in the sale of blacking in the streets of 4,056 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Black-Lead._
There are, I am informed, 100 to 150 persons selling and hawking black-lead in the streets; it may be estimated that they take 4_s._ each weekly (the adults selling other small articles with the black-lead); thus we find--averaging the number of sellers at 125--that there is expended yearly in the street-sale of this article 1,300 0 0
_Street-Sellers of French Polish._
The French-polish-Sellers, I am assured by a man familiar with the business, take 2_s._ a day each; the 2_s._ leaves a profit of 10_d._ The street expenditure is, therefore (reckoning five regular sellers) annually 156 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Grease-removing Composition._
Calculating that 7 grease-removers carry on the sale of the article 3 days each week, and clear 1_s._ 6_d._ per day, we find a yearly expenditure on this commodity equal to 81 18 0
_Street-Sellers of Plating-Balls._
Reckoning that 4 men are engaged in selling plating-balls 3 days in each week, and that each take 2_s._ a day, we find there is an annual outlay on the sale of this article of 62 8 0
_Street-Sellers of Corn Salve._
Calculating that 8 of these traders take 10_s._ weekly, we find there is expended in the streets on this salve 208 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Glass and China-Cement._
There are at present 4 men vending this article in the streets of London, and if each seller take 5_s._ weekly (of which 4_s._ may be profit), we find there is expended yearly by street customers in this cement 52 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Razor Paste._
Calculating that 6 men “work” the metropolis daily, taking 2_s._ each per day (with 1_s._ 2_d._ profit), we find the amount of the street outlay to be upwards of 187 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Crackers and Detonating-Balls._
I am assured that for a few days last November, from 50 to 60 men and women were selling crackers in the streets. The most intelligent man that I met with, acquainted, as he called it, “with all the ins and outs of the trade,” calculated that during the month of November and at Christmas, 100_l._ at least was expended in the streets in these combustibles, and another 100_l._ at other times of the year, thus giving altogether a yearly outlay of 200 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Lucifer-Matches._
Supposing that each of the 200 traders take, on lucifers alone, but 4_s._ weekly, selling nine dozen (with a profit to the seller of from 1_s._ 9_d._ to 2_s._ 6_d._), we find on lucifer-matches bought in the streets an annual outlay of 2,080 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Cigar-Lights or Fuzees._
It will, I believe, be accurate to state that in the streets there are generally 100 persons subsisting, or endeavouring to subsist, on the sale of fuzees alone. It may be estimated also that each of these traders averages a receipt of 10_d._ a day (with a profit exceeding 6_d._), so that the sum yearly laid out in the streets in this way amounts to 1,300 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Gutta-Percha Heads, &c._
There are at present, I am informed, 30 persons selling gutta-percha heads in the streets, some of them confining their business solely to those articles. Their average receipts, I am assured, do not exceed 5_s._ a week each, for, though some may take 15_s._ a week, others, and generally the stationary head-sellers, do not take 1_s._ The profit to the street retailer is one-third of his receipts. From this calculation it appears, that if the present rate of sale continue, the sum spent yearly in these street toys is 390 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Fly-Papers and Beetle-Wafers._
Last summer, I was informed, there were 50 or 60 persons selling fly-papers and beetle-wafers in the streets; some of them boys, and all of them of the general class of street-sellers, who “take” to any trade for which 1_s._ suffices as capital. Their average earnings may be estimated at 2_s._ 6_d._ a day, about one-half being profit. This gives a street outlay, for a “season” of ten weeks, of 375 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Poison for Rats._
Calculating 25 sellers of rat-poison, and each taking on an average 1_s._ daily for the sale of their article, we find that the sum annually expended upon this commodity amounts to 390 0 0
MISCELLANEOUS.
_Street-Sellers of Walking-Sticks._
For 12 weeks of the year there are, I am told, every day 35 stick-sellers, each taking, on an average, 30_s._ a week (with a profit, individually, of about 12_s._); we find thus that the sum expended yearly in walking-sticks in the streets is 630 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Whips, &c._
Averaging that 30 whip-sellers take 25_s._ each weekly (with profits of from 5_s._ to 10_s._) in London alone, we find that the yearly sum expended in the streets in whips amounts to 1,950 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Pipes (Tobacco)._
If we calculate that 4 persons sell pipes daily the year through, taking each 25_s._ (and clearing 10_s._), we find the yearly sum expended upon the hawkers’ pipes amounts to 260 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Snuff-Boxes, Tobacco-Boxes, &c._
Reckoning that 15 persons trading on snuff and tobacco and cigar-boxes take 18_s._ weekly (clearing 7_s._ or 8_s._), we find the sum thus expended annually amounts to 702 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Cigars._
Reckoning the number of vendors of cigars at 100, and the average takings of each to be 20_s._ weekly, we have a yearly outlay of 5,200 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Sponge._
Calculating, then, that only 50 persons (and so allowing for irregularities in the trade) vend sponge daily, and that each takes 15_s._ weekly,--some taking 25_s._, and others but 5_s._--with about half profit on the whole (the common sponge is often from 200 to 300 per cent. profit), we find the outlay to be 1,950 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Wash-Leather._
There are, I am assured, 100 individuals selling little or nothing else but wash-leather in London (for these traders are found in all the suburbs), and that they respectively take 10_s._ weekly, with a profit of from 4_s._ to 5_s._ There are, also, 100 other persons selling them occasionally, along with other goods, and as they vend the higher-priced articles, they probably receive nearly an equal amount. Hence it would appear that there is annually expended in the streets in this purchase, upwards of 5,000 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Spectacles and Eye-glasses._
It may be estimated, I am assured that there are 35 men who vend these articles daily, taking 15_s._ a week (with a profit of 10_s._), the yearly expenditure being thus 1,365 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Dolls._
There are, at least, at this time of year, when the fairs are coming on, 50 doll-hawkers, who vend nothing else. Say that each of these sell one dozen dolls per day, and that their average price is 4_d._ each; that is just 10_l._ a day, and 60_l._ per week. In the winter time so many are not sold; but I have no doubt that 50_l._’s worth of dolls are sold each week throughout the year by London hawkers alone, hence the annual outlay on street-dolls would be close upon 3,000 0 0
_Street Lot-sellers._
It may be estimated that 50 men carry on this trade. Each of these may take 13_s._ weekly (with a profit of 7_s._ 6_d._), so showing the annual street outlay to be 1,690 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Roulette Tables._
Calculating the 2 sellers of Roulette tables take 30_s._ each weekly, we find the annual outlay amounts to 156 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Rhubarb._
Reckoning 4 street-sellers of rhubarb and spice each taking 18_s._ weekly, we find the sum annually spent in the sale of these articles to be upwards of 187 0 0
_Rat-Catchers._
There are, I am told, 100 rat-catchers resorting, at intervals, to London, but only a fourth of that number can be estimated as carrying on their labours regularly in town; their average earnings, I am assured, do not exceed 15_s._ a week; thus there is a yearly expenditure of 975 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Combs._
From the best information I have gained, there are 50 persons who sell nothing but combs, the average takings of each are 9_s._ a week, showing the yearly outlay in the streets on these articles to be 1,170 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Money-Bags._
There are at present 50 persons consisting of men, women, and children vending money-bags in the streets of London, each taking on an average 1_s._ 6_d._ daily, or 9_s._ per week, and so giving a yearly expenditure of 1,170 0 0
_Street-Sellers of Coat-Studs._
There are, I am informed, no less than 70 persons, consisting of men, women, and children. These, I am told, take upon an average 15_s._ a week each, their usual profits being cent. per cent.; thus we find a yearly outlay on studs bought in the streets of 2,730 0 0 --------------------- Total amount of income £188,189 0 0
ERRATA.