Page 14 Advertisements Column 1

Otago Witness, Issue 1865, 19 August 1887, Page 14

_ HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS ALBERT EDWARD PRINCE OF WALES, a cut of whom heads this article is, we believe we are correct in stating, the most popular Prince of the present age, and therefore a fitting compeer for that Prince of Watches, the "Watebbuby." Scrupulously punctual in all his court engagements he is naturally severe on those members of committee and deputationists who habitually arrive 10 minutes late, and waste another 10 minutes in fruitless endeavours to account or apologise for their dilatoriness. If any weight can be attached to the private letters of some of our commissioners at the late Indian and Colonial Exhibition, more than one of title hunters incurred the displeasure of the autocrat of Marlborough House, and clogged the wheels of the " Colindries" by habits of unpunctuality. This is unexcusable in these days of correct time for thirteen shillings and sixpence, and H.R.H. can well be pardoned for advising them to consign their costly toys to the melting pot, and to regulate the practical affairs of their lives by the " Watebbuby." The testimony as to the reliability of this watch is overwhelming, and admits of no dispute. Old "Father Time," who for centuries has been depicted with the scythe and hour-glass, will in future carry a " Watbbbtjby," — not that he is in sympathy with change, but simply that he may reap his harvest with unerring accuracy. THE JUBILEE. Suggestions have been offered for a suitable method of celebrating the Jubilee, some of which have been reasonable, others the reverse, but all so far short of the mark. Purchasers of art and statuary certainly have much to recommend them, whilst exhibitions of fireworks are simply puerile and absurd. Fire in any capacity destroys whatever it touches, and in such connections leaves only a pleasant recollection of something that has been consumed and has vanished — wealth deliberately annihilated; Our suggestion is that any funds in hand be promptly applied to the purchase of " Watebbubys " for presentation to every school boy in the colony, in order that habits of punctuality be early instilled in their minds, and the next generation grow up to value their minutes and their " Watebbubys," and to keep their professional and social appointments. The "Watebbuby," too, in addition to its value in this direction, is an apt illustration of scientific and mechanical experiment and research. Twenty-five years ago, with wages at ] about a third of their present value, and the hours of labour considerably prolonged, only a wealthy man could afford to own a watch, and this frequently passed from generation to generation as an heirloom — occasionally excepted from the just debts of the testator. The first step toward reducing their cost was made in Switzerland, and a great number of Geneva movements were sent to Birmingham to be cased and sold as English productions. Although a few of these certainly proved fairly reliable timekeepers, they were the exceptions, and permanent injury to tho trade resulted therefrom. Early in the seventies an attempt was made to market a similar movement in a cheap metal case; but this, too, proved unsuccessful, the roughness of finish and excessive duplication of parts, at once ensuring its failure. Some of these goods are still in the possession of dealers who found no sale for them, while the " Wateebuby " — a new and patened movement invented by a patient and painstaking mechanic in Connecticut — demonstrated the practicability of a cheap and reliable watch at a price previously undreamt of, and these have now been searched op, and are regularly offered at various prices from a few shillings to a couple of pounds. Somewhat similar in appearance, they are calculated to deceive the public in their search for correct time, and as they are sometimes sold for less money a great many have been disposed of, especially as their owners gladly guaranteed them genuine "Watebbubys" or equal to the " Wateebuby." Care is necessary to prevent deception, and purchasers should examine closely any watch offered at any other price than thirteen and sixpence. The " Waterbury Watch Co." brand every dial with their name and monogram and as the principle of their movement is protected by letters patent no other production can offer the same absolute accuracy or the same facility for repair. Possessing less than half the number of parts— all of which, like the Sewing Machine, are interchangeable — it rarely gets out of order, and can always be repaired at cost never exceeding half-a-crown. This, too, accounts for its durability, and the question frequently asked, "Oan a watch produced for so little money last ? " finds its readiest answer in the fact that over 2,000,000 "WATERBURY'S" have already been sold, and the Factory, with the unequalled out-put of one thousand per day, can barely keep pace with the demand. A watch that did not combine durability with absolute accuracy would neither be cheap nor secure a permanent sale, and none of our readers need hesitate on this account. We have never heard of a man losing his train, tram, or ferry through trusting one of these watches, although we have frequently seen citizens, who ought to have known better, left behind through the shortcoming of more expensive rivals. The "Watebbuby" has acquired a universal reputation for accuracy, simplicity, and durability, and any of our readers having watches in which the utmost reliance cannot be placed will do well to consider whether it would not be better and cheaper to discard them at once, and purchase a " Wateb BUBY." These watches are admirably suited foi presentations, and thousands of lads and working men, whose means will not admit of heavy outlays, can thus afford to have the time. The Manchester Examiner sums up an article published on the 22nd Dq,