Alfred Fuller

Alfred Carl Fuller (January 13, 1885 – December 4, 1973) was a Canada-born American businessman who was the original "Fuller Brush Man."

For the British anthropologist, see A. W. F. Fuller.
Alfred Fuller
Born(1885-01-13)January 13, 1885
Welsford, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedDecember 4, 1973(1973-12-04) (aged 88)
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Resting placePleasant Valley Cemetery in Somerset, Nova Scotia
Known forFounder of the Fuller Brush Company

Biography

Fuller was born on an Annapolis Valley farm in Welsford, Kings County, Nova Scotia. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1903 at the age of 18 to live with his sister. He went to work for the Somerville Brush and Mop Company, and became a successful salesman for them.[1] In 1906, with a $75 investment, he started the Fuller Brush Company in Hartford, Connecticut, selling brushes door to door. By 1919, the company had achieved sales of more than $1 million per year.

Fuller Brush went on to be recognized throughout North America, even inspiring two comedy films, The Fuller Brush Man (1948) and The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). In 1961, Fuller recorded the secrets to his success on Folkways Records on an album entitled, Careers in Selling: An Interview with Alfred C. Fuller. The company remained in the Fuller family's hands until 1968, when it was acquired by Sara Lee Corporation.[2]

Fuller died in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1973 and is buried at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Somerset, Nova Scotia.[3]

Personal life

Fuller divorced his wife Evelyn in 1930.[4] He married Mary Pelton in 1932.[5] Fuller maintained a lifelong connection with his native Nova Scotia, buying a home in Yarmouth, where he and his family spent their summers.[6] In 1996, his widow (who had been born in Yarmouth) donated the house, at 20 Collins Street, to the Yarmouth County Museum where it has been restored and is open to the public.[7]

Fuller was initiated to the York Rite of Freemasonry,[8][9][10] till his elevation to the highest degree of Grand Master. He was a major supporter of what is now The Hartt School, University of Hartford. The Fuller Center was built in 1963 on the college campus.

References
  1. Pink, Daniel H. (2012). To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others. Riverhead. pp. 11–13.
  2. Berg, Eric N. (May 18, 1989). "Fuller Brush Tries New Approach". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
  3. Nova Scotia's Electric Scrapbook: Alfred Carl Fuller Memorial from ns1763.ca
  4. "Milestones". Time. November 24, 1930. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202130401/http://yarmouthcountymuseum.ednet.ns.ca/pelton.html
  6. "20 Collins Street [Heritage property documentation]". Town of Yarmouth. Town of Yarmouth. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. "Pelton-Fuller House," "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Famous men members of Masonic Lodges". American Canadian Grand Lodge ACGL. Archived from the original on Nov 17, 2018.
  9. "Famous members of Masonic Lodges". Bavaria Lodge No. 935 A.F. & A. M. Archived from the original on Oct 13, 2018.
  10. "List of Famous Masons in the history". Highland Lodge No 762 F& A. M. Fort Wayne IN. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
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