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THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday September 1 1990- Page S No electricity but Flim Flam man sells washing machine If you ever travel up the beautiful Ottawa Valley through Almonte Pakenham Renfrew or Pembroke and you hear my name mentioned don let on you know me Play dumb To the best of my knowledge am not wanted for any criminal of fences parking violations etc but I did gain some notoriety as a flam artist especially around the small town of Cobden Just to put you in the picture sold a farmers wife an electric wr inger washing machine and she didnt have one kilowatt of electric power in the house or barn Until I arrived on the scene she had been using an old Gilson Snowbird gasoline powered model till the arthritis in her knees wouldnt allow her to kick start the old devil I mean the washer of course anymore She was determined to get a machine that all she had to do was flick a switch I was anxious to flick her Bick so to speak Heavens to Betsy the old Gilson Mfg Co in had manufactured a gas model wr inger washing machine for years to serve the vast areas of rural Canada that anxiously awaited the moment when Thomas Edison would say Let there be light Instead of pulling a rope to start the engine like you do on a power lawn mower you just gave the old gas engine pedal a quick downward pump with your foot and put put put the old agitator was agitating swish swish That old Gilson model GP gas powered was an important labor saving appliances on the farm It had washed item of clothing from bloomers to woolen drawers for years and never teredonce She told me with a hefty nudge in the ribs and a cackle that would outdo any rooster it worked bet than her husband Mr didn t seem to appreciate the comparison on the joke When it first arrived brand spanking new and started to put put put it spelled doom for the washboard the bristle brush and the large yellow bar of Comfort soap Wait a second or two till I shut off the put put put and Ill explain how I became known in the Valley as a fast talker and smooth as glass All nine Gilson representatives Acton Legion Bingo is cancelled By SHARRON BARKER Recording Secretary Acton Legion Br 197 Ladies Auxiliary We regret to announce that the last regular Bingo will be held at the Acton Legion Sept Declining attendance over the past few years has meant that we cannot meet the applicable Ontario Lottery requirements that state of the gross income must be distributed to qualifying groups and charities After prize money is awarded we cannot meet this re quirement with the present atten levels even before fixed ex are allowed for We cannot hope to compete with commercially owned Bingo Halls in the area operating days a week With several Acton groups that sponsor at these Bingo Halls in additon to attracting supporting players we cannot hope to compete with the standard of service of by these establishments even by changing our method of opera mat we- Cannot coif WW We thank you for your patronage over the years and good luck fat Stones by W Steamer contest I was pushing for a yes The dealer for Gilson Products in Cobden in those days was Tommy Tommy was a worker From his humble shop he repaired shoes drove the school bus part time was the tombstone maker stocked a variety of farm products in his store from Products to cream separators a washing machine or at that time were employed on a contract basis Each of us received a basic ninety dollars a week plus expenses plus a five per cent overide on everything that was ordered off the territory It was a good job and if you work ed at it you could make a good an nual salary But back to Mrs You must understand I wouldn t normally have sold the lady an electric washer without hydro but the company sales contest was on and I was the rookie wanting to show my company I was a cracker jack The sales manager was Jim Kenrick and he was the type that expected you to knock down doors and produce business I was young I was keen I lived up to his expectations There were several doors that were damaged on my route I might add with an irate dealer hard on my heels My as they call it today was not always understood A smart old successful business guy told me for every no you get Steamer youre that much closer to ayes Great advice just great The company veterans were tak ing book on where I would finish in the contest so I was looking for The years of faithful service given by that old Snowbird had Mrs leaning my way and I needed every sale to win the Tommy would take a fanners note to facilitate a deal Wonderful fellow but a bit hyper when it came to selling He couldnt sell a product because he would become ex asperated and bluntly ask look I busy are you going to buy the blankety blank machine or arent you I supplied the soft soap you might say When the company contest was on it was not uncommon for Tom my to yell into the phone Get up here right away I can sell a freezer to so and so and on and on It got so I would stay over in their spotlessly clean home and start out early the next morning like the old time door to door pedlar loaded with pots pans and even cream separator in the back It made you think of Ma and Pa Kettle on the farm At contest time I didnt mind go ing out with him to sell our pro ducts directly from time to time but primarily my job was to sell to him Tommy was helping me to win The night of the company banquet at the Cutten Club in Guelph I was showered with gifts and a nice che que for coming out on top It was rewarding and gratifying to bear the tough sales manager extol my sales records to the assembled employees and fellow He chided some of the sales to get out in the coming year and find a market create a sale find a tough little old lady with no hydro and sell her an electric washer like Steamerdid The veterans thought I was a flim flam artist in the Valley they knew I was a flim flam man somehow I failed to get the message across the hydro had ar rived at the head of the lane and it was only two or three weeks before power would be installed Only Mrs Jackobowski Tommy and myself seemed to understand NutriSystem added flavour to my life and helped me lose lbs used to crave food all the time and my eating was getting out of control Then I went to Nutrt System They helped me lose all the weight I wanted and I still got all the flavorful food I craved Mouth watering dishes like Mexican Pasta and Chicken Polynesian And desserls like Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes and Chocolate Pudding Now my life taken on a new flavor too It s upbeat and fun And I m loving every minute of it Our Comprehensive Weight Loss Program Will Help Over ONE MILLION Clients IT INCLUDES Safe and effective weight loss Nutritionally balanced meal plans Nutritional supervision No calorie counting OVER 1 700 CENTRES WORLDWIDE weight loss centres SAVE 50 Call Today For A FREE NoObligation Consultation GEORGETOWN OR ANGE VILLE ft 8731900