The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-06-21

A Widespread and Increasing
BvL-Its Damage 70 Honest
1ieno.

some further information on the sub
ject. He said that the frauds in watch
case making, caused By excessive
competition, had now become ~ gen.
eral that prices had been ''cut" TO IN
extent extremely damaging to all
honest manufacturer. The jobbers
were primarily responsible Tor the
evil, those in Chicago having been the
pioneers in this class Of swindling,
which VAS now confined to no city.
They would demand that case makers
should furnish them with cases only
twelve or fourteen karsts fne, but
stamped eighteen karats. Many
small manufacturers would yield to
this temptations rather than lose trade,
and from this beginning they were
readily led on to make ten karat cases,
falsely stamped, and to introduce base
metal in various parts of the case.
Many of these so-calIed gold watches
were not stamped At all with any
mark of quality. and the eellers could
not be held legally responsible for
swindling. ~ gold was the component
part of chief value. Yet large num-
bers of watches were cold a. gold which
contained . greater weight of steel
and brass. A very thick steel spring,
weighing twelve to fourteen penny
weights, vas inserted 10 the rim,
technically known rs the "center" Of
the watch. tho crown and shank of
the stem were followed out and filled
with brass, and Q brass wire was run
through the ring by which the watch
was attached to the chain. In fact,
many cases were cut wherever a grain
Of gold could be saved, and steel or
brass Was inserted.
The leading watch manufacturers of
this city, this gentleman said, had re-
Gently formed . combination to protect
themselves against this dishonest COM
petition in the only way possible-by
agreeing to subject themselves to
heavy loss for time by reducing the
rates Of genuine cases to those which
were charged for the articles known -
''skin cases." In order to do this they
were obliged to sell the cases at . less
increase on the value of the gold than
the actual cost of workmanship, hop
ing thereby to break down the fraudu-
lent ravalry which had been growing
steadily for the last few years, until
now it seemed to have reached its
culmipation.
In addition to the alleged gold
watches which has been described, he
said that quantities of ''filled" watches
were made, many of which we're un-
doubtedly sold n genuine articles.
Such . watch-case was manufactured
Of very thin layers Of gold. with O.
layer of base metal between, the whole
being "sweated" together. Really it
was simply . gilt watch. but 1t would
last ten yeare before the surface was
worn through. and was innocent
enough when sold for what it Was. In
the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS dealers,
however, it was very dangerous. An
expert could readily detect its charac.
ter by the color and weight, a. we'll n
BY the use of acids, but with an Ordi-
nary customer it would easily pass for |
gold. Such . watch case. worth some
s23. would in genuine gold be worth |
$50 or $40.
As there was no hope of getting any |
legislation in this country which would
guard against the preparation of the
frauds in question. this gentleman de-
clared that only one way remained
for the public to protect itself in the
matter. This Was, for every purchaser
of . gold watch to demand . written
certificate from the manufacturer that
tho case was ''of solid eighteen-karat
gold throughout" When private
generally insisted upon such
certificates, the retail dealers and job
ben would require them from the
who would, Of course, b held
legally responsible for the correctness
VI tt0 kOoI 8utys
He said that frauds similar to those
practised in Weaknesses ran through
every line Of jewelry and gold-work.
The standard fiDeness of watch-chains
was in this country fourteen karats.
being two karats less than 10 England,
u the lower grade Was harder and
wore better. Yeti Was now extremely
difficult to find . genuine fourteen
Karat chain in this market, nearly all
he chains sold % such not assaying
more than twelve karats. Frequently
he swivels of the chains were stamped
fourteen karats. thereby leading to
he false belief that the chains we're of
he same 6nene.. He regretted to
~ that euch chains were nsnufactur.
ID and sold even BY firms of good rep
ltation, and that retailers, who
fought them from jobbers. we're often
as we'll ne their customers.
q this matter, a in regard to watch
ases. the exaction Of an explicit writ. {
en- guaranty WAS the only method Of I
the purchaser. "Filled" I
nd plated chains were usually sold I
pom their merits, and chiefly in the
uder parts of the country. 1
Thousands of wedding rings, he 9
aid, we're annually manufactured, q
lied with q brass wire run through ID
he center of the circlet. and stamped {
nth device resembling 40 eighteen, q
arat mark, though in reality it signi- b
ed nothing. There was no doubt q
nat these were solid geld. and many .
{ them ct little less than the lesiti.
'ate price Of gold. In the manufac-
ire Of fancy gold neck-chains, for
dies wear. it was necessary that the
nks should be made hollow in order
give them the proper degree of y
asticity. Hence they were spun Il
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