cloverine salve and packaging

Kids! Get rich selling Cloverine Salve!

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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

By the time George Wilson Jr. became president of the Wilson Chemical Company in 1937, two generations of Wilsons had perfected the art of what was then a most unusual sales technique. The company recruited young children nationwide via advertisements in comic books and newspapers to sell their White Cloverine Brand Salve door-to-door, stating in the ads that the salesperson could keep a certain amount of the profit or collect premiums listed in a catalog. An attractive offer to rural children in Appalachia during the Depression, when money was scarce to begin with.

'Authorized Agent' pin for White Cloverine Salve

The money raised by selling the heal-all ointment actually went to the adult who recruited the children.

The children, meantime, received points which could be spent on prizes. And oh, were the pictures of those wonderful prizes eye-catching!

One could win yo-yos, dolls, baseball gloves, bats and balls. The more you sold the bigger and better the prize; “Daisy” air rifles, “Radio Flyer” wagons and even bicycles could be won. Through the eyes of that era’s children, this was a great opportunity to get toys they otherwise could not have.

There were plenty of adults who were quite willing to take advantage of that fact, and the children were ripe for the taking. By the mid-1930s 300,000 young salesmen had signed on, endeavoring to sell the salve to anyone with a door on which to knock. To aid sales the company provided its sales force a beautiful 8”x10” religious print to give away with each 25-cent can. In order to handle the large volume of requests for Cloverine, the Wilson plant soon had to open its own postal substation at Cloverine Terrace, near its Tyrone, PA headquarters.

1931 magazine ad pitching kids to sell Cloverine Salve.
1931 magazine ad pitching kids to sell Cloverine Salve.

The lid of Cloverine Salve’s tin container had an art nouveau design motif around the edge with a green four-leaf clover in the center. “Apply freely, and repeat as often as needed for temporary relief of the minor irritations of the skin mentioned below.” The petroleum-gel product promised to remove wrinkles, heal cuts and burns and give your skin a glowing complexion. If you got chapped skin, you rubbed it in, and if you had a cold, you rubbed it on your chest or your nose, and you rubbed it on any sores you had.

In 1967 the Wilson Chemical Company was dealt a crushing blow by the Federal Trade Commission, which decided that the company’s advertising method of luring young salesmen had to stop.

sources: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_717067
http://irvsukelele.blogspot.com/2006/09/on-child-labor-laws.html
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/73842-wilson-chemical-co

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64 comments

  1. When I was 9 or 10 years old and living in Philadelphia,I got into selling Cloverine Salve and really loved it.I liked the religeous pictures we had to give to customers and they really helped sell the salve.I was watching an old Andy Griffith show with my son where the town boys got involved in selling salve.It really brought back memories and I was telling my son about my experience with Cloverine.I decided to research it on my computer and was delighted to see that it is still available.I couldn’t believe it.I’m 81 years old now and the nostalgia was great!If the archives still list your kid salesmen by name,that would be something.I really enjoyed the stories about Appalachia.Thanks for the memories. Bob Garton Sr.

  2. Ah yes, I remember Cloverine salve well, it smelled so good
    and was a cure all for just about all skin problems. I
    cannot believe that they are selling it.. But I am going
    to buy some if I can find a local store that sells it, so
    far I have not been able to find one, not Walgreens or
    Walmart.. Guess I will keep looking.

    Does anyone remember Hadacol..? I used to sell that door to
    door as a kid..They took it off of the market because of
    the alcohol content, I believe…

  3. I was just writing my memories of early “jobs” and decided to find out what I could online about Cloverine Brand Salve. Even though I wasn’t from Appalachia, I was a kid who went door-to-door selling the tins. I had forgotten about the pictures..although I don’t think they were all religious by the ’40’s. What fond memories I have of those innocent days of yearning for “gifts” and the satisfaction of earning them myself. I think my mother actually sold it in the late 20’s/early 30’s.

  4. I sold Cloverine products back in the early 1950s. I had no competition in our area so I had a pretty lucrative business. I received a lot of premiums including a bicycle which my brother promptly stole and sold to a friend for $5.00. My parents made him get the bike back but it had been wrecked by then. I also sold Grit, a newspaper, with lots of tidbits in it, together with voluminous ads. Today, I am almost 70 and have fond memories of my childhood and earning those prizes.

  5. I have never used this salve, but in going thru my mothers belongings I found one of the tins. It has Price 25 cents. Are these tins collectibles and how old would the tin be that sold for 25 cents?

  6. I sold Cloverine Salve door to door during the 1940s summers, while attending elementary school. We lived at the Aluminum City Terrace in New Kensington, Pa. It was a community housing Alcoa Aluminum workers, & still exists today as condos. Ladies would be so excited to see me, saying “Marlene, I hoped you would sell Cloverine again this summer!” I am 73yrs. old & living in CA. In this day of computers, I wondered if I could find any info on Cloverine Salve. Thanks for the prizes & for the memories!

  7. I was born and raised in Geneva, KY. My Grandmother (MaMaw) sold Cloverine Salve and got me my first Telescope, which was made of cardboard. She wanted me to get interested in astronomy so I would be sure and see Haleys Comet when it returned in 1986. Well it worked, I got interested and taught astronomy for some time. In 1986 I had a 11 inch Celestron mounted in a dome in my back yard just outside of Kansas City, KS. When the comet reappeared from it’s journey around the sun, I had seven school buses and twenty or so cars parked on my fifteen acre backyard at 3 am. We had a great time, what wonderful memories, thanks to Cloverine
    Salve which by the way, is one of the great cure-all’s of all time.

  8. I have all the pictures & 12cans of Salve. My Pharmacy ordered the salve for me. Now $3.85 a can

  9. Lots of mistakes in this article. Not sure where this writer got the idea about adults recruiting kids, because he’s wrong. I have a penny postcard and a premium catalog from 1925 right here to prove it. Furthermore, the company paid to advertise in comic books so they could reach kids directly.

  10. My big brother, 14 yrs. old, who probably found the ad in one of his many comic books, sold Cloverine. An easy product to sell, and had repeat customers. He later “won” a pocket watch, and a “Daisy” air rifle, the smaller items in the beginning. I’m amazed that the Cloverine is still available. A real American made product. Just what I prefer…Made in USA. I discovered your article while researching information for my “Family Memories” book in the making. ‘Stuff’ about my brother. Thank you for your article.

  11. I sold the salve in my neighborhood for several summers during the 1950s. I answered an ad in a comic book. I remember getting a fishing rod and reel and a train case. I also remember that the kid’s in neighborhood called it Diane Salve and that the kids in one family would only let their mom use that on their cuts as scrapes as it didn’t burn or sting.

  12. I sold Cloverine Salve door to door in Quaker Hill, CT in the 1950s. My mother called it “bag balm” since my grandparents raised goats and used it on them. I didn’t get rich from it, but always had enough money for popsicles and fireballs.

  13. I sold Cloverine salve when I was 9 & 10 years old in Hovers Orchard (west Wichita Ks.).
    I remember scenic pictures also in the round tube that the salve was shipped in. That was 65 years ago.

  14. I sold Cloverine salve in San Saba, Tx. back in the 50’s. I got a roll (8) of Val-O-Milk candies for selling my order. I signed up to sell them from an ad in a comic book. I was 8 years old and it was my first job. I made a living in sales as an adult and always credited that first experience of selling Cloverine salve door to door as the foundation for my success in sales.

  15. Around 1948-9 I was 6 o years old and went door-to-door selling the salve and Christmas cards. For a 6 year old I did exceptional and had repeat business. I learned to sell myself and I think that was the most valuable of life’s lessons. Today no kid should be permitted to sell as I did because society has allowed America to become unsafe. What a shame.

  16. I remember cloverine salve very well! I sold it when I was in
    the 6th grade.A great product! I agree with Dan Glasgow above.

  17. About 1958, I sold Cloverine to everyone I and my family knew – I really wanted roller skates and I got them! My Grandmother bought a tin(s) and in 1964 used some of it on my field hockey stick shin injury; it was the cure. When she passed away in the late 70s, I thought to peek into her medicine cabinet and acquire the tin, still with contents. Today, that tin with contents is in my medicine cabinet.

  18. My little brother and I sold Cloverine Salve door to door Twice….Once in the summer. easy going at that time and then that winter following….Dang it was cold and snow knee deep. and too, early dark. He took one side of the street and I the other! Boy were we ever good sellers. Full of ourselves and the need to ‘git er done!’ Loved that stuff!

  19. I sold “White Cloverine Brand Salve” in Kingsport (Lynn Garden), Tennessee, for a few months circa 1950 as a 7-year old. I earned a pocket watch and possibly other small prizes that I can’t recall. Also sold Grit newspaper for a short while; My most lucrative “business” was selling Lancaster vegetable and flower seeds at 10-cents a packet. I’m sure I found all these “opportunities” in comic-book ads.
    Those really were the good old days. Too bad our grandchildren will never be able to enjoy those times and experiences.

  20. I am curious to know if selling Cloverine Salve could earn you a Winchester 22cal rifle. My father sold Cloverine Salve in the 30’s and thinks that’s how he earned his most prized possession as a boy.

  21. I remember in the 30’s when I was between 7 and 10 years old, I sold this product and earned many prizes. I sold it door to door for 25 cents. I have fond memories of this experience. Thank you, Cloverine Co.

  22. Have the print of the boy and girl which was a prize was wondering how much they might b worth

  23. I was born in Kincaid Wv. And moved to Aiken SC in 1951 and GRIT newspapers and Cloverline salve when I was in the third and fourth grades. People loved both of them.

  24. Born 1940…. in late 40’s and early 50’s sold the salve and

    neighbors loved it and I received gift from the company. It

    was very enjoyable for the era. Brings back very good

    memories.

  25. I have just been rereading Lumiansky’s excellent version of the Morte Darthur. There are damosels in these tales who use magic salves to hear all manner of grievous wounds, including reattaching a severed head. Even Cloverline could not do that!

  26. My mother in-law sold the salve over 70 years ago. She got the ‘Last Supper’ picture and two others as a prize. The smaller ones are Jesus at a door and the guardian angel. Would these be of any value in today’s market?

  27. I didn’t get rich selling Cloverine, but the memories I have of going door to door selling the salve and the pictures in the early 50s are worth millions..

  28. I was born August 1936 in Lynchburg Va.and sold Cloverine Salve when I was around 10 or 11. I don’t remember getting any prizes but thought there was an option to keep some of the money from your sales. Does anyone remember that? One of my best customers was a hair salon and they would buy 2 or 3 cans at a time. I guess they used it on burns.

  29. I sold this salve in 1948 in Riverside, California. I loved talking with the people who used it. It made them happy. It made me happy to make a few dollars. It made my Mom happy that it kept me busy.

  30. Didn’t they give kids a black metal bank box for the money?? I have one that says ‘Natl. Farm Life Self Improvement Savings Club’. I’m pretty sure I got it in the late 40’s early 50’s with my first order of Salve.

  31. Sold the salve in the mid 40’s in central Pa. and sold enough to get my brother a pink piggy bank and a blue one for me. They measure approximately 10″ X 6″ and I still have mind filled with wheat pennies, weighs about 35 lbs. So the bank is over 70 years old. Great old days.

  32. I am a comic book collector and a gun dealer that I know asked me to help him find some comic books that had the ad for this Clovertine Salve and an offer for the Hamilton Rifle that was offered as a prize for selling this product. He has this prized rifle and would love to have the comic book that had this offer to keep with it. If anyone knows the specific titles and issue numbers that this ad was found so that I can help him out, I would appreciate it. Also, if you have any old comic books that you are interested in selling-please contact me at davidcrago1@hotmail.com. I collect anything from the 1930’s-1970’s. I would travel to you for purchase. Take care.

  33. I used to sell Cloverine salve back in the 50’s. I got my salve directly from the company. Filled out ad from a comic book. True detective magazines had ads also. Miss the 50’s. Wow. X-ray glasses to see through things like Superman could. LOL

  34. I grew up in Tyrone, PA, where Wilson Chemical Company produced and distributed the product for years. Our family operated a community pharmacy where patients would sometime come by seeking the product, especially after the Federal Trade Commission stopped their initiative using children as a sales and distribution force.

  35. My dad was from Lowville, NY near Watertown. After he passed away and we were going through his possessions when organizing his estate sale, we came across 2 plaster statues of what I take to be the standing Madonna and child reading a book. They are identical, although one is in pristeen condition, the other could use some touch up paint, about 16 inches tall, painted in soft colors. Taped to the bottom of the one worse for wear is a note in my grandmother’s handwriting that says “My mother sold Cloverleaf (sic) Salve and got this when she was 7 years old.” I’ll do some geneological research to find out what year it would have been when she was 7 years old, but he just passed away in 2016 at the age of 80. Would be interesting to track the origin on these 2 statues. I did not put them in the estate sale – I kept them for sentimental reasons!!!

  36. Going thru my 95 yr old Mothers things …. found some pink dishes with a diamond pattern. She said my Dad might have received them for selling Cloverine salve as a kid. He is now deceased but would be 102 yrs old so he would have sold Cloverine in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.

    Any one have any thoughts on these pink dishes, I would love to verify that Cloverine sellers did receive them.

    Thanks for any input.

  37. I am looking for a picture of a young girl in a red dress feeding a calf milk from a bucket. This picture hung in my grandparents parlor. My mother, who is 89, says they got the picture by selling Cloverine salve. I would like to purchase this picture.

  38. To Jane Shearer, The picture you mention “might” be by Edwin Douglas titled “Their First Introduction” . It is of a young lady feeding a Jersey calf from a bucket.
    I just came across a print on eBay today – 3/13/2019. Hope this helps !!

  39. During the l940’s from 9yrs old until 12yrs old, I ordered and went door to door selling Cloverine Salve with the intent of helping my parents financially, but never really received any real financial gain in spite of miles of blocks knocking on doors to sell product. Woke up this morning thinking of this and thought I would do a search to find info on this period of my life. Was surprised to find this site and agree I did meet some nice people who responded and ordered this salve. JL

  40. I found out about this product going through the family affects. Please note
    that this company also sent back beautiful water color prints. I have about 3 dozen of them. What a novel marketing strategy and altruistic company.

  41. I’ll bet there are a million of us out there. I was 10 years old and selling it in the mid 40s…………..woof woof

  42. Says Phil Elliot: I have a Hamilton #7 .22 rifle and a tin of the white Cloverine salve. My Grandmother sold this stuff door to door, and picked out the Rifle as a payment for her having sold the product. It would have been much earlier than what you showed. The Rifle is a Brass bbl. smooth bore. in .22 Short. It’s unknown when she got it as my Mother was born in 1922. So as the story goes my Grandmother was a young girl when she got it so guessing early 1900’s

  43. Had a 4th grade teacher in York, PA who said he had sold Cloverine salve to help work his way through college, Bob Jones University in SC. This was in ‘53-‘54 and he was very young so guessing maybe selling in the late ‘40s as a teen. Point is it seemed that he did get cash for doing this. Wouldn’t think he would get prizes and then sell them, but who knows?

  44. I sold Cloverine Salve in the early 1950’s for several summers. The first time I tried it I managed to sell quite a few before I had to have emergency appendix operation and since I wasn’t able to get out to sell for a while my Mother bought the rest of the salve. We had those Cloverine Salve cans in the house when I got married in !960 and I took some with me when I moved out of the family home. I continued to sell after I recovered from my appendix operation. I received lots of nice prizes for selling the cans. The best prize for me was the BB air rifle which I still wished I had but it got burned up when we had a fire in our home.

  45. One of the first posts mentioned the Andy Griffith show. Just watched the same show and made me thing of the save. So decided to look it up and found this site. When I was a kid I lived about 25 miles from Tyrone where the save was made. Never sold it. Was also thinking of the Grit. I remember several kids sold that paper each week. I enjoyed reading all the other posts.

  46. I am from Ellington, MO. I remember selling Cloverine Salve when I was 11 or 12 years old which would have been in the mid 40’s. One of the prizes I chose was a picture of 2 Spaniels. I still have that picture today.

  47. My 5 year old brother secretly sent away for a “free” ring via an ad in a comic book. This was circa 1964, and he got more than he bargained for. The ring came in a cardboard tube with a bunch of White Cloverine Salve he was obliged to sell . He freaked out and hid the canister of salve tins under his bed. It didn’t take long before the persistent letters started arriving that threatened him with being turned over to the “legal department”. He went paranoid and feared jail time for not selling the salve. Our dad wrote the company and warned them that they could not enter into a contract with a minor. We kept the salve, and it was really good on chapped hands. My brother still has bad memories of that salve … oh, and he lost the “free” ring at the playground a week after he got it.

  48. My father sold Coverline salve as a kid.
    He told me this story how he sold enough salve to received a single shot 22 Cal Hamilton rifle that he was very proud of.
    he clamed the rifle shot very well,
    His older brother sold it and bought a quart of beer with the money..
    Over my years of collecting guns I managed to buy two of these single shot 22 rifles and one early can of the salve and have them on display.

  49. I am trying to verify a story about selling salve about 1930 and getting a tea set as the prize This would be around Bridgeport Ct

  50. I too sold the salve, cough drops, laxatives, razor blades enough to earn a PONY! We lived in Ovid, NY and drove to Tyrone, PA on Aug 20,1953 to take possession. The company never dreamed anyone would achieve it, but we 4 kids went door to door (2by2) down each side of streets with mom following in the car. We offered samples of the cough drops(10 cents/box). Taught me persistence and overcame fears! It was quite an accomplishment!

  51. I saw that one of the Cloverine prizes was a Daisy BB gun. In the 1950’s they were illegal in NH, so took a chance that I would get one and did!
    When I showed my friends they did the same. We became “Crack shots” LOL

  52. My brother’s sold cloverine in the early forties in Oklahoma. I still have two of the pictures.

  53. FTC that targeted Wikson Comoany & its sales to children has done much damage to American freedoms & is part of what is called the Swamp or shadow government. It is, like the rest of thecSwamp, actually bolshevik.

  54. The idea thatvthis salve was an “Appalachian” thing is pure ant-Southern idiot journalism.

  55. One summer in 1958 in Fort Worth Texas I sold White Cloverine salve door to door. I don’t remember all those grand prizes and I was doing it for a ring.

  56. My mother’s great aunt sold cloverine salve late 20’s and 30’s. I have handed down to me what was considered a “valuable premium” a painting ( not a lithograph). I’ve been trying to find information about but not much luck. Any input here would be helpful.

  57. I sold Cloverine Brand Salve door to door in the 50’s and remember working for months to get a fishing rod which turned out to be a spinning rod with the cheapest reel imaginable that hung up on every cast. Also sold Ferry Morse vegetable seeds. It was good experience and an easy sell.

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