A PRETTY CONCEIT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9543, 1 December 1893, Page 4

A PRETTY CONCEIT.

The enormous sales of the Waterbury have led firms who do not care tor n steady turn-over ot a legitimate profit lo explore the purlieus of the Continent for cheap inferior " Hikers "— we do not call tbem watches— with which bo "ion tha Waterbury." These possess one virtue only— that of showing the dealer a return of some 150 per cent) on his outlay. Tnab they should kei>p time ia a matter of no moment, co \oap as they resemble the Waterbury In outward appearance, style of cftiiug, &c , with sufficient closeness lo deceive >> cveeua or unwaiy purchaser. Firms doing this often say to U', " What do we care ; we can make five ."billings a watch more oa them than we can on yours ; and as to keeping time, well, our troubles about that." Buyers requiring reliable watches can trust the Waterbury, and the public requiring the correct) time should see that they get it. The gents' or ladles' Waterbury, gold filled or in sterling silver, are handsome, Inexpensive, and durable ; whilst tbe nickel varieties are so well known that they require no turtber recommendation. It Is a pretty conceit for beie and there a stray trader to think his Imports of the " Nebuchadntzztr," the "Millenium," the "Gonbung," or some other specially titled monstrosity, has any effect on the Water. bury market, whilst for every watch he nervonsly orders over one hundred Waterbirys ore always afloat for New Zealand. Tbe real strength of the Waterbury lies in its absolute reliability, in other wordß its absolute refusal to keep anything but the correct time. We sometimes see "tickers"— we still bar them any other title— offered for salo which ore really wonderful combinations. They not only exhibit the whole of the celestial bodies on their faces, but keep time, or profess tc, tell you the state ot the money inaricet, the amount of any particular member's indebtedness at Bellamys', and the name of tbe next bank io reconstruct In Australia. The Waterbury does not do this, It simply keeps correct time, and goes on doing se. 77