FIRM OF M.O.R.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 791, 11 October 1929, Page 18

FIRM OF M.O.R.

Humour of Wayside Salesman “UNBREAKABLE” NIBS “Here, folks, we have the finest pen-point in the world—guaranteed to last a lifetime if you don't lose it." A plump man, dressed in checked trousers with a many-coloured tie worn in the “profuse” manner usually associated with artists and others of their ilk, addresses the assembled crowd with a pleasant musical voice which has a most pronounced Yankee nasal intonation. He picks up a fountain pen at his elbow, throws it on to the pavement nib first, and regaining it again, scrapes it on

wood and steel, “splits” the nib, and then proceeds to write with it. The crowd looks on half in wonderment, and half in amusement as it perceives that the nib is still un-

damaged. These, and many other amazing feats are being performed daily at the foot of Victoria Street, by the greyhaired man in the type of black hat much worn by American millionaire oil magnates. His table consists of two raised benzine boxes on which is crowded a motley assortment of pens, nibs, carrots, potatoes, rusty tins, rag, paper, and blood-thirsty looking knives. The man with the endless voice explains that his is the firm of M.O.R. and Company—the letters meaning respectively: Mind your own business, own your own business, and run your own business. The demonstrator adds, that although his firm has branches throughout New Zealand, he comprises the staff from managing director down to salesman, typiste and office boy. GENEROUS OFFER Today he made a special offer. He would sell four of the famous nibs for a shilling—the amount which it cost to manufacture one, and as an extra enticement to likely buyers threw in a pencil and holder and penholder, as well. Only one of the bystanders had a shilling, however. He was being generous, he said, because he already had enough money to last him for the rest of his life — if he died before 10 o’clock tonight. The proceeds were being devoted to the deserving poor, that is, his 12 children —four boys, four girls and four others. Next was demonstrated a gyroscopic top—recommended to young and old by the four greatest men in the world —Marconi. Edison, an Australian whose name did not appear in the least familiar, and, lastly, himself. A wonderful diamond steel was produced next, and with this the demonstrator showed how to put an edge on a stainless-steel knife, a butcher’s knife, and a chaffcutter blade. And all for one shilling, as I against two and six for an ordinary j steel! By this time the crowd was beginning to disperse so the “shop” was shut up before the onlookers had found out what the collection of old tins and potato peelings were there for. The M.O.R. Company is an oldestablished firm. Its managing director has been peddling his wares about the country for rpany years now. He covers the whole of the Dominion in about three months, and on -Monday next leaves for the South again.