Short answers, pulled from the story.
Sam Weller appeared in the fourth serialised episode of The Pickwick Papers during 1836. His introduction transformed the narrative from a dull series into a publishing phenomenon by late autumn of 1837 when sales surged to 40,000 copies per month.
Mr. Pickwick meets Sam Weller working at the White Hart Inn in The Borough. Chapter 10 of the novel marks their first encounter where Sam accepts the job because Pickwick offers a good salary and fine clothes.
The dialect spoken by Sam Weller and his father Tony Weller was prevalent in London's East End in 1836. They pronounce a v where there should be a w and use specific words like avay for away which became outdated just 40 years after the novel's publication.
Roy Castle performed as Sam Weller in the Broadway version that opened in 1965. Other actors including Harry Fowler and Teddy Green also appeared in BBC TV Serials and West End musical versions during the mid-20th century.
People bought Sam Weller puzzles and Weller boot polish during the Victorian era alongside joke books sold to the public. Collectors today still seek out these vintage items from the 19th century as tangible artifacts of the character's legacy.