Necktie Tyler, the Blind Tie Salesman

[Marc Chevalier]

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Back in 1927, a guy calling himself "Necktie Tyler - The Blind Tie Salesman" sent long manila envelopes to thousands of people. In each envelope were four neckties, a stamped address label, and a return envelope.

If you liked the four ties, you could put your payment of $1.25 (cash accepted!) in the return envelope, stick the label on it, and drop it in the mail. If the ties didn't suit you, you could put them all back in the long envelope, reseal it, stick the address label on it, and send it back to Necktie Tyler.

What strikes me about all this is the level of trust and courtesy behind it. Necktie Tyler bet that folks would actually send him the money, or at least the ties. I have the feeling that many of them did ... although at least one didn't, which is why I found a package with the ties and the return envelope. Oh well!

One more thing that Necktie Tyler gave his potential customers: a little card with something called the FLAG CREED. For better or worse, I thought it was worth sharing here:

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Wow, that is interesting. Legally, a person could just keep the ties and not send any payment back to Necktie Tyler. As you said though, I guess he was counting on people to buy them or feel guilty enough to send them back!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

And that's why the envelope shows a picture of him!

 

[Zach R.]

Hmm, did you get all four ties with this(and they aren't pictured) or are those the only two remaining?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I got all four, and gave away two to friends. The fabric is a knit wool jersey.

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[Vladimir Berkov]

It is sort of bizarre to buy ties from someone who is blind. How on earth would he know if the ties looked any good before he mailed them out?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Could it be ... um ... er ... maybe there never really was a Necktie Tyler? Perish the thought! :whistling

 

[Mike in Seattle]

And let me guess...you know all this because you & the previous residents of your house have been getting nasty letters for the last 97 years dunning them for the buck and a quarter, and the postal service just delivered the ties this week. <grin> And with interest and cost of living adjustments, that would come to...

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Um ... no.

I found the envelope in a dresser drawer at an estate sale. The ties were still in the envelope, which was open. Apparently, the "owner" never even wore them! You'd think he could have dropped them back in the mail.


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[J.B.]

Interesting story about an obscure "character" from the past!

Great stuff!

 

[Fostersmom]

I know this thread is several years old but I just did a Google search for "The Blind Tie Salesman" and this came up! I have that envelope with the ties in it; it was my Grandfather's! I don't know how many ties are in it as I will not open the envelope, any further than it already is, to find out. The only reason that I can tell for it to be open is from age and the glue on the seam letting go! I thank you for a bit more history on this and about the "Flag Creed" card that I found!! Now to do even more research on this!!