THE SEWING MACHINE MAN
Re-printed at least 8 times in paperback and with three different covers that we've found! The original hardback edition has a completely different cover and is jolly rare! The book was recently sold to a Russian Publishers so there is indeed a Russian version
The hardback cover features a painting by Shyam Varma - all the requisite elements are present. Naked girl? Check! Half naked fella? Check! Sewing Machine? Check! 9/10 The original paperback cover is either a pregnant woman or a woman clutching a pillow/cushion to her stomach. not entirely sure of the relevance - but I vividly remember the day my sister gave me this book. She had found it in the day-room of Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, where she was working as a nurse. It was my first taste of TOBIN! 1/10. Cover Two shows a youthful-looking Russ sat at a table with a Sewing Machine. But the Sewing Machine appears to have a shapely pair of lady's legs! A bit surreal - it was the late 60's I suppose 4/10. Covers Three & Four are our first introduction to the CLASSIC Tobin Series theme (one with a tagline and one without). A different Russ to the chap on Cover Two - This time looking a bit sheepish as he clutches a Sewing Machine and has a completely starkers lady leaning on his shoulder. Russ is either going to drop that Sewing Machine, or she's going to catch her death! 10/10
The Russian edition is a particularly dull picture of a sewing machine! Vladimir has not read the memo!
Hardback EDITION Paperback EDITIONS 1-3 Paperback EDITION 4 Russian Edition
Tobin decides to quit his dull office job and chance his arm at flogging Sewing Machines.
Page 10. Russ describes Jean - the niece of his Landlady. She is 16 and has a "beautiful bottom"!
After some severe flirting and cavorting with Jean, and some even MORE severe flirting and cavorting with Gloria from the office - he finally gets his wicked way on Page 48. With Gloria of course - it seems like a revelation to both of them. Russ has only had hurried, furtive encounters in the past and Gloria is stuck in a dead marriage. Little does Russ realise that he is soon to become a GLOBAL LOVE MACHINE!
Russ goes to the pub to discuss the selling job with Jim Stanford. Jim buys him a Light Ale. Soon customers are forcing all manner of alcohol on Russ - Gin and Orange, Champagne and VODKA! On Page 118 he decides Vodka is the best drink to consume "on the job" because it has no smell. In future adventures Russ is a confirmed Vodka Tonic drinker. This is where it all started - although he takes his Vodka here with Bitter Lemon.
Obviously this category doesn't really apply here, but it will come into its own in future novels
Working in an office for a living is crap, whilst selling sewing machines in a not altogether honourable way is much more fun, and you get to meet an awful lot more ladies that way!
A magical 10 for Stanley's debut….nothing else will do
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